Video emerges of Francis Ford Coppola kissing extras on ‘Megalopolis’ set
New videos have come to light of influential filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola appearing to kiss female extras on the set of his latest movie, Megalopolis.
The movie is a lifelong passion project of the 85-year-old Apocalypse Now auteur. A self-funded epic drama, which is reported to have cost him $120million, it tells the story of Adam Driver’s Cesar Catilina, a visionary architect who clashes with Giancarlo Esposito’s corrupt Mayor Franklyn Cicero over how to rebuild the sprawling city of New Rome after a disaster. The movie boasts an ensemble cast, including the likes of Nathalie Emmanuel, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf, Jon Voight, Laurence Fishburne, Jason Schwartzman, and many more.
Despite taking decades to bring his vision to life, the film’s debut at Cannes 2024 was polarising. Although Coppola also promised it would be the best effort of his career, the film drew mixed reactions, with boos and cheers emerging in the theatre after it premiered in May.
Alongside the critical division, Coppola has been at the centre of controversy. Ahead of Megalopolis premiering at Cannes, a report was published in The Guardian that alleged Coppola had attempted to kiss female background actors during a sequence set in a nightclub. It also claimed he pulled women to sit on his lap. Allegedly, his behaviour was seen as “old school” at the time.
Executive producer Darren Demetre said giving “kind” hugs and kisses to the cast and background actors was Coppola helping to “inspire and establish the club atmosphere”. He maintained: “I was never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behaviour during the course of the project.”
Coppola then denied the claims, maintaining that he is “not touchy-feely” and “too shy” and that his mother taught him to respect his female counterparts. He said: “But my mother told me that if you make an advance toward a woman, it means you disrespect her”.
Now, Variety has obtained footage of the director taken by a crew member while filming the nightclub scene at The Tabernacle in Atlanta. Sources have also come forward to discuss the filmmaker’s conduct, calling it unprofessional, including him “leaping up to hug and kiss several women, often inadvertently inserting himself into the shot and ruining it”.
“I’ve worked with really important directors and that behavior is uncommon – the most I’ve ever seen any director do is say something like, ‘high energy, guys,’” they continued. “I’ve never seen anyone on set, and this extends to a camera operator, so much as touch an actor”.
Reportedly, after several takes, Coppola allegedly said through a microphone: “Sorry if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know it’s solely for my pleasure.”
“Because Coppola funded it there was no HR department to keep things in check,” another source told the publication. “Who were they supposed to talk to? Complain to Coppola and report Coppola to himself?”
The two intimacy coordinators who worked on Megalopolis, Samantha McDonald and Ashley Anderson, were involved with several sex scenes, but according to McDonald, neither of them was on set the day of the nightclub sequence. It has also been claimed by a production member that after the scene was filmed, senior crew members became concerned that a video of Coppola kissing extras was circulating. As a reaction, they reminded people they were not authorised to share footage of behind-the-scenes work due to signing non-disclosure agreements.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.