Right before “Megalopolis” made its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May, a bombshell exposé accused the movie’s director, Francis Ford Coppola, of inappropriate behavior toward some of the women on set.
Eyewitnesses told the Guardian at the time that Coppola, 85, “came on to the set and tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras” while filming a bacchanalian nightclub scene.
Several sources told the outlet that Coppola could be “old school” in his treatment of female cast and crew members, allegedly even pulling a few to sit on his lap.
On Friday, Variety obtained two videos that appeared to corroborate the witnesses’ kissing claim.
The scene in question was shot in February 2023 at the Tabernacle, a concert hall in Atlanta.
According to the call sheet, which the outlet reviewed, the extras playing female partygoers had been “cleared for topless nudity,” while others in the scene had been “cleared for scantily clad.”
One insider who was present for the nightclub scene told Variety that between 150 to 200 people were on the set.
As Coppola was directing, he allegedly kept leaping up to kiss and hug several women, often inadvertently inserting himself into the shot and thereby ruining it.
The insider described the behavior as “uncommon.”
After multiple takes, Coppola allegedly got on a microphone and announced to everyone in the room, “Sorry — if I come up to you and kiss you, just know it’s solely for my pleasure.”
The Guardian noted that while “Megalopolis” was in production, the filmmaker’s wife, Eleanor Coppola, had become ill. She was on set during the making of the movie “until her illness prevented her from being there,” a spokesperson told the outlet. She died in April.
A source close to him noted that the film came in on time and on budget despite Eleanor’s death.
Francis’ rep declined to comment on the videos or claims about his conduct. Page Six has also reached out for comment but didn’t receive any at the time of publication.
Back in June, Francis seemingly denied the allegations when The New York Times asked about The Guardian’s report detailing the incident. He told the outlet, “I’m not touchy-feely” because “I’m too shy.”
Meanwhile, executive co-producer Darren Demetre tried to defend Francis in a statement that actually admitted to the physical touching.
“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,” he said in part.
“It was his way to help inspire and establish the club atmosphere, which was so important to the film.”
Demetre added that he “was never aware of any complaints of harassment or ill behavior during the course of the project.”
The Guardian’s report cited other allegedly unprofessional on-set conduct by Francis, who financed the entire $120-million project himself.
One source told Variety crew members looked at each other uncomfortably when Coppola kissed and hugged the extras but that no one publicly objected or tried to intervene.
“Because Coppola funded it, there was no HR department to keep things in check,” a second source said. “Who were they supposed to talk to? Complain to Coppola and report Coppola to himself?”
Neither of the two intimacy coordinators who worked on the movie were on set the day of the nightclub scene, with one telling the outlet, “I can’t really speak to the reason why they chose to bring us in when they did and not when they didn’t.”
In the days that followed the scene in question, a production source that senior crew members became concerned that the kissing videos were circulating, so they reminded everyone that their non-disclosure agreements stated they were not to share footage of any behind-the-scenes work.
“Megalopolis” hits theaters in September.