The Daily Stoic

Francis Ford Coppola Opens Up About How Philosophy Has Inspired His Life and Career

Sep 14, 2024

Francis Ford Coppola, one of the greatest directors known for masterpieces like The Godfather, shares how Stoicism and Epicureanism shape his life and work. He reveals the long, challenging journey of completing his latest film, Megalopolis, which intertwines Roman history with contemporary themes. Coppola reflects on the artist's legacy, the importance of storytelling, and how literature informs his cinematic vision, providing a thoughtful exploration of creativity, resilience, and the enduring influence of philosophy.

01:01:53

Episode guests

Francis Ford Coppola

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Quick takeaways

Francis Ford Coppola reveals how Stoicism and ancient philosophy have deeply influenced his personal growth and creative vision.

Coppola's film Megalopolis intertwines historical narratives and characters, aiming to revive significant moments from the Catiline Conspiracy for modern audiences.

The collaborative nature of filmmaking is emphasized as Coppola discusses the shared creativity that transforms projects into collective masterpieces.

Deep dives

The Importance of Effective Hiring

Utilizing LinkedIn jobs is emphasized as a powerful tool for finding qualified professionals in the hiring process. With over 70% of LinkedIn users not visiting other leading job sites in a month, it stands out as a primary resource for employers seeking talent. LinkedIn provides features that streamline the hiring process, including a job description writing tool which speeds up hiring. Moreover, many small businesses report success rapidly, with 86% finding a qualified candidate within 24 hours.

Celebrate Humanity's Potential

01:21

The Influence of Classical Wisdom on Modern Challenges

01:34

Embrace Wisdom, Challenge Dogma

01:20

The Cycle of Artistic Inspiration and Immortality

01:56

Intro

4min

Journey from Assistant to Conversations with a Film Legend

4min

Reinterpreting the Catiline Conspiracy

16min

Navigating Costs, Privacy, and the Power of Oratory

3min

The Legacy of Language and Literature

17min

Influence of Literature and Film

5min

Literature, Loss, and Life Lessons

17min

Legacy and the Pursuit of Meaning in Creative Work

3min

In his first ever podcast interview, Francis Ford Coppola joins Ryan to talk about how Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism, and Epicureanism have impacted his life, both personally and professionally. Francis reflects on his legacy and why it was so important to complete his latest movie, Megalopolis (out September 27), after he began developing it in the early 1980’s. Francis almost abandoned it multiple times and ultimately ended up self-financing the project.

Megalopolis is a sci-fi drama Roman Epic fable based on Cicero and the Catiline Conspiracy set in an imagined Modern America that stars Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Grace VanderWaal, Nathalie Emmanuel, Chloe Fineman, Jon Voight, Shia LaBeouf, and more.

As Francis says, “You can't go to New York without realizing it is covered with Roman buildings. So, my intent was to write a Roman epic set in a contemporary New York that copied Ancient Rome."

Francis Ford Coppola is one of the greatest movie directors of all time. His movies include The Godfather, The Conversation, Apocalypse Now, and his latest project, Megalopolis is in theaters on September 27, 2024!

Check out the trailer for Megalopolis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq6mvHZU0fc

Follow Francis on Instagram @francisfordcoppola and go see Megalopolis in theaters on September 27!

Books Mentioned:

The Storm Before The Storm by Mike Duncan

Creation by Gore Vidal

The Swerve by Stephen Greenblatt

Will in the World by Stephen Greenblatt

Tyrant by Stephen Greenblatt

A Dream of Red Mansions by Cao Xueqin

Wilhelm Meister’s Apprenticeship by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Papyrus by Deckle Edge

The Bhagavad Gita by Eknath Easwaran