Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Gavin Rossdale and others were on hand at the Museum of Contemporary Art here in LA last night to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the museum. The famous folk showed up to see a new exhibit honoring the MOCA’s 30 year existence and were seen meandering around the premises … behold:

L.A.’s art world was rocked less than a year ago when the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) was on the brink of financial ruin, facing the sale of some its masterpieces. It is a completely different picture today. The Museum of Contemporary Art previewed its new exhibit, “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years.” A big exhibit celebrating big news: MOCA is out of the red. And on Sunday it will open a major exhibition of its collection, more than 500 pieces of art by 200 artists. Philanthropist and arts patron Eli Broad kicked in $30 million. The museum raised another $30 million to get out of the red. They brought in former UCLA chancellor Charles Young to run things. “No 30-year journey is without bumps,” said Broad. “Many of you, I’m sure, recall a year ago, MOCA had a financial crisis.” MOCA began in 1979 by acquiring one major collection, then adding to it. “This is a world-class institution, among the best anywhere in the world,” said L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As big as this exhibit is, this is just a tenth of MOCA’s collection, which is showing its earlier pieces on South Grand Avenue, and work from 1980 to the present at its Geffen Contemporary space nearby. A shuttle takes visitors between the two. Even with two spaces, how did MOCA’s chief curator choose what to exhibit to celebrate its 30 years? “Quality; the unique vision of the institution; and to tell the history of post-war art from the standpoint of Los Angeles today,” said MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel. The celebration continues with a gala Saturday night. A thousand arts patrons from around the world will be entertained by headliner Lady Gaga, backed by the Bolshoi Ballet. MOCA is not the only L.A. museum displaying contemporary art. Broad has his name on one at the L.A. County Museum. So where does his heart lie now? “It lies in Los Angeles; to make Los Angeles the contemporary art capital of the world,” said Broad. The exhibit will be on display through May.

Celebs aren’t the only ones able to celebrate MOCA’s 30th anniversary, LAist reports that admission to the museum will be FREE to the public all week long:

MOCA–the Museum of Contemporary Art–opened 30 years ago in Los Angeles. To celebrate the anniversary, the museum opens its largest installation tomorrow, featuring more than 500 works from more than 200 artists from its own permanent collection … The new exhibition features a comprehensive look at contemporary art history from the past 70 years, including pop art, abstract expressionism and photography. Highlighted artists and works include: Jackson Pollock’s Number 1, 1949 (1949); Willem de Kooning’s Two Women with Still Life (1952); Alberto Giacometti’s Tall Figure II and Tall Figure III (1960); Roy Lichtenstein’s Man with Folded Arms (1962); Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Six Crimee (1982) and Edward Ruscha’s Chocolate Room (1970-2004).

Amazing!! If you have not been to the MOCA and you live in the area, you must check out this exhibit. I’m hoping David and I can take advantage of this FREE offer sometime this week … the MOCA is a great museum. Congratulations on 30 years!!

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Last week we got our first look at James Franco on the set of the daytime drama series General Hospital and today we not only get to see a few more promo pics but we get to hear from the man himself about his upcoming stint on the daytime soap:

On Friday night, James Franco traveled even farther north than Columbia’s campus for Dia’s Fall Gala at the Hispanic Society on 155th Street. He showed up halfway through cocktail hour with his grandmother. He yawned a lot. Vulture managed to get a few minutes with him, during which he told us a little about his upcoming guest roles on 30 Rock and General Hospital.

Do you die?
I haven’t died yet. But they only gave me the pages for the day that we shot. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s all open.

As I mentioned before, I don’t watch General Hospital but I’m so curious to see Franco on GH … especially after seeing these promo pics and the newly released promo VIDEO of his appearance on the show. After the jump, check out the General Hospital promo video announcing James Franco’s debut on the show …

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In early October we learned the somewhat surprising news that James Franco would be joining the cast of General Hospital and today we get our first look at the actor in his new role as soap star. ABC released a promo pic of Franco on GH … and here it is:

You guys, we’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this moment, and now we have it: the first images of James Franco in his much talked-about performance on General Hospital. Still no word on who James will be playing (beyond that it has something to do with Jason), but feel free to speculate away based on the image. And don’t forget: James’s first air date is Friday, November 20th! What do you think of this first shot? What’s this character all about? What’s with the all-black ensemble? Does that have something to do with Jason too? Start speculating!

Now, I don’t watch General Hospital at all … not since my college roommate used to make me watch it with her. I’m a total Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful fan (tho B&B is really trying my patience these days) so I have NO idea what is going on on GH. I still don’t know what James Franco is doing on a soap opera but it’s deffo a boon for the show. Folks who don’t watch the show but love Franco are more likely to tune in and get hooked. I won’t be one of those new viewers (I already watch way too much TV) but, again, it’s a big score for General Hospital. Do any of y’all watch the show … are you excited that James is joining the cast?

