Film, Family, and Italian Culture
Michael Whalen and students in conversation with director Francis Ford Coppola.
Santa Clara University students had the opportunity to connect with legendary director and winemaker Francis Ford Coppola when he came to campus to discuss film, family, and Italian culture on January 16.
The conversation at the de Saisset was moderated by the Communication Department's Michael Whalen and Evelyn Ferraro, assistant professor of Italian Studies, Modern Languages and Literatures. But much of the conversation took place between students who asked Coppola questions on a wide range of topics.
"Having a chance to discuss filmmaking with Coppola is a once in a lifetime event for our students," Whalen said. "His dedication to his craft is unmatched. His willingness to remain independent of the studios and to make films on his terms established a pathway for the American auteur movement in the 1970s, and he has done more to advance the quality and art of American cinema than any other."
Coppola is best known as the six-time Oscar-winning director, writer, and producer of such epic films as the Godfather trilogy and Apocalypse Now. As a writer, director, producer, and technological pioneer, Coppola has created a body of work that has helped to shape contemporary American cinema. He has been making films for more than fifty years and wine for nearly forty.