A few weeks ago I suggested that ed reformers should take care not to rely too heavily on the filmmakers of the new wave of edu-agitprop flicks. For one thing, it’d be a shame if lots of time, money, and energy were spent building them up and featuring them as spokespeople--only for them to do what documentarians do, which is move on to a new project in a new area of interest.

So, I was amused last week when the news broke that new school reform icon Davis Guggenheim, director of Waiting for Superman, was in negotiations to direct Paramount’s new 3-D biopic of 16-year-old tween star Justin Bieber. Alexander Russo had a fun post on this yesterday. (Though Russo may have revealed that he needs to spend more time scanning Variety or TMZ, as his post initially failed to note the fact that talks had fallen apart by the end of last week.)

I’ve no problem with Guggenheim filming the Biebs, the JoBros, or your cousin Kathy’s second wedding--a “guy’s gotta eat,” as the WaPo‘s Reliable Source commented. And, as I’ve said before, I think his Waiting for Superman is a real contribution and will do some good. But edu-advocates eagerly touting a guy who won his Oscar for a movie about global warming would do well to think of all the 13-year-old girls pining for the Biebs and keep in mind the perils of unrequited love.