Francis Ford Coppola | Academy of Achievement

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They didn't like the way I was shooting it. I was always on the verge of getting fired." Executives at Paramount had so little faith in the 32-year-old filmmaker they had hired to direct The Godfather, they actually hired another director to follow Francis Ford Coppola around the set, just to remind him he could be replaced at any moment. Despite studio interference, Coppola trusted his instincts, and The Godfather became a massive success with both critics and the public. Along with its even more acclaimed sequel, it is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and appears on every list of the best films ever made. Francis Ford Coppola has continued to trust his instincts, winning multiple Academy Awards forThe Godfather II, and directing such legendary films as The Conversation and Apocalypse Now. He has made and lost several fortunes over the course of a life as dramatic as his own films. Today, he is more productive than ever and, both by his personal example and his generous sponsorship of young filmmakers, has left an indelible mark on the history of motion pictures."/> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow"/> <meta name="googlebot" content="index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1"/> <meta name="bingbot" content="index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1"/> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <meta property="og:type" content="article"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Francis Ford Coppola | Academy of Achievement"/> <meta property="og:description" content="<p class="inputTextFirst">"They didn't like the cast. They didn't like the way I was shooting it. I was always on the verge of getting fired."</p> <p class="inputText">Executives at Paramount had so little faith in the 32-year-old filmmaker they had hired to direct <i>The Godfather,</i> they actually hired another director to follow Francis Ford Coppola around the set, just to remind him he could be replaced at any moment. Despite studio interference, Coppola trusted his instincts, and <i>The Godfather</i> became a massive success with both critics and the public. Along with its even more acclaimed sequel, it is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and appears on every list of the best films ever made.</p> <p class="inputText">Francis Ford Coppola has continued to trust his instincts, winning multiple Academy Awards for<i>The Godfather II,</i> and directing such legendary films as <i>The Conversation</i> and <i>Apocalypse Now. </i>He has made and lost several fortunes over the course of a life as dramatic as his own films. Today, he is more productive than ever and, both by his personal example and his generous sponsorship of young filmmakers, has left an indelible mark on the history of motion pictures.</p>"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Academy of Achievement"/> <meta property="article:modified_time" content="2018-05-18T13:58:38+00:00"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-new-Feature-Image.jpg"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="2800"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="1120"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"/> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@achievers1961"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@achievers1961"/> <script type="application/ld+json" class="yoast-schema-graph">{"@context":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/#organization","name":"Academy of Achievement","url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/","sameAs":["https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-academy-of-achievement","https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChe_87uh1H-NIMf3ndTjPFw","https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_of_Achievement","https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://twitter.com/achievers1961"],"logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/#logo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/12.png","width":1200,"height":630,"caption":"Academy of Achievement"},"image":{"@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/#logo"}},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/#website","url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/","name":"Academy of Achievement","description":"A museum of living history","publisher":{"@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/search/{search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-new-Feature-Image.jpg","width":2800,"height":1120,"caption":"Francis Ford Coppola"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/#webpage","url":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/","name":"Francis Ford Coppola | Academy of Achievement","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/francis-ford-coppola/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2016-10-27T03:17:29+00:00","dateModified":"2018-05-18T13:58:38+00:00","description":"\"They didn't like the cast. 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role="document"> <div class="content"> <main class="main"> <div class="feature-area__container"> <header class="feature-area feature-area--has-image ratio-container ratio-container--feature"> <figure class="feature-box"> <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image feature-area__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-new-Feature-Image.jpg [(max-width:544px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-new-Feature-Image-1400x560.jpg [(max-width:992px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-new-Feature-Image.jpg"></div> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <figcaption class="feature-area__text ratio-container__text container"> <div class="feature-area__text-inner text-white"> <h2 class="serif-8 feature-area__text-subhead back"><a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever">All achievers</a></h2> <h1 class="serif-1 entry-title feature-area__text-headline">Francis Ford Coppola</h1> <h5 class="sans-6 feature-area__blurb">Filmmaker, Producer and Screenwriter</h5> </div> </figcaption> </div> </div> </figure> </header> </div>  <nav class="in-page-nav row fixedsticky"> <ul class="nav text-xs-center clearfix" role="tablist"> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link active" data-toggle="tab" href="#biography" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Biography">Biography</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#profile" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Profile">Profile</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#interview" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Interview">Interview</a> </li> <li class="nav-item col-xs-3"> <a class="nav-link" data-toggle="tab" href="#gallery" role="tab" data-gtm-category="tab" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever Gallery">Gallery</a> </li> </ul> </nav> <article class="post-2238 achiever type-achiever status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry careers-filmmaker"> <div class="entry-content container clearfix">  <div class="tab-content"> <div class="tab-pane active" id="biography" role="tabpanel"> <section class="achiever--biography"> <div class="row"> <header class="editorial-article__header col-md-8 col-md-offset-2 text-xs-center"> <i class="icon-icon_bio text-brand-primary"></i> <h3 class="serif-3 quote-marks">Your best idea or work is going to be attacked the most…So you have to really be courageous about your instincts and your ideas, because otherwise you'll just knuckle under and change it. And then things that might have been memorable will be lost.</h3> </header> </div> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar clearfix"> <h2 class="serif-3 p-b-1">Five Oscars as a Producer, Director and Screenwriter</h2> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Birth</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> April 7, 1939 </dd> </div> </aside> <article class="editorial-article col-md-8"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The son of composer and musician Carmine Coppola, Francis was born in Detroit, Michigan but grew up in Queens, New York, where his family settled shortly after his birth. Coppola entered Hofstra University in 1955 to major in theater arts. He was elected president of the Green Wig, the university’s drama group, and the Kaleidoscopians, its musical comedy club. He then merged the two into the Spectrum Players. Under his leadership, the Spectrum staged a new production each week. Coppola won three D.H. Lawrence Awards for theatrical production and direction, and received a Beckerman Award for his outstanding contributions to the school’s theater arts division.