Francis Ford Coppola Interview Clip

Like many of my colleagues, I’m a big fan of Francis Ford Coppola.  In fact, I remember vividly every single place where I watched every single film of his.  This, in my opinion, is always a great indicator of the power of any given film.  For example, I saw “The Godfather” trilogy while sitting on the floor in the family room of my old house in St. Louis, Missouri.  I saw “The Conversation” in a friend’s dorm room at Southern Methodist University.  I saw “One From The Heart” at the Academy Theater on Wilshire in Beverly Hills.  I can remember them all…

Furthermore, it seems that, whether I’m watching one of Coppola’s films, reading one of his screenplays, or listening to one of his commentaries, I’m always utterly captivated by what he has to say.  In fact, I often joke with friends that I would probably listen to Coppola describe how to make a cup of coffee, if I knew such a recording existed. 

The man’s enthusiasm is contagious. 

In 1991, “Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse,” a documentary about the making of “Apocalypse Now,” was released.  I saw it, too, for the first time in college.  (In my dorm room in Smith Hall at SMU, if anybody cares.)  And, at the risk of sounding sacrilegious, I have to say that I enjoy that film as much as, if not greater than, “Apocalypse Now” itself. 

It had me at “I swallowed a bug.” 

Anyway, in the final interview clip of the documentary, Coppola said something that I have never forgotten.  It inspired me then and it inspires me to this day.  I'm happy to report that someone has posted it on Youtube and I was able to re-post it below for your viewing pleasure.  I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.  Enjoy.

-Dax

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