Hollywood Director 1992.

Chapter 134 Father and Daughter
"Sophia, stop, where are you going?"

In the Bel-Air Villa area of Beverly Hills, director Francis Ford Coppola was reading a newspaper. When he saw Sofia and Milla Jovovich walking out talking and laughing, he stopped Sofia with a stern face.

"Dad, is something wrong?"

Sofia said a few words to Milla Jovovich and turned to the small living room.

"You should be taking a photography class at school at this time, why are you at home?"

"Dad, you haven't asked me about school for a long time. Why did you suddenly ask me today? Well, I forgot to tell you that my photography class has ended. Now I'm learning how to shoot a movie. I want to be a director in the future."

"Being a director?"

Director Coppola looked at her in confusion. He had talked to Sofia before, and Sofia said she didn't want to be a director, but wanted to be a photographer and costume designer. He didn't say much at the time.

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

Now Sophia speaks out boldly.

It's 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 thanks. I'm a member of Link's crew now. We are preparing for a new movie and are expected to start filming in late March."

"What? You're filming with Link, what can he teach you?"

When director Coppola heard that his beloved daughter wanted to learn how to make movies from others, he thought it was ridiculous. As one of the most powerful directors in Hollywood, his daughter wanted to learn how to make movies but instead of asking him for advice, she wanted to learn from others.

"Don't be ridiculous. How can a new director like Link teach you how to make a movie?"

"Of course. Although he is a new director, every time his movie is released, it is well received by the audience. The box office performance of his movies is better and better. The movie with the highest return on investment in current film history is his work. How can you say that he can't make movies? Not only can he make movies, but he also knows the psychology of the audience. He is so good, there will be no problem for him to teach me."

Sophia laughed.

Director Coppola snorted, "Buried is passable, but Paranormal Activity is just average. It sold completely due to media hype. Without those news reports, the box office of this movie would not exceed 10. Do you want to make this kind of movie in the future?"

"What happened to Paranormal Activity? This movie sold over 6 million US dollars worldwide, which is higher than the total box office of The Godfather series. 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 the theater to support it. Although The Godfather series has a very good reputation and high artistic quality, its box office results are very average. Dad, do you know what this means?"

Sofia answered her own question and smiled, "It means that the general audience doesn't like your movie."

"Nonsense! The first two Godfather movies were rated as two of the top ten classic movies in film history and the top ten of the top 100 classic movies by media in many countries, and the global box office has also reached hundreds of millions of dollars. And you say the audience doesn't like it?"

"Dad, please pay attention to my choice of words. Ordinary audiences, most of the people who like your movies are not ordinary audiences. They are intellectuals, middle and upper class, and social elites.

Even those film critics who praised "The Godfather" are from the elite class, who control the country's discourse power and media organizations, which is why "The Godfather" has so many good reviews.

Ordinary audiences have no say, and those who have say don’t want to hear what they say, which is why no one praises Link and the movie, even though movies like Paranormal Activity have high box office results.”

Sophia said.

Director Coppola frowned, "What do ordinary audiences know about movies? Why should I make movies to cater to them?"

Sophia shook her index finger. "Dad, this is the arrogance of you self-proclaimed literary directors. Do you know the difference between you and Link? The difference is your different standpoints. Before Link made a movie, he thought about how to make the general public understand and like these movies. He is working hard to make movies for the general public and provide spiritual entertainment.

When you make movies, you think about how to cater to the tastes of the elite audience and make movies for the bourgeoisie. In today's world, the masses are the majority, and the bourgeoisie is the minority, which is why his movies get high box office and your movies have good reputation.

If I had to choose, I would rather be a director who makes films for the masses, rather than a director who only caters to the bourgeoisie.”

"What you said doesn't make sense. Film is a form of modern art that combines drama, photography, painting, music, dance, writing, sculpture, architecture and other art forms. This art form has been designed to serve the elite, not ordinary people, since its inception. Ordinary people don't have a high level of appreciation, so no matter how good your film is, they won't be able to appreciate it. If you insist on catering to their tastes, you will only end up being a director of junk films."

"Dad, you have a point. But no matter how elegant the art is, its main purpose since the day it was created is to entertain the masses. Since it is to entertain the masses, is there any difference between entertaining the elite and entertaining ordinary people?

Is it noble to make movies for the elite, and is it cheap to make movies for ordinary people?
Dad, your thinking is very problematic. In your heart, there is no concept of equality for all. You think the elite are human beings who deserve to be valued, while ordinary people are just a mob and can be ignored at will. Dad, it is wrong for you to think this way. "

"You're talking nonsense, I don't think that."

Director Coppola pointed at Sofia angrily, saying that his daughter was so unfilial. She almost pointed at his face and scolded him for being so narrow-minded.

"Really, Dad? Ask yourself, have you ever considered the average audience when you were making a movie? If you really considered average people, how could you make a movie so profound and obscure? Sometimes even a college student like me can't understand it. Then what's the point of making such a movie? To show off your superb filmmaking skills, or to be complacent and feel great when critics praise the movie for its profound connotations that average people can't understand?"

"you!"

"Dad, you look so unhappy. Did I guess what you were thinking?"

"you shut up!"

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

"Dad, don't pretend, you don't have a heart disease."

Sofia looked at Director Coppola worriedly, poured a glass of water into his hand, and smoothed her palm across his chest.

Director Coppola gritted his teeth. He didn't have a heart disease, but he felt very depressed. Maybe Sofia had caused him to have a heart attack. He took a few deep breaths, drank some water, and then his body slowly recovered.

"Dad, are you okay? If you're okay, I'll leave first. Mira is still waiting for me outside."

Sophia said, standing up.

"stop!"

Director Coppola sat up and pointed to The Hollywood Reporter on the table. "The newspaper said that this movie was shot by Link and you were also involved. Is this true? Don't try to lie. I remember you said you were shooting a movie outside during that time."

"Hey, I signed a confidentiality agreement with Guess What? Pictures, so I can't tell you too much, but I can tell you that I also contributed to this movie. Almost one-fifth of the shots were shot by me. Oh, and I also got a share of the movie's profits. It's not much, just $50."

Sophia shook her five slender fingers proudly.

"Humph, there's nothing to be proud of in making a movie like this."

"I have earned $50 with my own ability, which is much better than many of my peers in the industry. Why can't I be proud of myself? Dad, you are not jealous of me, are you? Mom told me that when you first debuted, you went to Fernando Valley to make pornographic movies in order to save money to make art films."

"Get out of here, get out of here."

"Okay, bye dad!"

Sofia didn't want to see Director Coppola have a heart attack, so she waved her hand, turned around, and the hem of her skirt disappeared into the living room.

(End of this chapter)