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27283" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27283" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="size-full wp-image-27283 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-27283 lazyload" alt="1930: Russian film producer and director Sergei M. Eisenstein. (Condé Nast Archive/CORBIS)" width="2280" height="2969" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400-292x380.jpg 292w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400-584x760.jpg 584w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27283" class="wp-caption-text">1930: The pioneering Russian film director Sergei Eisenstein. His film, <em>Ten Days That Shook The World</em>, inspired generations of filmmakers, including the young Francis Ford Coppola. Eisenstein built on the editing techniques of American directors, such as D. W. Griffith, to create the visual vocabulary of cinema. Coppola was so impressed with the “magical illusion” of his silent film that he decided to attend film school at UCLA. (Condé Nast Archive)</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">After earning his Bachelor’s degree in theater arts in 1959, he enrolled at UCLA for graduate work in film. While still at UCLA, Coppola worked as an all-purpose assistant to independent film producer Roger Corman on a variety of modestly budgeted films. Coppola then wrote an English-language version of a Russian science fiction movie, transforming it into a monster feature that American International released in 1963 as <i>Battle Beyond the Sun.</i> Impressed by the 24-year-old’s adaptability and perseverance, Corman made Coppola the dialogue director on <i>The Tower of London,</i> soundman for <i>The Young Racers</i>, and associate producer of <i>The Terror.</i></span></p> <figure id="attachment_29071" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-29071" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-29071 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-29071 size-full lazyload" width="2280" height="1817" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054-380x303.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054-760x606.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-29071" class="wp-caption-text">“To use technology to create magic is what appealed to me.” Francis Ford Coppola, the man behind the camera.</figcaption></figure> <p>While on location in Ireland for <i>The Young Racers</i> in 1962, Coppola proposed an idea that appealed to Corman’s passion for thrift. On a minuscule budget, Coppola directed in a period of just nine days, <i>Dementia 13,</i> his first feature from his own original screenplay. Somewhat superior to the run-of-the-mill exploitation films being turned out at that time, the film recouped its shoestring expenses and went on to become a minor cult film among the horror buffs. It was on the set of <i>Dementia 13</i> that Coppola met Eleanor Neil, who would later become his wife.</p> <figure id="attachment_27298" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27298" style="width: 1280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27298 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27298 size-full lazyload" alt="1970: Francis Ford Coppola won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as co-writer, with Edmund H. North, for "Patton," an epic biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. "Patton" won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay." width="1280" height="1920" data-sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton.jpg 1280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton-253x380.jpg 253w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton-507x760.jpg 507w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27298" class="wp-caption-text">1970: Francis Ford Coppola won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as co-writer, with Edmund H. North, for <em>Patton</em>, an epic war film about the World War II hero U.S. General George S. Patton. <em>Patton</em> won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. The opening monologue, delivered by George C. Scott as Patton, with an enormous American flag behind him, remains a memorable image in film.</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">After he won UCLA’s Samuel Goldwyn Award for the best screenplay written by a student, Seven Arts hired Coppola to adapt the late Carson McCullers’s novel <i>Reflections in a Golden Eye</i> as a vehicle for Marlon Brando (who was to star for Coppola later, in <i>The Godfather</i> and <i>Apocalypse Now</i>).</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">In 1966 Coppola completed his Master of Fine Arts degree at UCLA, and directed his second film, <i>You’re a Big Boy Now</i>, which earned a commercial release and critical acclaim. He then directed the motion picture adaptation of the Broadway musical <i>Finian’s Rainbow</i>, followed by another original work, <i>The Rain People,</i> grand prize winner at the 1970 San Sebastian International Film Festival.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27306" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27306" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27306 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27306 size-full lazyload" alt="1972: "The Godfather," a crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel of the same name. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1972 and was for a time the highest-grossing film ever made. It won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Puzo and Coppola)." width="2280" height="3229" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2-268x380.jpg 268w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2-537x760.jpg 537w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27306" class="wp-caption-text">1972: <em>The Godfather</em>, a crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo’s bestselling novel of the same name. The film was the year’s highest-grossing film and was for a time the highest-grossing film ever made. It won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay.</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Coppola’s work on <i>Reflections in a Golden Eye</i> also led to a screenwriting assignment on the film <i>Patton</i>. Coppola shared the 1971 Oscar for best adapted screenplay with <i>Patton</i> co-writer Edmund H. North. During the next four years, Coppola was involved with further production work and script collaborations, including writing an adaptation of <i>This Property Is Condemned</i> by Tennessee Williams (with Fred Coe and Edith Sommer), and a screenplay for <i>Is Paris Burning?</i> (with <span class="s2">Gore Vidal</span>).</span></p> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">In 1969 Coppola and <span class="s2">George Lucas</span> established American Zoetrope, an independent film production company based in San Francisco. The establishment of American Zoetrope created opportunities for other filmmakers, including Lucas, John Milius, Carroll Ballard and John Korty.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27311" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27311" style="width: 657px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27311 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27311 size-full lazyload" alt="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now," a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" width="657" height="952" data-sizes="(max-width: 657px) 100vw, 657px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht.jpg 657w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht-262x380.jpg 262w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht-524x760.jpg 524w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27311" class="wp-caption-text">Francis Ford Coppola during the production of <em>Apocalypse Now</em>, a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">In 1971 Coppola’s film <i>The Godfather</i> became one of the highest-grossing movies in history, and brought him an Oscar for writing the screenplay with Mario Puzo. The film received an Academy Award for Best Picture and a Best Director nomination. Coppola’s next film, <i>The Conversation,</i> was honored with the Golden Palm Award at the Cannes Film Festival, and received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Also in 1974, Coppola wrote the screenplay for <i>The Great Gatsby,</i> and <i>The Godfather, Part II</i> was released. <i>The Godfather, Part II</i> rivaled its predecessor as a high-grosser at the box office and won six Academy Awards. Coppola won Oscars as the producer, director and writer. No sequel had ever been so honored. In all, Coppola had won six Oscars by the time he was 36.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27307" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27307" style="width: 1050px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27307 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27307 size-full lazyload" alt="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now," a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" width="1050" height="644" data-sizes="(max-width: 1050px) 100vw, 1050px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf.jpg 1050w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf-380x233.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf-760x466.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27307" class="wp-caption-text">Francis Ford Coppola during the production of <em>Apocalypse Now</em>, a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">At Zoetrope, Coppola produced <i>THX-1138,</i> and <i>American Graffiti,</i> directed by George Lucas. <i>American Graffiti</i> received five Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. Meanwhile, Coppola had begun his most ambitious film, <i>Apocalypse Now.