#242 Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker's Life

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Apr 21, 2022

Discover the complex legacy of Francis Ford Coppola, shaped by the influence of his father's struggles and ambitions. Delve into his innovative journey through filmmaking, highlighting his relentless drive and clever navigation of the industry. Experience the emotional weight of a tragic accident that reshaped his life and priorities. Hear how personal loss fueled his creative freedom and perseverance. Through it all, Coppola's willingness to embrace uncertainty in his craft reveals a unique perspective on storytelling and family dynamics.

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INSIGHT

Understanding the Son

Understand the son by the story of his father.
The father's story is embedded in the son, shaping the son's life and career.

ANECDOTE

Financial Ruin

Francis Ford Coppola faced financial ruin multiple times in his career, mirroring his father's fear of pursuing his dreams due to potential financial instability.
This precarious financial position significantly impacted his work.

ANECDOTE

Carmine's Oscar

Coppola's father, Carmine, achieved an Oscar by working on his son's film, Godfather 2.
This fulfilled a lifelong dream for Carmine, who had struggled with unfulfilled artistic aspirations and resentment towards successful people.

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A Filmmaker's Life

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This book provides a detailed account of Francis Ford Coppola's life and career, covering his early years, his apprenticeship under Roger Corman, and his direction of iconic films such as the Godfather trilogy, Apocalypse Now, and The Conversation. It explores his successes and failures, including the challenges faced during the filming of Apocalypse Now and the impact of personal crises on his work. The biography is based on extensive access to Coppola's friends, critics, peers, casts, and crews, offering a complete picture of this complex and conflicted cinematic genius.

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What I learned from reading Francis Ford Coppola: A Filmmaker's Life by Michael Schumacher.

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Get access to the World’s Most Valuable Notebook for Founders at Founders Notes.com

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[2:49] You can always understand the son by the story of his father. The story of the father is embedded in the son.

[5:33] I had spent a lifetime with a frustrated, and often unemployed man, who hated anybody who was successful.

[7:01] And he said, “Yeah, but there can only be one genius in the family. And since I'm already that, what chance do you have? “What kind of father says something like that to his son?

[8:21] He is incredibly talented and incredibly pretentious. He doesn't know what he's doing half the time and the other half of the time he's brilliant.

[9:46] There is no speed limit. The standard pace is for chumps.

[10:04] Pulitzer: A Life in Politics, Print, and Power (Founders #135)

[11:54] George Lucas: A Life (Founders #35)

[12:45] Steven Spielberg: A Biography (Founders #209)

[14:10] Coppola displayed a remarkable ability to do whatever was necessary to get the job done.

[16:30] I had an overwhelming urge to make films.

[19:11] I deliberately worked all night so when he'd arrive in the morning he would see me slumped over the editing machine.

[20:36] Say yes first, learn later.

[21:00] My peculiar approach to cinema is I like to learn by not knowing how the hell to do it. I’m forced to discover how to do it.

[23:10] His willingness to seize the moment was one of the main characteristics separating him from his other fellow students and aspiring filmmakers.

[30:44] The Founders: The Story of Paypal and the Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Silicon Valley (Founders #233)

[37:43] You have to control the money or you don't have control.

[38:53] At his absolute lowest point comes his greatest opportunity.

[41:59] It only takes a couple of these gigantic flops to permanently erase any positive financial outcome that you had previously.

[44:55] Either control your emotions or other people are going to control you.

[47:35] In many cases, the people we study are dead. We can't talk to them, but they can still counsel us through their life stories.

[50:00] Excellence took time and patience.

[51:56] Even in the vortex of the storm some outstanding work was being accomplished. Something strong and powerful was being forged in struggle.

[52:46] Vito Corleone had shown a rough-hewn old-world wisdom, the kind gained through experience rather than from a textbook.

[56:29] A great story about loyalty and friendship. If you have a friend like this, hold onto them.

[1:03:32] Martin Sheen on working for Coppola: I have a lot of mixed feelings about Francis. I'm very fond of him personally. The thing I love about him most is that he never, like a good general, asks you to do anything he wouldn't do. He was right there with us, lived there in shit and mud up to his ass, suffered the same diseases, ate the same food. I don't think he realizes how tough he is to work for. God, is he tough. But I will sail with that son of a bitch anytime.

[1:04:58] I always had a rule. If I was going away for more than 10 days I’d take my kids out of school.

[1:08:31] If you don't have this fundamental alignment between who you are and the work you do —and how you do that work —there's going to be some level of misery unhappiness if you don't resolve that conflict.

[1:12:22] Half the people thought it was a masterpiece and half the people thought it was a piece of shit.

[1:23:01] On the death of his son: I realized that no matter what happened, I had lost. No matter what happened, it would always be incomplete.

[1:25:38] I want to be free. I don't want producers around me telling me what to do. The real dream of my life is a place where people can live in peace and create what they want.

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