Coppola‘s “Megalopolis” Production Detailed in New Documentary, Reveals Financial and Creative Risks
A new documentary, “Megadoc,” offers an unprecedented behind-the-scenes look at Francis Ford Coppola’s decades-long struggle to realize his passion project, ”Megalopolis,” revealing the director’s personal financial investment and unconventional filmmaking approach.the film chronicles Coppola’s self-funding of the $120 million production after failing to secure customary studio backing, putting his Napa Valley estate and winery up as collateral.
The documentary arrives amidst controversy surrounding the film and its director. During production, allegations surfaced claiming Coppola attempted to kiss female extras during a nightclub scene, with Variety publishing video footage of such incidents. Coppola has vehemently denied these claims and subsequently filed a libel lawsuit against Variety. “megadoc” itself does not address these allegations, but highlights the complex dynamics inherent in filmmaking as a workplace and the potential for power imbalances on set.
“megalopolis,” a dystopian science fiction epic, represents Coppola’s moast aspiring undertaking since 1992’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula.” The documentary showcases the film’s chaotic and experimental production process, emphasizing Coppola’s belief that a movie set is not a space for unchecked artistic license but a professional habitat where individual freedoms must be balanced with the rights and well-being of all involved.
The film underscores a critical point: the creation of “Megalopolis” may inadvertently serve as a case study in the social psychology and ethical considerations of filmmaking, offering insights with implications extending beyond the art of cinema. “Just as with freedom, chaos taken for oneself isn’t the same as chaos given to others, and the difference again involves a power relationship,” the documentary implicitly argues through its portrayal of the production.