</i> The film was shot in the jungles of the Philippines over the course of a difficult year, chronicled in the documentary film <i>Hearts of Darkness.</i> This acclaimed movie won a Golden Palm Award from the Cannes Film Festival and two Academy Awards. Coppola was nominated for producer, director and writing Oscars.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_15203" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-15203" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-15203 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Coppala_Lucas_10_photofest.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-15203 size-full lazyload" alt="George Lucas and lifelong friend Francis Ford Coppola at Lucas's Skywalker Ranch. (© LucasFilm, Ltd.)" width="2280" height="1469" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Coppala_Lucas_10_photofest.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Coppala_Lucas_10_photofest-380x245.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Coppala_Lucas_10_photofest-760x490.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Coppala_Lucas_10_photofest.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-15203" class="wp-caption-text">George Lucas and lifelong friend and mentor Francis Ford Coppola at Lucas’s Skywalker Ranch. (© LucasFilm, Ltd.)</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Coppola’s idiosyncratic musical fantasy, <i>One From the Heart,</i> pioneered the use of video editing techniques which are standard practice in the film industry today. At the time, however, the picture made back less than $8 million of the $25 million Coppola spent producing it, most of which came from his own pocket. In 1983, Coppola was forced to sell his beloved Zoetrope Studio.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27286" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27286" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27286 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27286 size-full lazyload" alt="1990: Francis Ford Coppola directs Joe Mantegna (left), Al Pacino (center), Andy Garcia (standing right) and Eli Wallach (seated second from right) on the set of "The Godfather, Part III." [Paramount Pictures]" width="2280" height="1600" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226-380x267.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226-760x533.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27286" class="wp-caption-text">1990: Francis Ford Coppola directs Joe Mantegna (left), Al Pacino as Michael Corleone the Mafia kingpin, Andy Garcia (right) and Eli Wallach (seated second from right) on the set of <em>The Godfather, Part III</em>. [Paramount Pictures]</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">While some in the film industry predicted the end of Coppola’s career, he began his comeback immediately with a startling variety of films, many highly commercial, including the comedy <i>Peggy Sue Got Married</i>, the drama <i>Gardens of Stone,</i> and <i>Tucker: The Man and His Dream, </i>the real-life story of the maverick auto manufacturer Preston Tucker. The year 1990 saw the long-awaited release of <i>The Godfather III</i>. Although Coppola’s third film in the trilogy did not receive the critical acclaim or awards of its predecessors, it was a box office success, and Coppola’s professional vindication was complete.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27295" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27295" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27295 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27295 size-full lazyload" alt="2007: On the set of "Youth Without Youth," a fantasy drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola." width="2280" height="1514" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l-380x252.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l-760x505.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27295" class="wp-caption-text">2007: On the set of <em>Youth Without Youth</em>, a fantasy drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. It was the first motion picture that Coppola had directed in ten years since 1997’s <em>The Rainmaker</em>. (American Zoetrope)</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Coppola continued to direct successful films in the 1990s, including a remake of <i>Dracula</i>, but after shooting the acclaimed film version of <span class="s2">John</span><span class="s2"> Grisham</span>‘s <i>The Rainmaker</i> in 1997, he made no more films for a decade. Instead, he devoted his attention to a variety of business ventures, including a very successful winery, a restaurant — Café Zoetrope — in San Francisco, a mountain resort in the Central American nation of Belize, a production facility in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and a literary magazine, <i>Zoetrope: All-Story</i>. After a decade away from the camera, Francis Ford Coppola returned to filmmaking in 2007 with <i>Youth Without Youth</i>, the idiosyncratic adaptation of a novel by the Romanian religious philosopher Mircia Eliade. Although the film pleased few critics, Coppola affirmed his intention to continue producing his own films independently, to avoid studio interference. His next project, <i>Tetro</i>, was an original story set in Argentina and shot at Coppola’s facility there. The film received mixed reviews but was a clear demonstration of Coppola’s determination to preserve his creative freedom. An experimental horror film, <i>Twixt</i>, shot on the grounds of his estate in Napa, California, also fared poorly with critics and audiences when it was released in 2012.</span></p> <figure id="attachment_27289" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27289" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27289 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27289 size-full lazyload" alt="2016: Francis Ford Coppola with his wife, Eleanor, and his daughter, Sofia. Sofia is a screenwriter, director, producer and actress. In 2003, she received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the comedy-drama "Lost in Translation." Eleanor is a documentary filmmaker, artist, and writer. While working on the set of the 1962 horror film "Dementia 13," she met her future husband, Francis Ford Coppola. Her position was assistant art director, while Coppola was making his directorial debut with the film." width="2280" height="1690" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor-380x282.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor-760x563.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27289" class="wp-caption-text">2016: Francis Ford Coppola with his wife, Eleanor, and their daughter, Sofia. Sofia is a screenwriter, director, producer and actress who received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the comedy-drama <em>Lost in Translation</em>. Eleanor is a documentary filmmaker. While working on the set of the 1962 horror film <em>Dementia 13</em>, she met her husband. Her position was assistant art director, while Francis Ford Coppola was a first-time director.</figcaption></figure> <p class="p1"><span class="s1">Undaunted, Francis Ford Coppola undertook his boldest and most innovative project to date, an unprecedented experiment in live cinema. <i>Distant Vision</i> is the multi-generational saga of an Italian-American family, winding through the early history of television. Experimental phases of the project have been conducted on sound stages at Oklahoma City Community College and at Coppola’s alma mater, UCLA. The epic production, which Coppola predicts will take five years to complete, employs multiple cameras to capture the story in continuous performance, to be streamed live in chapters to theaters around the world.</span></p> </body></html> <div class="clearfix"> </div> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="profile" role="tabpanel"> <section class="clearfix"> <header class="editorial-article__header"> <figure class="text-xs-center"> <img class="inductee-badge" src="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/themes/aoa/assets/images/inducted-badge@2x.png" alt="Inducted Badge" width="120" height="120"/> <figcaption class="serif-3 text-brand-primary"> Inducted in 1994 </figcaption> </figure> </header> <div class="row"> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar"> <dl class="clearfix m-b-0"> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Career</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> <div><a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/#filter=.filmmaker">Filmmaker</a></div> </dd> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 sidebar--chunk p-b-2"> <dt class="serif-7">Date of Birth</dt> <dd class="sans-2"> April 7, 1939 </dd> </div> </dl> </aside> <article class="col-md-8 editorial-article clearfix"> <p class="inputTextFirst">“They didn’t like the cast. They didn’t like the way I was shooting it. I was always on the verge of getting fired.”