Hollywood Director 1992

“Sophia, stop! Where are you going?”

In the Bel Air neighborhood of Beverly Hills, Francis Ford Coppola was reading a newspaper when he saw Sophia and Milla Jovovich walking out, chatting and laughing.

He stopped Sophia with a stern face.

“Dad, is something the matter?”

Sophia exchanged a few words with Milla Jovovich before turning around and entering the small living room.

“You should be in school taking a photography class right now.

Why are you at home?”

“Dad, you haven’t asked me about school in a long time.

Why are you suddenly asking about it today?

Okay, I forgot to tell you that my photography class is over.

I’m now learning how to make movies.

I want to be a director in the future.”

“A director?”

Director Coppola looked at her in confusion.

He had talked to Sophia before, and she said she didn’t want to be a director.

She wanted to be a photographer and costume designer.

At the time, he didn’t say much.

It was just that his wife said Sophia still wanted to be a director, but she didn’t have the confidence and was embarrassed to say it when he asked.

Now, Sophia was boldly saying it.

This was interesting and strange.

“Sophia, it’s great that you want to be a director.

I’m preparing a new movie.

If you’re willing, you can participate.

I’ll personally teach you how to be a director.”

“Dad, no need.

I’m now part of Link’s film crew.

We are preparing a new movie, which is expected to start filming in late March.”

“What?

You’re filming with Link?

What can he teach you?”

Hearing that his precious daughter was going to learn how to make movies from someone else, Director Coppola felt it was absurd.

As one of the strongest directors in Hollywood today, his daughter wanted to learn how to make movies, but instead of asking him, she was going to learn from someone else.

“Don’t be ridiculous.

How can Link, a new director, teach you how to make movies?”

“Of course, he can.

Although he is a new director, every movie he releases is enthusiastically received by the audience.

The box office results are getting better and better.

The movie in film history with the highest profit ratio is his work.

How can you say he can’t make movies?

He not only knows how to make movies but also knows the audience’s psychology.

He’s so great, teaching me is definitely no problem.”

Sophia smiled.

Director Coppola snorted, “'Buried' is passable, but 'Paranormal Activity' is very average.

It completely relied on media hype to sell well.

Without those news stories, the movie wouldn’t have grossed more than $100,000.

Do you want to make that kind of movie in the future?”

“What’s wrong with 'Paranormal Activity'?

That movie grossed more than 600 million US dollars worldwide, which is higher than the total box office of 'The Godfather' series.

And high box office results mean that many people like to watch this kind of movie and are willing to spend money to buy tickets to support it.

Although 'The Godfather' series has extremely good word-of-mouth and high artistic value, the box office results are very average, Dad, do you know what this means?”

Sophia asked and answered herself, smiling, “It means that ordinary audiences don’t like your movies.”

“Nonsense!

The first two 'Godfather' movies have been rated by many national media as one of the top ten classic movies in film history, top ten in the hundred greatest movies, and the global box office is also several hundred million US dollars.

You call that the audience doesn’t like it?”

“Dad, please pay attention to my wording, ordinary audience.

Most of the people who like your movies are not ordinary audiences.

They are intellectuals, upper-middle-class people, and social elites.

Even the film critics who praise 'The Godfather' are elites.

This type of people controls the national discourse and media organizations, which is why 'The Godfather' has so many good reviews.

Ordinary audiences have no voice, and those who have a voice don’t want to hear what they have to say.

This is also why movies like 'Paranormal Activity', although they have high box office results, no one praises Link and the movie.”

Sophia said.

Director Coppola frowned, “What do ordinary audiences know about movies?

Why should I cater to them when I make movies?”

Sophia shook her index finger, “Dad, this is the arrogance of you so-called art directors.

Do you know what the difference between you and Link is?

The difference is that you have different positions.

Before Link makes a movie, he thinks about how to make ordinary people understand and like these movies.

He is working hard to make movies for the masses and provide spiritual entertainment.

When you make movies, you think about how to cater to the tastes of elite audiences and make movies for the bourgeoisie.

In today’s world, the masses are the majority, and the bourgeoisie are the minority.

This is also why his movies get high box office results, while your movies have good word-of-mouth.

If I had to choose, I would rather be a director who makes movies for the masses than a director who only knows how to cater to the bourgeoisie.”

“What you’re saying doesn’t make sense.

Movies are a modern art form that combines various art forms such as drama, photography, painting, music, dance, writing, sculpture, and architecture.

This art form has been serving the elite class since its birth, not ordinary people.

Ordinary people don’t have a high level of appreciation.

No matter how well you make it, they won’t appreciate it.

If you insist on catering to their tastes, you will only become a trash movie director.”

“Dad, what you said makes a little sense, but no matter how elegant the art is, its main purpose from the day it was born is to entertain the public.

Since it is to entertain the public, is there a difference between entertaining the elite class and entertaining ordinary people?

Is making movies for the elite class noble?

Is making movies for ordinary people lowly?

Dad, there’s something wrong with your thinking.

In your heart, there is no concept of equality for all.

You think the elite class are people and deserve to be valued, while ordinary people are just mobs who can be ignored at will.

Dad, it’s not right for you to think this way.”

“You’re talking nonsense, I didn’t think that way.”

Director Coppola pointed at Sophia angrily.

This daughter was too unfilial, almost pointing at his face and scolding him for being snobbish.

“Is that so, Dad?

Ask yourself in your heart, did you consider ordinary audiences when making movies?

If you really considered ordinary people, how could you make the movies so profound and obscure?

Sometimes even I, a college student, can’t understand it, so what’s the point of making this kind of movie?

To show off that your movie-making skills are exquisite enough, or to feel complacent when film critics praise the movie for its profound content and ordinary people can’t understand it, feeling that you are amazing?”

“You!”

“Dad, your face is so ugly, could it be that I guessed what you were thinking?”

“Shut up!”

Director Coppola covered his chest, his face turning red and white.

“Dad, don’t pretend, you don’t have heart disease.”

Sophia looked at Director Coppola worriedly, poured a glass of water and stuffed it into his hand, and smoothed his chest with her palm.

Director Coppola gritted his teeth.

He didn’t have heart disease originally, but he felt very depressed.

Maybe Sophia had angered him into having heart disease.

He took a few deep breaths, drank a sip of water, and his body slowly recovered.

“Dad, are you okay?

If you’re okay, I’ll go first.

Milla is still waiting for me outside.”

Sophia got up and said.

“Stop!”

Director Coppola sat up and pointed to 'The Hollywood Reporter' on the table, “The report says that this movie was made by Link, and you also participated.

Is this true?

Don’t try to lie, I remember you said you were filming outside during that time.”

“Hehe, I signed a confidentiality agreement with Guessing Game Pictures, so I can’t tell you too much, but what I can tell you is that I also contributed to this movie.

About one-fifth of the shots were taken by me.

Oh, and I also have movie dividends, not much, 500,000 US dollars.”

Sophia proudly shook her five slender fingers.

“Hmph, what’s so proud of making this kind of movie.”

“I earned 500,000 US dollars with my personal ability, which is much better than many peers in the industry.

Why can’t I be proud?

Dad, you’re not jealous of me, are you?

I heard from Mom that when you first debuted, in order to save money to make art films, you went to the Fernando Valley to make pornographic movies…”

“Get out, get out of here.”

“Okay, goodbye Dad!”

Sophia didn’t want to see Director Coppola have a heart attack, waved her hand, and with a turn, the hem of her skirt disappeared into the living room.