Anita Singh
Sat, 30 December 2023
Sofia Coppola says women still make up a small percentage of filmmakers - Franco Origlia/Getty
Hollywood is failing to produce diverse cinema because “99 per cent of the people giving money in film are straight men”, according to Sofia Coppola.
The Oscar-winning writer and director said she had to cut a scene from her latest film, a biopic of Priscilla Presley, because men did not understand it.
“We lost a scene of Priscilla riding motorcycles when she was eight months pregnant,” Coppola told GQ magazine.
“I thought it was so touching that she’s trying so hard to keep up with Elvis, even in that condition. But I feel like 99 per cent of the people giving money in film are straight men, so they don’t always relate to what I’m talking about, and they’re not that interested in it.”
Priscilla Presley, left, and Sofia Coppola who said many men aren't interested in the issues she is raising - Stefanie Keenan/WireImage
Coppola added that getting projects off the ground is difficult for all independent filmmakers, particularly in the age of streaming services.
“I think it’s a challenge for a lot of filmmakers to make unusual or unique things. More and more companies are relying on their algorithms, so if they haven’t seen it before, they’re not as open to it, because they want to see something that’s already proven.
“And women still make up such a small percentage of filmmakers too. It’s gotten better, but not by much,” she said.
Priscilla Beaulieu was 14 when she first met Presley, who was a decade older and already a star. She was 21 when they married.
Priscilla Beaulieu was 14 when she first met Presley and 21 when they married - Sabrina Lantos
Coppola, the daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola, said she had drawn on memories of her own teenage celebrity crush when making the biopic.
She told the magazine: “I did tap into what I was like at a similar age. I remember I had a big crush on Joe Strummer, and he ended up recording some music [for the film Sid and Nancy] at our family property.
“So, as a 16-year-old, I was driving around in my convertible blasting The Clash and then I stopped, looked up, and Joe Strummer was standing there. I couldn’t believe it.
“I always remember feeling kind of mortified, but also so excited that Joe Strummer was at our house.
“So I can relate to that feeling of having a crush on a rock star.”
Priscilla will be released nationwide on Jan 1
Priscilla is released nationwide on Jan 1, starring rising stars Cailee Spaeny and Jacob Elordi.
Coppola has been tipped to pick up her fourth Oscar nomination for the film.
She won the best original screenplay award in 2004 for Lost in Translation.
Algorithms and straight men are to blame for fewer diverse films – Sofia Coppola
Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter
Sat, 30 December 2023
Sofia Coppola has said that “more and more companies are relying on their algorithms” instead of opting to make a greater amount of unique films.
The Oscar-winning writer and director, 52, is releasing her latest critically acclaimed flick Priscilla, which focuses on the life of Elvis Presley’s former wife, in UK cinemas on Monday.
Coppola told GQ magazine that getting a movie project off the ground is “always a challenge” and she was helped by her producer Lorenzo Mieli in securing financing for her latest film.
Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter
Sat, 30 December 2023
Sofia Coppola has said that “more and more companies are relying on their algorithms” instead of opting to make a greater amount of unique films.
The Oscar-winning writer and director, 52, is releasing her latest critically acclaimed flick Priscilla, which focuses on the life of Elvis Presley’s former wife, in UK cinemas on Monday.
Coppola told GQ magazine that getting a movie project off the ground is “always a challenge” and she was helped by her producer Lorenzo Mieli in securing financing for her latest film.
Coppola added: “I think it’s a challenge for a lot of filmmakers to make unusual or unique things.
“More and more companies are relying on their algorithms, so if they haven’t seen it before, they’re not as open to it, because they want to see something that’s already proven.
“And women still make up such a small percentage of filmmakers too. It’s gotten better, but not by much.”
Coppola also said that the biographical movie had to cut a scene where Priscilla Presley (Cailee Spaeny) is using a motorcycle while in her last pregnancy trimester.
Cailee Spaeny who plays Priscilla Presley. (Ian West/PA)
She said: “I thought it was so touching that she’s trying so hard to keep up with Elvis (Jacob Elordi), even in that condition.
“But I feel like 99% of the people giving money in film are straight men, so they don’t always relate to what I’m talking about, and they’re not that interested in it.”
The daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola and documentarian Eleanor Coppola won the best original screenplay Academy Award for the 2003 romantic comedy Lost In Translation.
About a fading movie star, played by Bill Murray, who meets Scarlett Johansson’s recent college graduate at a Tokyo hotel, the film also earned Coppola directing and best picture Oscar nods.
She is also known for historical drama Marie Antoinette, psychological drama The Virgin Suicides and period drama The Beguiled.
Priscilla is in cinemas on Monday January 1.
“More and more companies are relying on their algorithms, so if they haven’t seen it before, they’re not as open to it, because they want to see something that’s already proven.
“And women still make up such a small percentage of filmmakers too. It’s gotten better, but not by much.”
Coppola also said that the biographical movie had to cut a scene where Priscilla Presley (Cailee Spaeny) is using a motorcycle while in her last pregnancy trimester.
Cailee Spaeny who plays Priscilla Presley. (Ian West/PA)
She said: “I thought it was so touching that she’s trying so hard to keep up with Elvis (Jacob Elordi), even in that condition.
“But I feel like 99% of the people giving money in film are straight men, so they don’t always relate to what I’m talking about, and they’re not that interested in it.”
The daughter of director Francis Ford Coppola and documentarian Eleanor Coppola won the best original screenplay Academy Award for the 2003 romantic comedy Lost In Translation.
About a fading movie star, played by Bill Murray, who meets Scarlett Johansson’s recent college graduate at a Tokyo hotel, the film also earned Coppola directing and best picture Oscar nods.
She is also known for historical drama Marie Antoinette, psychological drama The Virgin Suicides and period drama The Beguiled.
Priscilla is in cinemas on Monday January 1.
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