Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Megalopolis’ Drama Now Turns to the Courtroom

As a seasoned gamer with an eye for detail and a knack for sifting through the noise, it’s clear to me that the chaos surrounding the “Megalopolis” production is reminiscent of a high-stakes game of chess – except instead of pieces on a board, we have lawsuits flying left and right.

The disagreement about Francis Ford Coppola’s alleged unprofessional conduct on the set of Megalopolis is escalating, as various individuals have initiated lawsuits against each other in a series of reciprocal legal actions.

On Wednesday, Francis Ford Coppola filed a defamation lawsuit against Variety. He refuted allegations that there were no safeguards to prevent sexual harassment and instead accused the magazine of fabricating the statements. This action came after an extra filed a lawsuit on Monday, detailing accusations of sexual harassment against the director.

Lawsuits have been lodged as the launch of Megalopolis is scheduled within about two weeks’ time. Penske Media Corporation, proprietor of both Variety and THR, has yet to provide a statement following a request for comment.

In July, Variety published an article stating that Coppola seemed to act without consequences on set following an earlier report by the Guardian alleging he had attempted to kiss some of the partially clothed female extras. The article, based on two sources, described his actions as unprofessional and claimed that the director frequently leaped up to hug and kiss several women, sometimes accidentally getting into the shot and ruining it. Coppola then requested a correction and retraction from Variety, but they refused, according to reports.

In the court case, Coppola stated that the video attached to the news article, which allegedly depicted him attempting to kiss some of the extras, was misleading; he did not actually engage in such actions. Furthermore, he refuted accusations that there was no human resources department on set to handle sexual harassment claims.

Furthermore, the director defended himself against accusations that he damaged specific shots by being included in them.

According to the statement in the complaint, four cameras were filming the mentioned scene, three of which could move around. The crew frequently switched positions with these mobile cameras. Since multiple camera angles were used at various times, it’s no surprise that members of the crew and Coppola ended up in some shots. This was expected and couldn’t be avoided. One reason for editing shots is to account for this.

In the production, individuals involved such as actors and team behind the scenes agreed to a confidentiality pact, allegedly intended to maintain secrecy and prevent external intrusion or influence. Coppola, demanding at least $15 million, contends that Variety should have doubted their information since it originated from individuals who had breached a non-disclosure agreement.

In contrast to Coppola’s denial of allegations about unprofessional conduct, a lawsuit was brought forth by Lauren Pagone, who worked as an extra on set during the controversial nightclub sequences, within the Georgia state court.

In her grievance, Pagone claimed that Coppola forcefully kissed and inappropriately touched her, despite being informed there would be no explicit content in the footage. She stated that no intimacy supervisor was provided for the scene, which could have allowed her to voice her reservations. The lawsuit encompassed charges such as battery, assault, and negligence related to preventing sexual harassment, among others.

In June, it was announced that Lionsgate would be releasing Coppola’s $120 million personal endeavor in American cinemas. They did not cover the advertising costs; instead, the director took care of those expenses.

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2024-09-12 21:54

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