</p> <p class="inputText">Executives at Paramount had so little faith in the 32-year-old filmmaker they had hired to direct <i>The Godfather,</i> they actually hired another director to follow Francis Ford Coppola around the set, just to remind him he could be replaced at any moment. Despite studio interference, Coppola trusted his instincts, and <i>The Godfather</i> became a massive success with both critics and the public. Along with its even more acclaimed sequel, it is one of the highest-grossing films of all time, and appears on every list of the best films ever made.</p> <p class="inputText">Francis Ford Coppola has continued to trust his instincts, winning multiple Academy Awards for<i>The Godfather II,</i> and directing such legendary films as <i>The Conversation</i> and <i>Apocalypse Now. </i>He has made and lost several fortunes over the course of a life as dramatic as his own films. Today, he is more productive than ever and, both by his personal example and his generous sponsorship of young filmmakers, has left an indelible mark on the history of motion pictures.</p> </article> </div> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="interview" role="tabpanel"> <section class="clearfix"> <div class="col-md-12 interview-feature-video"> <figure> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/gtwj33ksPmw?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_06_59_23.Still001-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_06_59_23.Still001-760x428.jpg"></div> <div class="video-tag sans-4"> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> <div class="video-tag__text">Watch full interview</div> </div> </div> </figure> </div> <header class="col-md-12 text-xs-center m-b-2"> <i class="icon-icon_bio text-brand-primary"></i> </header> <aside class="col-md-4 sidebar"> <h2 class="serif-3 achiever--biography-subtitle">Five Oscars as a Producer, Director and Screenwriter</h2> <div class="sans-2">Las Vegas, Nevada</div> <div class="sans-2">June 17, 1994</div> </aside> <article class="editorial-article col-md-8">   <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>You were still a grad student at UCLA when you started working in the film industry. How did you get started?</strong></p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/HPQ40yEegHI?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_06_14_27.Still004-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_06_14_27.Still004-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>I landed a job with Roger Corman. Originally the job was to take a Russian science fiction picture that he had bought and he wanted me to write the English dialogue for. Of course, I didn’t speak any Russian. Then I realized he didn’t care whether I could understand what they were really saying; he just wanted me to make up dialogue. The movie was really a very idealistic science fiction picture. He wanted to add some monsters and have the story be related to that. So I got that job, and I worked very hard on that. Ultimately, I became Roger’s assistant. That meant I had to wash his car, and he had me work as a dialogue director in the morning on a Vincent Price movie. Of course, they would pay my salary. But then I would leave at one and go work on his stuff. So he would basically get me for for free. The great thing about Roger was he exploited all of the young people who worked for him to the fullest, but at the same time, the other side of it was he really gave you responsibility and opportunity. So it was kind of a fair deal.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>Tell us about the film you directed for Roger Corman.</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: Roger had a technique. He would make a film, usually paid for by AIP, American International Pictures. He would put together the team and the equipment to make the film, and then, after it was over, he would make a second film, because all of those expenses were already paid. You’d get a real bargain on it.</p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/-DG_juaTgSA?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_07_56_15.Still009-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_07_56_15.Still009-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/keys-to-success/courage/">Courage</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Roger said he was going to make a film in Europe and asked me if I knew anyone who could be like the soundman on it. So I said, “Oh, I could.” Of course, I didn’t know anything about it. I mean, I was good with technology, but I had never done the sound. So I took the recorder home and read the instructions, and Roger did take me.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p>About three-quarters through that film, which was called <em>The Young Racers,</em> Roger was called back home to direct <em>The Raven </em>with Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff. I knew he couldn’t pass up a bargain to make another film while we were in Europe. So I said, “Roger, you know, I have a script that could be made. It’s kind of like <em>Psycho.”</em> He always wanted a film that was like some hit film. Hitchcock’s <em>Psycho</em> was a big deal at the time. I said, “I have this script…” and he said, “Show me some of it.”</p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/8OuOdifTjwg?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_03_33_11.Still008-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_03_33_11.Still008-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/keys-to-success/perseverance/">Perseverance</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>I showed him the three pages I wrote that night, which was of course the most garish kind of action scene I could come up with. And he said, “Okay.” And I went off. He gave me a check for $20,000. He sent me with a young woman who had worked on the production who was going to be the co-signer — and I went to Ireland. When I was in Ireland, I met another producer, and I said I was making a film for Roger, and this guy offered to buy the English rights for another $20,000. So I had now $40,000. Roger, of course, expected to get his $20,000 back, still make the movie for the 20 with the English rights, and get the film for free. But I sort of just duped him. I took both checks and I put it in the bank. And I had this young woman sign the check, and I just kind of made the amount to the whole amount, so she basically was out of the check signing. Then I made the movie for $40,000, which was this little black-and-white horror film called <em>Dementia 13,</em> which we made in about nine days.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><p><strong>You wrote it in a couple of days?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: I wrote it that first week in Ireland. I had this one scene that I had showed Roger, and then I came up with the rest. I stayed up all night or something.</p> <figure id="attachment_27296" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27296" style="width: 2035px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27296 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine.jpeg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27296 size-full lazyload" alt="Winners from "The Godfather Part II" — Gray Frederickson, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Roos and Francis Ford Coppola's father, Carmine Coppola, at the 47th Academy Awards." width="2035" height="2048" data-sizes="(max-width: 2035px) 100vw, 2035px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine.jpeg 2035w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine-190x190.jpeg 190w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine-378x380.jpeg 378w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine-755x760.jpeg 755w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine.jpeg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27296" class="wp-caption-text">1974: Winners from <em>The Godfather, Part II</em> — Gray Frederickson, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Roos and Francis Ford Coppola’s father, Carmine Coppola, at the 47th Academy Awards. Nominated for eleven Academy Awards and the first sequel to win for Best Picture, the movie earned six Oscars including Best Director for Francis Ford Coppola.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Which films really stand out in your memory?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: The professional world was much more unpleasant than I thought. I was always wishing I could get back that enthusiasm I had when I was doing shows at college. When I was young and it was new to me, it just seemed like so much fun. You didn’t want to go home at night, or you’d come back late at night and do some more work on it.</p> <p>I always found the film world unpleasant. It’s all about the schedule, and never really flew for me in the way that my very happy college career did. I would have to say that the happiest days that I can remember were when <em>The Godfather</em> was over and I didn’t have to go there anymore, or when <em>Apocalypse</em> was over.</p> </body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZoUybUcJq0w?