Shock and Controversy on the Set of Francis Ford Coppola's “Megalopolis”

Francis Ford Coppola, the legendary director known for his iconic films like “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” is facing significant scrutiny following allegations of inappropriate behavior on the set of his latest film, “Megalopolis.” An extra from the set has come forward, describing her shock and discomfort after Coppola kissed her during the filming of a scene, raising concerns about the director's conduct and the overall working environment on set.

The Incident

The allegations surfaced after Variety published videos showing Coppola mingling with the crowd and stopping to kiss several female background actors. One of the women in the video, Lauren Pagone, who appeared in multiple scenes in “Megalopolis” as an extra, described her experience. Pagone was dancing in the middle of a live take of a nightclub sequence when Coppola approached her, pulled her towards him, and kissed her.

“I was in shock. I didn't expect him to kiss and hug me like that. I was caught off guard. And I can tell you he came around a couple times,” Pagone shared.

Pagone, who has worked on several high-profile projects like Paramount+'s “Mayor of Kingstown” and Apple TV+'s “City on Fire,” stated that the situation was unusual. She noted that on other projects, an intimacy coordinator was always present during scenes involving nudity. However, for this nightclub sequence, no such coordinator was available, even though several actresses were cleared to do topless nudity. Pagone herself did not appear nude and was dressed in a top with a plunging neckline.

Coming Forward

Pagone decided to speak out after another actress, Rayna Menz, told Deadline that she was one of the actresses seen in the videos published by Variety. Menz claimed that Coppola “did nothing to make me or for that matter anyone on set feel uncomfortable.” This statement upset Pagone, who felt that Menz was speaking on behalf of the entire cast and crew without knowing everyone's personal experiences.

“I don't appreciate anybody speaking for me. I would never speak for that actress,” Pagone stated. “I've kept my mouth shut. I've kept quiet. But it's frustrating that she's putting out there, ‘Hey, it was great for everyone' when she doesn't know what other people were feeling. You can't speak for anyone but yourself. My experience was different.”

Absence of Intimacy Coordinators

According to Samantha McDonald, one of the intimacy coordinators for “Megalopolis,” neither she nor her colleague Ashley Anderson were on set for the nightclub scene. The scene was filmed on February 14, 2023, at Atlanta's Tabernacle concert hall. McDonald commented, “I can't really speak to the reason why they chose to bring us in when they did and not when they didn't.”

Additional Allegations

In recent days, another cast member approached Variety, claiming they witnessed Coppola kissing multiple women during a New Year's Eve celebration scene. Before filming began, Coppola instructed the extras to act as they would at a typical holiday party and to kiss each other at the end of the countdown. He also mentioned he might join in and kiss a few people himself. After calling cut, Coppola proceeded to kiss several women without their consent, surprising many.

“The women that I saw being kissed did not see him coming. He just basically grabbed them and planted the kiss on them without any kind of consent,” the cast member said. “They all kind of laughed it off for a moment, and then I could tell that they were just surprised.”

The Set Environment

A crew member who shot the initial video shared by Variety confirmed Coppola's behavior during the New Year's Eve sequence, noting it was one of several instances where the director kissed background performers. This crew member described the set environment as “super weird and uncomfortable,” stating it was the worst experience they had on a set.

Sources indicated that because Coppola financed the entire $120 million budget himself, there was no formal channel to address his behavior. In contrast, movies produced by major studios or streaming platforms typically have structured human resources departments where issues and concerns can be raised.

Impact on “Megalopolis”

The controversy has cast a shadow over “Megalopolis,” which stars Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, and Shia LaBeouf. Lionsgate is set to release the film domestically on September 27. As more details emerge, the allegations raise important questions about on-set conduct and the measures in place to protect cast and crew members.

As the film industry continues to grapple with issues of consent and workplace behavior, the experiences shared by Pagone and other cast members highlight the need for clear boundaries and the presence of intimacy coordinators during sensitive scenes. The unfolding situation on the set of “Megalopolis” serves as a reminder that even revered filmmakers must adhere to professional standards and respect the boundaries of those they work with.