Franco, Taylor-Wood helm REM short films

Oscar nominee James Franco and Nowhere Boy director Sam Taylor-Wood are among the stars who have helmed short films based on songs from REM's new LP.

NME reports that a wide-ranging group of artists were personally selected by the band to create visual representations for each track on Collapse Into Now.

Franco was tasked with the songs 'That Someone Is You' and 'Blue', while Taylor-Wood lined up her fiancé Aaron Johnson to star in the clip for 'Überlin'.

Others involved in the project include Gimme Shelter filmmaker Albert Maysles as well as REM's lead singer Michael Stipe and his sister Lynda.

While discussing the project, Stipe suggested that the group entrusted their collaborators with total creative freedom.

"I went to people I really wanted to work with and I could trust them to do whatever they wanted. They had absolute free rein," he explained.

"In many instances I was surprised, in many instances I got what I wanted. What I wanted wasn't primarily important though, what was important was to trust the directors with something as precious as a brand new song."

The full slate of short films are to be debuted over the next few weeks, while Collapse Into Now is now available in the UK and is released on Tuesday in the US.