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_11_42_08.Still003-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_11_42_08.Still003-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/keys-to-success/perseverance/">Perseverance</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p><em>The Godfather</em> was a very unappreciated movie when we were making it. They were very unhappy with it. They didn’t like the cast. They didn’t like the way I was shooting it. I was always on the verge of getting fired. So it was an extremely nightmarish experience. I had two little kids, and the third one was born during that. We lived in a little apartment, and I was basically frightened that they didn’t like it. They had as much as said that, so when it was all over I wasn’t at all confident that it was going to be successful, and that I’d ever get another job.</p> <p>So I took a job right away when it was done. They needed someone to write a script of <em>The Great Gatsby</em> very quickly for the movie they were making. I took this job so I’d be sure to have some dough to support my family.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><figure id="attachment_27312" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27312" style="width: 883px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27312 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27312 size-full lazyload" alt="Francis Ford Coppola, with his wife, Eleanor, and his three children, Gian-Carlo, Roman, and Sofia, on the set of "Apocalypse Now."" width="883" height="727" data-sizes="(max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280.jpg 883w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280-380x313.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280-760x626.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27312" class="wp-caption-text">Coppola, with wife, Eleanor, and their three children, Gian-Carlo, Roman, and Sofia, on the set of <em>Apocalypse Now</em>.</figcaption></figure> <p>So I took a job right away when it was done. They needed someone to write a script of <em>The Great Gatsby</em> very quickly for the movie they were making. I took this job so I’d be sure to have some dough to support my family.</p> </body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/iXPZFlQCDeU?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_11_56_05.Still011-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_11_56_05.Still011-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>I went off, and I don’t know why I was in Paris, but I was in Paris, staying up all night writing this <em>Gatsby</em> script, and that’s when <em>The Godfather</em> opened. And it was this enormous success! So I would just get a phone call and they’d say, “Oh yeah, it’s going great! Everyone loved it!” I’d say, “Oh, yeah, really? I can’t get this script done.” It’s ironic that probably the greatest moment of my career, certainly at age 32 or so, making <em>The Godfather</em>, having such enormous success, wasn’t even one that I was aware of, because I was somewhere else and I was, again, under the deadline. Certainly, it was a wonderful night when we won all those Oscars for <em>Godfather II,</em> because at first, that picture came out, and people, they really didn’t like it too much. But I have to be honest, that I associate my motion picture career more with being unhappy, and being scared, or being troubled, or being under the gun, and not at all with anything pleasant.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><figure id="attachment_27280" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27280" style="width: 2226px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27280 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27280 size-full lazyload" alt="Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in the 1972 film "The Godfather," directed by Francis Ford Coppola." width="2226" height="2542" data-sizes="(max-width: 2226px) 100vw, 2226px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497.jpg 2226w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497-333x380.jpg 333w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497-666x760.jpg 666w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27280" class="wp-caption-text">Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in the 1972 film <em>The Godfather</em>, directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The motion picture is widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. It focuses on the powerful Italian-American crime family of Don Vito Corleone (Marlon Brando) and his youngest son Michael (Al Pacino). The American Film Institute has ranked <em>The Godfather</em> as the second-greatest motion picture in the history of American cinema after <em>Citizen Kane</em>.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>What do you think are the most important characteristics for success in your field?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: Courage, I think, because I don’t think there’s any artist of any value who doesn’t doubt what they’re doing. That’s what I would say in looking back at my life, at the things that I got in the most trouble for, or that I was fired for.</p> </body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/I1_vB_Mnb4o?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_10_20_13.Still002-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_10_20_13.Still002-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/keys-to-success/integrity/">Integrity</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>I wrote the script of <em>Patton</em>. And the script was very controversial when I wrote it, because they thought it was so stylized. It was supposed to be like, sort of, you know, <em>The Longest Day.</em> And my script of Patton was — I was sort of interested in the reincarnation. And I had this very bizarre opening where he stands up in front of an American flag and gives this speech. Ultimately, I wasn’t fired, but I was fired, meaning that when the script was done, they said, “Okay, thank you very much,” and they went and hired another writer and that script was forgotten. And I remember very vividly this long, kind of being raked over the coals for this opening scene. My point is that what I’ve learned is that the stuff that I got in trouble for, the casting for <em>The Godfather</em> or the flag scene in <em>Patton,</em> was the stuff that was remembered, and was considered really the good work.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p>So, what that tells you is that…</p> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aa8uQvCfm5U?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_08_36_05.Still010-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_08_36_05.Still010-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/keys-to-success/courage/">Courage</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>In your own time, usually, the stuff that’s your best idea or work is going to be attacked the most. Firstly, probably because it’s new, or because they’d never seen an opening of a movie like that, or seen a gangster movie done in this style. So you have to really be courageous about your instincts and your ideas, because otherwise you’ll just knuckle under and change it. And then things that might have been memorable will be lost.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><figure id="attachment_27305" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27305" style="width: 646px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27305 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27305 size-full lazyload" alt="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now." In May of 1976, a massive typhoon caused extensive damage to the sets of "Apocalypse Now" and left many of the cast and crew members stranded for up to three days. "Apocalypse Now" is a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" width="646" height="962" data-sizes="(max-width: 646px) 100vw, 646px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp.jpg 646w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp-255x380.jpg 255w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp-510x760.jpg 510w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27305" class="wp-caption-text">Francis Ford Coppola during the production of <em>Apocalypse Now</em>. In May of 1976, a massive typhoon caused extensive damage to the sets of <em>Apocalypse Now</em> and left many of the cast and crew members stranded for up to three days. <em>Apocalypse Now</em> is a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with the narration by Michael Herr. (Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)</figcaption></figure> <p>You need other things, obviously, a lot of energy and enthusiasm, because this kind of work is really grueling. You’re in a lot of uncomfortable situations for many, many hours. You try to stick to whatever your idea was, in a profession in which absolutely everybody is telling you their opinion, which is different.</p> </body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/cKKuzMyDqQ4?