Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso Director Francis Ford Coppola Keeps His Dream Alive
Sep 21, 2025
Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary director behind classics like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, shares insights into his passion for filmmaking and the ambitions of his latest project, Megalopolis. He reflects on the creative struggles faced during production, including industry resistance and artistic conflicts. Coppola delves into his childhood dreams, the importance of persistence, and how he views American cinema's future. With a nod to his late wife Eleanor, he emphasizes the necessity of risk in art and keeps dreaming despite challenges.
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Loss And Eleanor's Support
- Francis Ford Coppola describes losing his wife Eleanor and how she supported and advised him throughout his career.
- He recounts her pride in Megalopolis and her role as collaborator and filmmaker.
Writing As Question, Film As Answer
- Coppola framed original screenwriting as asking a question and filmmaking as finding the answer through the process.
- He connects human genius with how societies control and monetize unhappiness via advertising.
History Is Written By Winners
- Coppola reframes historical villains like Catiline as potentially misunderstood figures whose ideas lost to victors' narratives.
- He used that ambiguity to shape Megalopolis's debate between dreamers and pragmatists.
