American director, screenwriter and producer Francis Ford Coppola has denied what was written about inappropriate behavior during the filming of his new movie “Megalopolis”.
On the eve of the premiere of the famous director, the Guardian published a report, in which allegations of “riotous behavior” were made on the set and also reported that Coppola “pulled women to sit on his lap” and “He tried to kiss them”.
“I’m not effusive,” clarified the 85-year-old director. The 140-minute Megalopolis, starring Adam Driver and Aubrey Plaza, was shot at Coppola’s expense and is considered his life’s work.
In a new interview with the New York Times about the film, he addressed these claims, citing the advice of his mother, Italia. “My mother told me that if you aggressively flirt with a woman, that means you don’t respect her, and the women I love, I really respect them,” concluded the director.
In a statement in response to The Guardian’s report, Megalopolis executive producer Darren Dimitre said: “I have not heard any complaints of harassment or misconduct during the project. Francis has successfully created a directed a major independent film making all the tough decisions to ensure it was delivered on time and on budget while staying true to his creative vision,” he said.
“There were two days we shot a celebratory club scene at Studio 54 where Francis walked around the set to create the spirit of the scene giving tender hugs and kisses on the cheeks to the cast and other actors .This is his way of encouraging and creating the atmosphere of the club, which is very important in the film,” he said.