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_02_40_18.Still007-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_02_40_18.Still007-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> <figcaption class="achiever__interview-video-terms"> <span>Keys to success —</span> <a class="comma-item" href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/keys-to-success/passion/">Passion</a> </figcaption> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>The grips will tell you that you don’t know what you’re doing, or the camera operator, or the cameraman. Everybody. I mean, when you go on a set — that’s one of the reasons George Lucas never directed again. No one knows this, but when he made <em>Star Wars</em> over there in England — George is sort of a little, skinny version of me, you know, and he doesn’t have the most physical kind of stamina. And he was so ridiculed — you know, that kind of jock-like attitude that crews can have — putting him down for what he was doing and stuff. He was so unhappy making <em>Star Wars</em> that he just vowed he’d never do it again. Plus, he was like diabetic, so he was a little sick. That’s why someone today said, you ought to love what you’re doing because — especially in a movie — you really have to love the project and love the story, because over time you really will start to hate it. And the fact that you say, “Gee, but I really like what this is about,” is a very valuable asset.</p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><figure id="attachment_27287" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-27287" style="width: 2280px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="wp-image-27287 size-full " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="wp-image-27287 size-full lazyload" alt="February 25, 2007: Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg presented the Academy Award for Best Director to Martin Scorcese at the 79th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California." width="2280" height="1520" data-sizes="(max-width: 2280px) 100vw, 2280px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047.jpg 2280w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047-380x253.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047-760x507.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-27287" class="wp-caption-text">February 25, 2007: Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg presented the Academy Award for Best Director to Martin Scorcese at the 79th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, CA.</figcaption></figure> <p><strong>Could you talk about the role of teamwork in your field?</strong></p> </body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/HIBc_uUtggQ?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_03_56_02.Still006-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_03_56_02.Still006-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: Our generation represented a major transition. It was the first time certainly that film students were given the chance to make films. Film, in the past, was a profession that you worked your way up. Frank Capra was a prop man; I think John Ford was a prop man. It was a little bit of a father and son thing, and you kind of worked your way up. When we all went to film school, my class, and my comrades there, we didn’t think we were ever going to really get to make feature films. We thought we would end up making industrial films, or possibly be on the fringe, or maybe get involved in television. My aspirations when I went — I had no idea. I just wanted to be part of the film business. I had no idea that I’d really get to direct feature films, or to be successful at it. And of course, my story is that when I was going for my graduate degree, I decided I was going to make a feature film as my thesis. That’s what I was famous for, was that I was not only the first film student to kind of become a professional director, but I also had my thesis film be a feature film, which was <em>You’re a Big Boy Now.</em></p> </div> </div>      <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40/loose.dtd"> <html><body data-rsssl="1"><figure id="attachment_2270" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-2270" style="width: 380px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><noscript><img class="size-medium wp-image-2270 " src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318im_/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cop0-022a-380x380.jpg"></noscript><img loading="lazy" class="size-medium wp-image-2270 lazyload" alt="Motion picture producer, director and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola. (Courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola)" width="380" height="380" data-sizes="(max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px" data-srcset="/web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cop0-022a-380x380.jpg 380w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cop0-022a-190x190.jpg 190w, /web/20200917235318im_/https://achievement.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cop0-022a.jpg 760w" data-src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://162.243.3.155/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cop0-022a-380x380.jpg"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-2270" class="wp-caption-text">Motion picture producer, director and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola. (Courtesy of Francis Ford Coppola)</figcaption></figure> <p>So I was the first one to break in. I always loved the theater-like feeling of working together. That’s ultimately what I was trying to achieve in my life, because I had been a kid that moved so much, I didn’t have a lot of friends. Theater really represented that kind of camaraderie.</p> </body></html> </div>     <div class="achiever__video-block"> <figure class="achiever__interview-video"> <div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"> <iframe class="embed-responsive-item embed-responsive--has-thumbnail" width="200" height="150" src="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318if_/https://www.youtube.com/embed/NaudeOcAqnk?feature=oembed&hd=1&modestbranding=1&rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="embed-responsive__thumbnail ratio-container__image lazyload" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_03_33_14.Still005-380x214.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford-1994-MasterEdit.00_03_33_14.Still005-760x428.jpg"></div> <i class="embed-responsive__play icon-icon_play-full text-brand-primary"></i> </div> </figure>  <div class="achiever__interview-video__copy"> <p>So a lot of younger would-be film directors started to come and hang out, because I had an office at Warner Brothers. I had directed <em>Finian’s Rainbow</em> when I was like 23 or something, and pretty soon all these kids — some of them my age, some of them a little younger — started hanging out with me. I had a little money, and I had a lot of ambition to set up a group, a company. So that’s when I met George Lucas, of course, who was younger, and then he had all his friends. Ultimately, it became kind of this gang of young filmmakers who really were friends and hung around together. The key thing about film students at that point is we all wanted to work in 35 millimeter. Film students were junkies for equipment. So suddenly I had penetrated the Hollywood studio, and due to very funny circumstances, which is that the company I was with, which was Seven Arts, had bought Warner Brothers. So for a while, no one knew who was running it, so I sort of had the keys of the whole studio, as though we suddenly had Warner Brothers. And we walked around and talked about, “We’re going to get animation going again.” Before I know it, there were all these guys coming there, and we’d talk about it, and that’s when I met people like Carroll Ballard, and George Lucas, and John Milius, and Phil Kaufman, I remember, and Brian Da Palma, and later, Marty Scorsese. They were all like a few years younger. Then we really decided we were going to be independent, we were all going to move to San Francisco, and we did. And that company produced some of those people’s first films, George’s films and what have you. I had always wanted to be part of that type of artistic scene like you hear about in Paris. What might have it been like to be there? There’s Hemingway in the Ritz Bar, and F. Scott Fitzgerald, or Sartre, and these wonderful people. When we were there (in San Francisco), broke, trying to figure out how to pay for anything, little did I realize that in effect, that’s what that was. That all those people were to go on and become wonderful artists and stuff. But then, it seemed like we were just a bunch of young people who wanted to take over the movie business. And in a way we did, but in a way we didn’t, because we really wanted better things for it than what really happened.</p> </div> </div>     <aside class="collapse" id="full-interview">    <div class="achiever__interview-copy"> <p><strong>Let’s talk about your childhood. We understand that when you were young, you watched a lot of TV. Could you tell us about that?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: My father was a musician. He was always interested in the new things, for that reason. He would come home from New York, and he did bring a television home, around 1945, right at the end of the Second World War. I was about 6. So I remember growing up with television, from the time it was just a test pattern, with maybe a little bit of programming once in a while.</p> <p>When I was about nine, I had polio, and one of the conditions of polio was — of course, it was — people were very frightened for their children, so you tended, if you had it, to be isolated. So there was about a year and a half when I stayed at home. I was paralyzed for a while. And so I basically watched television, and listened to the radio, and played with a tape recorder, and puppets, and my day was made up of those kinds of things.