If there’s one thing cinema has proven over time, it’s that people love drama. Whether it’s portrayed on the screen or featured off-screen, people love drama. When Francis Ford Coppola directed “Apocalypse Now,” the filming process was so intense and chaotic, an entire documentary was made about the making of movie. Based on recent reports, it looked like Coppola’s latest project, “Megalopolis,” was heading in the same direction. Neither Coppola nor his representatives had any comment on the matter then. Now they do, and it paints a completely different story.
Coppola has taken aim at reports his passion project is going over budget and off the rails. One of the worrying signs was the VFX team, production designer, and art director have been fired. Coppola doesn’t deny this, but instead says letting go of the staff was a calculated measure to keep the budget under control. While he originally intended to use effects like those used in “The Mandalorian,” he’s ultimately decided the work can be done in post-production instead. This may have rubbed some people the wrong way, leading to creative differences and exits.
Coppola was surprisingly measured in his reaction, not taking any umbrage with what was claimed. Instead, he’s just enjoying working with his cast and insisting that he is on-time, on-budget, and getting great material for the film. ” The dailies are great,” Coppola said. “So if we’re on schedule, and I love the actors and the look is great, I don’t know what anyone’s talking about here.”
One of the film’s stars, Adam Driver, was even more vocal about the positivity of the film. He raved about the experience in general, as well as how wonderful Coppola is to work with. That love is reciprocated by Coppola himself, who says he has “never worked on a film where I was so happy with the cast.”
If anything, the biggest issue the film still faces is that Coppola himself is footing the bill for it. Perhaps the film is actually on-budget, but if it isn’t, it’s still going to be harder to bounce back from that than if it had studio backing. As we stated in our previous article on the matter though, the director is an octogenarian and may not have many more chances to lend his talents to the world. We sincerely hope that he’s able to make “Megalopolis” everything that he wants it to be.