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Here are a couple photos of actor James Franco, who we last saw in the films Milk and Pineapple Express, on the NYC set of his new movie Howl. James plays famed Beat poet Allen Ginsberg in the film that tells the tale of the obscenity trial that took place in the 1950’s that attempted to censor his now classic poem Howl:

While Jack Kerouac is my fave writer from the Beat generation, I’ve read quite a bit of Ginsberg’s poetry, including Howl, and absolutely love the idea of James Franco playing the poet. This would be the second role in a year where Franco plays a gay man … are we beginning to see a pattern? I absolutely hope so :) After the jump, check out a few more pics of Franco on the Howl set this week …

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One of James Franco’s fellow classmates at Columbia University managed to snap a photo of Mr. Franco after he appears to have fallen asleep during one of his lectures … and then immediately sent the photo off to TMZ:

My guess is that the poor guy was dreaming of acing his next exam, yeah! While this photo is so full of LOL you have to admit that we’ve all nodded off during lectures at one point or other in our scholastic pasts. Shoot, my first 2-hour class my Freshman year of college was a Developmental Psychology class that I slept in all the time. As a result, I changed my major from psychology to political science … and then became a professional blogger. See … things happen for a reason. If Franco keeps sleeping his way thru his classes, mebbe he can go back to acting?

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Various celebs from the world of independent film made their way out to the Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, CA yesterday to attend the annual Film Independent’s Spirit Awards which are traditionally handed out on the eve of the Academy Awards. Honoring independent film and independent filmmakers, the Indies are handed out in a casual and usually celebratory atmosphere … and last night’s awards show was no exception. The Wrestler and the film’s lead Mickey Rourke did very well at this year’s Indies, taking home the top film and male acting prize … setting the stage for a possible repeat at tonight’s Academy Awards. Here are a few photos from the red carpet arrivals and some info on last night’s awards show:

Mickey Rourke and “The Wrestler” have won top honors at the Spirit Awards, the annual eve-of-Oscars salute to the best of independent cinema. Rourke, a nominee at Sunday’s Academy Awards, won the best actor for his performance as a washed-up prizefighter in director Darren Aronofsky’s moving drama, which later scooped the ceremony’s best picture prize. Rourke’s award was the latest in a series of honors that have gone to the 56-year-old, who has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after his career suffered a prolonged slump through the 1990s. In a typically profanity-laced acceptance speech, Rourke dedicated the win to “Wrestler” director Aronofsky — and his pet chihuahua, who died last week. “I’ve just gotten thousands of letters from strangers and people that know me about my dog that died six days ago, Loki. This is for you baby,” he said. “Thank you Darren Aronofsky for believing in me. Directors like Darren come around every 25 years,” added Rourke. Aronofksy said he had been drawn to the “The Wrestler” because of its subject matter. “Wrestling was a world no one had tackled in a serious way, and the more we looked into that world, the more complex it seemed,” he said. In other awards Saturday, Oscar nominee Melissa Leo won the best actress award for her performance in the human-trafficking drama “Frozen River.” Tom McCarthy meanwhile took best director honors for “The Visitor,” which is notable for helping journeyman Richard Jenkins earn a best actor nomination at Sunday’s Oscars. In the supporting actor and actress categories, Spanish siren Penelope Cruz won for her performance in Woody Allen’s steamy comedy “Vicky Cristina Barcelona.” Cruz will be seeking to emulate the success at the Oscars, where she is nominated in the best supporting actress category. “I didn’t expect this,” Cruz said. “I go to all awards like this, not expecting anything, so it’s always a surprise when I win.” Meanwhile James Franco picked up the best supporting actor award for his portrayal of gay politician Harvey Milk’s long-time lover Scott Smith in the Gus Van Sant biopic “Milk,” which also earned best first screenplay for writer Dustin Lance Black. Black later paid tribute to Sean Penn’s portrayal of Milk, California’s first openly gay elected official. “Sean’s performance really captured Harvey,” Black said. “That’s why this film has such a connection beyond gay and lesbian audiences. We need to continue building the coalitions that Harvey was so good at.” In other notable awards Saturday, France’s “The Class (Entre Les Murs)” won the best foreign film, while the best documentary went to “Man on Wire,” director James Marsh’s exhilarating account of Frenchman Philippe Petit’s tight-rope walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. “What Philippe did was to stop time, it was a little miracle,” Marsh told reporters.

Altho the Film Indepedent’s Spirit Awards are only 25 years old, I love that there is a place for Indie films to get their due when, overwhelmingly, the Motion Picture Academy tends to overlook many amazing performances due to, well, their indieness. True, some Independent Films and actors get honored at the Academy Awards but, for the most part, name recognition plays a huge part in the voting process. I’m sure many of you have never even heard of the film Frozen River and yet, it was one of the year’s strongest films. After the jump, check out a couple photos from the show itself and some pics of a few winners posing with their Indie trophies in the press room afterward …

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Hottie James Franco stars as Scott Smith, the young lover of Harvey Milk, in the new Gus Van Sant film Milk (which is currently in theaters) and while I loved the film when I saw it for myself a few weeks ago, I thought I’d offer up a bit more information about the film to urge some of y’all to check it out in theaters … specifically, a few screencaps from a very integral scene in the film — the one where James Franco swims in the nude in an outdoor pool:

Okay, so mebbe the scene isn’t necessarily integral to the film but it is highly enjoyable and shouldn’t be missed. After the jump, check out a few uncensored semi-NSFW caps of Franco’s pool scene …

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