</p> <p><strong>Was there a person in your life that inspired you?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: I had a number of very strong personalities in my family. My father was a concert flutist, the solo flute for Toscanini. That was an unusual profession for a kid to have as his father. He would dress up in a tuxedo. A concert musician has to practice a lot, and my earliest memories are of that. He was a great musician, very knowledgeable, and he used to tell us the stories of the operas, and all about the composers. He had a lot of knowledge, and he would make a point of telling us about it.</p> <p>I had an older brother who was five years older than me. He was a very successful student, a very handsome kid. Having an older brother by that many years was really an edge that I had. I had an older brother who would protect me. He was a very sensitive and talented boy, and he became interested in literature. So at the same time that I had all this information from my father, I also had a brother who was giving me books at a young age that I would not normally have run into. <em>Brave New World,</em> of course, which was fun, because it was sort of science fiction. As a kid, he was showing me books by James Joyce, and André Gide. So I was really stimulated at a younger age than I normally would have been exposed to that kind of thing.</p> <p><strong>Was there a particular book you read that made a deep impression?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: A book I would put in that category that I read when I was quite young — it was around the house and I picked it up and read it — was a play actually, <em>A Streetcar Named Desire.</em> I read it when I was like 15, or so. I’m not sure I understood it, I just thought it was so beautiful and moving — just the pictures that the language painted when you read it. I think I preferred reading plays, to novels or other kinds of books. I also like reading biography of scientists; that was a favorite thing of mine. I think I could read quite young, because I remember reading the fairy tales. I remember being in kindergarten and that used to be my job, to tell them to the other kids. I liked Hans Christian Andersen, and the Grimm fairy tales, all the classic fairy tales.</p> <p><strong>When did you know what you wanted to do?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: I was interested in two things, always. One was science, and the stories of the scientists and scientific experimentation. I liked very much to work in a shop down in the basement, and try to invent things and build gadgets. And at the same time I was interested in stories. And I had an older brother who was very interested in literature, and so I had an early exposure to literature, and what have you, and theater. My father sometimes would work in musical comedies, so I would have the opportunity to see musical comedies. Ultimately, those different technical, and sort of story interests — around high school, or early high school — I started to do the lighting, work on the lighting of the drama productions, and be around the shows. And so I started to become interested in theater, and I thought I wanted to be a playwright, because I was interested in stories and telling stories.</p> <p><strong>When did it become film that you wanted to do?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: When I was a college student. I had enrolled in the drama department, and my father was not very pleased with that. He wanted me to study some more practical profession, engineering, or something, because I did have ability in science. But I won a playwriting scholarship to what was then Hofstra College, now Hofstra University. I was immersed in theater production, and started to direct theater.</p> <p>One afternoon, I remember, around four o’clock in a building called the Little Theater, I noticed a notice that they were going to show a film called <em>Ten Days That Shook The World,</em> by Eisenstein. And I went in to see it, it was pretty long, and there were only two or three other people. But I was so impressed with this film — and it was a silent film — but so impressed with what cinema could do. And, of course, having quite a bit of experience in theater — but that afternoon, I think, was when I decided that I would not go into theater.</p> <p>For me the specific decision was whether I was going to go to the Yale Drama School, or UCLA. At that point, I decided I was going into movies. Even my last year or two of college I was always trying to start a cinema workshop, or make a little film. One summer I actually tried to make a film. Then when I was graduated in 1960, I went to UCLA, to the graduate film school program.</p> <p><strong>What makes the movie art form so exciting to you?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: It combines so many other art forms, as do theater and opera, but the essence of cinema is editing. It’s the combination of what can be extraordinary images, images of people during emotional moments, or just images in a general sense, but put together in a kind of alchemy. A number of images put together a certain way become something quite above and beyond what any of them are individually.</p> <p>This, of course, was one of the elements of the Eisenstein film that was so exciting. How the editing was able to take — that’s always fascinating — take this, and this, and put it together, and have something come out that was neither of those two things. Of course, the sense of rhythm that editing can do! I was struck, I remember, on <em>Ten Days That Shook The World,</em> how although it was a silent film, there were sequences where you actually almost could hear the machine guns firing, because of the way it was edited. So it’s a form of alchemy, of magic, that is very appealing. I think cinema, movies, and magic have always been closely associated. Because the very earliest people who made film were magicians. One of the aspects of it was the idea of an illusion, a magical illusion, in the early days of movies.</p> <p>A lot of early magicians began experimenting, using basically what is cinema to do their illusions. And of course we know that some of the early pioneers, like Meliès and what have you, were magicians who used cinema to create illusions. So I think cinema always had — as did theater for me — this ability to create some kind of magic, either through lighting — but to use technology to create magic is what appealed to me, I think.</p> <p><strong>Was there a teacher who inspired you?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: I had a number of teachers who hated me, at least I felt. I didn’t do well in school. I did very well in school my first year and a half, and we left that school. I really quite liked that first school I went to. Life for me at age five and six was pretty wonderful and perfect. But then I went to a number of other schools. I went to many schools and went through that whole New York school system, P.S. this and P.S. that. I found them very frightening, like penitentiaries, and I didn’t do well in those schools. Maybe partly because I was always moving from school to school. But nonetheless I do remember teachers who really singled me out for their discouragement. In fact, I had a sort of heartbreaking experience, because as I said, when I was nine, I always wanted to be a guard, because I was a new kid in the school. A guard in the school wore a yellow button that said “Guard.” And they would be a hall guard, or a stair guard, or whatever they were. And the girl that I thought was the most wonderful girl in the world was a guard, I remember. When I got polio, of course, I was taken out of school. Then, about a year and a half later, I went back to school. They had a little ceremony and kind of welcomed me back, and they made me a guard, as part of — I guess — my being taken back into school. And my teacher, Mrs. Hemeshandra, who really was — I think she was a very bright woman, but I remember her as an oppressor. I remember, like a week later she said, “Well, why should you be a guard just because you were sick?” And she took away my guard button.</p> <p>No, I didn’t have any teachers who were especially encouraging to me until much later. In high school, there was a science teacher who thought I had a lot of ability, because I had a natural talent with scientific things. For some reason, I was bad in all my other subjects, but I was very good in geometry. It was amazing; I had one of the highest grades in geometry in the school.</p> <p>I didn’t realize it then, but I was the kind of kid that had some talents or ability, but it never came out in any school. In my senior year of high school, I had a creative writing teacher who was very encouraging, and there was a writing teacher in college who encouraged me to write.</p> <p>When I was a graduate student, I had a wonderful teacher I admired — a woman director, in fact, the only Hollywood woman director. Her name was Dorothy Arzner. She was very encouraging to me at a time when I needed encouragement. So I remember her very favorably.