Back in May, director Francis Ford Coppola was accused of attempting to kiss extras on the set of Megalopolis. Now, video has surfaced seeming to show him doing just that, as detailed in a report from Variety.
Variety has obtained two videos of Coppola seeming to wander through a bacchanalian nightclub scene, approaching multiple extras while they were dancing on set in minimal clothing, and touching and kissing them.
This appears to corroborate a report from The Guardian earlier this year that described this exact scenario, among other inappropriate behavior:
Several sources also felt that Coppola could be “old school” in his behaviour around women. He allegedly pulled women to sit on his lap, for example. And during one bacchanalian nightclub scene being shot for the film, witnesses say, Coppola came on to the set and tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras. He apparently claimed he was “trying to get them in the mood.”
Speaking to Variety today, two sources said that Coppola “appeared to act with impunity on set” and that “none of the traditional checks and balances” were in place to stop inappropriate behavior given that he had financed the $120 million film himself.
“Because Coppola funded it there was no HR department to keep things in check,” said one of the sources speaking to the publication. “Who were they supposed to talk to? Complain to Coppola and report Coppola to himself?”
Variety confirms that the scene in the published videos involved actresses who had been “cleared for topless nudity” and others who had been “cleared for scantily clad.” One source told the publication that between 150 to 200 people were on set in that time, and the report states that while the film had two intimacy coordinators working on it, neither asked to be on set for that scene.
According to the source, Coppola repeatedly got up while shooting the scene to hug and kiss women on set, to the point of accidentally ending up in the shot and ruining takes. The source added that Coppola eventually got a microphone and said to the room: “Sorry, if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know it’s solely for my pleasure.”
In a statement to Variety, executive producer Darren Demetre said that “there were two days when we shot a celebratory Studio 54-esque club scene where Francis walked around the set to establish the spirit of the scene by giving kind hugs and kisses on the cheek to the cast and background players. It was his way to help inspire and establish the club atmosphere, which was so important to the film. I was never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behavior during the course of the project.”
Demetre’s statement appears to be identical to the one he offered to IGN when the allegations first surfaced back in May. IGN has reached out to Coppola and Megalopolis for comment. This news comes just two months before the planned September 27 release of Megalopolis, which premiered at Cannes at the same time as The Guardian’s initial report.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.
Photo by Dominique Charriau/WireImage
