Legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola’s highly anticipated self-financed epic, “Megalopolis,” is set to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. However, just days before its debut, The Guardian has published a report detailing alleged inappropriate behavior by Coppola on the film’s set, as recounted by several crew members.
Allegations of “Old School” Behavior Towards Women
According to the report, multiple sources claimed that Coppola exhibited “old school” behavior towards women on set. The allegations include Coppola allegedly pulling women to sit on his lap and attempting to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras during the filming of a bacchanalian nightclub scene. Witnesses stated that Coppola claimed he was “trying to get them in the mood.”
Executive Co-Producer Defends Coppola
In response to the allegations, Darren Demetre, the executive co-producer on “Megalopolis,” defended Coppola’s actions. Demetre, who has worked with Coppola and his family for over 35 years, stated that Coppola did kiss some extras on the cheek in a friendly manner, but no one expressed any discomfort with his behavior.
Demetre explained that during the two days of shooting a celebratory Studio 54-esque club scene, Coppola walked around the set, giving kind hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and background players to help inspire and establish the club atmosphere crucial to the film. He emphasized that he was never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behavior throughout the project.
Coppola’s Self-Financed Epic
“Megalopolis,” a passion project for Coppola, is a self-financed endeavor with a budget of $120 million. The film is set in a New York City-like metropolis in the aftermath of a catastrophic destruction and features an all-star cast, including Adam Driver, Giancarlo Esposito, Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Dustin Hoffman, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Talia Shire, and Jason Schwartzman.
Crew Members Criticize Coppola’s Directing Style
While the allegations of inappropriate behavior have taken center stage, some crew members also criticized Coppola’s directing style on the “Megalopolis” set. They claimed that Coppola would often show up in the mornings before big sequences without a plan in place, refusing to allow his collaborators to put one in place. As a result, he would allegedly spend hours in his trailer, sometimes smoking marijuana, while the cast and crew waited around without anything being filmed.
One crew member went as far as questioning whether Coppola had ever made a movie before, given the apparent lack of organization on set.
Positive Perspective from Mike Figgis
Despite the criticism, Mike Figgis, one of Coppola’s longtime friends who was invited to document the making of the movie in Atlanta, offered a more positive perspective on the “Megalopolis” set. Figgis praised Coppola’s ability to hold together the massive team at the age of 84, directing the actors, camera, and everything else while also serving as the producer.
Figgis also mentioned the combative yet productive relationship between Coppola and actor Shia LaBeouf, noting that while there were some tense moments, there was also a lot of humor involved, making it entertaining to observe.
As “Megalopolis” prepares to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, the allegations surrounding Coppola’s behavior on set have cast a shadow over the highly anticipated film. While opinions on Coppola’s directing style and behavior vary among crew members and colleagues, the film industry and fans alike await further developments and statements from those involved in the production.
Information Sources: Variety and IMDb.