</p> <p><strong>Were you dissatisfied at UCLA?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: In those days I was an extremely energetic and enthusiastic person. I just loved to be involved in it all. Moving making was almost like my private passion, because it wasn’t as widespread then. When I started the Hofstra Cinema Club, I think two people came. People weren’t as fascinated with cinema as they are now.</p> <p>Being a theater student, I was a little frustrated at UCLA. Theater students are very gregarious. You all work together, and stay up all night and making sets and doing shows. At UCLA in those days, the cinema department was in a kind of army barracks, and pretty much all guys. I think there was maybe one girl in the entire department, which was very discouraging. It wasn’t as nice to be in a place where there were no girls going to school with you. I wanted to work all the time, and UCLA wasn’t like that. Students there would work on their project, and then they’d be in their room editing for six months.</p> <p><strong>Who did you meet when you went to work for Roger Corman? There were a lot of names that came through his operation.</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: There was a whole crowd of young actors who used to be in a lot of those early, inexpensive films. Jack Nicholson is the really well known one. In later years, after I had gone through there, Roger gave similar opportunities to Peter Bogdanovich, Marty Scorsese, Jonathan Demme. He basically was always looking for the very energetic person who would work for next to nothing, and had some talent.</p> <p><strong>You’ve come a long way since then. What does the American Dream mean to you?</strong></p> <p>Francis Ford Coppola: We were raised in an Italian-American household. My father was a musician, so we were very proud of being Italian, and had Italian music. We ate pizza, when no one knew what pizza was really, and Italian food, and had Italian music, although we didn’t speak Italian in the house. But I always remember my mother would say to me, “America is the greatest country in the world.” And there was a sense, as Italian-Americans, that it was a great privilege to live in America and be Americans. Most Italians who came to this country are, you know, very patriotic. And what that meant was just that there was this exciting possibility that if you worked real hard, and you loved something, that you could become successful, and wouldn’t be held down, due to who your family was and what have you. And certainly, in my case, I found that to be true. I became quite successful very young, and it was mainly because I was — I would have to say — because I was so enthusiastic and I just worked so hard at it.</p> <p><strong>Well, thank you for all you have done. It’s been a pleasure talking to you.</strong></p> </div>  </aside>  <div class="read-more__toggle collapsed" data-toggle="collapse" data-target="#full-interview"><a href="#" class="sans-4 btn">Read full interview</a></div> </article> </section> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="gallery" role="tabpanel"> <section class="isotope-wrapper">  <header class="toolbar toolbar--gallery bg-white clearfix"> <div class="col-md-6"> <div class="serif-4">Francis Ford Coppola Gallery</div> </div> <div class="col-md-6 text-md-right isotope-toolbar"> <ul class="list-unstyled list-inline m-b-0 text-brand-primary sans-4"> <li class="list-inline-item" data-filter=".photo"><i class="icon-icon_camera"></i>40 photos</li> </ul> </div> </header> <div class="isotope-gallery isotope-box single-achiever__gallery clearfix"> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-017a-1.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola" data-image-copyright="coppola-017a" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-017a-1-380x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-017a-1.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.82368421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola, with his wife, Eleanor, and his three children, Gian-Carlo, Roman, and Sofia, on the set of "Apocalypse Now."" data-image-copyright="tumblr_mtjp7dhldv1rovfcgo1_1280" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280-380x313.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/tumblr_mtjp7dHlDV1rovfcgo1_1280-760x626.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4503816793893" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now," a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" data-image-copyright="iic2nht" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht-262x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Iic2nht-524x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.79736842105263" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054.jpg" data-image-caption=""To use technology to create magic is what appealed to me." Francis Ford Coppola, the man behind the camera." data-image-copyright="wp-coppolaimg054" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054-380x303.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/wp-coppolaimg054-760x606.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66710526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-coppola1.jpg" data-image-caption="2016: Francis Ford Coppola shoots live hybrid "Distant Vision" at his alma mater, UCLA." data-image-copyright="2016-coppola1" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-coppola1-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2016-coppola1-760x507.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.3475177304965" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis_Ford_Coppola_-1976.jpg" data-image-caption="1976: Francis Ford Coppola to promote a TV program, "Tomorrow," on NBC." data-image-copyright="1976: Francis Ford Coppola to promote a TV program, "Tomorrow" on NBC." data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis_Ford_Coppola_-1976-282x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis_Ford_Coppola_-1976-564x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.65526315789474" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/war_zone-1052x690.jpg" data-image-caption="Seen here during production, the director expressed interest in making "Apocalypse Now" as early as 1974. George Lucas had previously intended to direct but was unavailable due to the production of "Star Wars" (which, according to editor and sound designer Walter Murch, incorporated some of the political themes from this script). (Courtesy of the Margaret Herrick Library and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Archive)" data-image-copyright="war_zone-1052x690" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/war_zone-1052x690-380x249.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/war_zone-1052x690-760x498.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l.jpg" data-image-caption="2007: On the set of "Youth Without Youth," a fantasy drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola." data-image-copyright="youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l-380x252.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/youth_without_youth_movie_image_francis_ford_coppola_l-760x505.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.61315789473684" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now," a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" data-image-copyright="w2ctqtf" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf-380x233.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/w2CTQTf-760x466.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.415270018622" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2.jpg" data-image-caption="1972: "The Godfather," a crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo's bestselling novel of the same name. The film was the highest-grossing film of 1972 and was for a time the highest-grossing film ever made. It won the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Brando) and Best Adapted Screenplay (for Puzo and Coppola)." data-image-copyright="the-godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2-268x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Godfather_poster_goldposter_com_2-537x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66578947368421" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/apocalypse-now.jpg" data-image-caption=""Apocalypse Now" is a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. "Apocalypse Now" was released to universal acclaim. It was honored with the Palme d'Or at Cannes and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. It is considered to be one of the greatest films ever made. The film was also ranked No. 14 in the British Film Institute's Sight and Sound greatest films poll in 2012. The film ranks No. 7 on Empire magazine's 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time. In 2000, the film was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant."" data-image-copyright="apocalypse-now" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/apocalypse-now-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/apocalypse-now-760x506.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.447619047619" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/still-of-francis-ford-coppola-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture.jpg" data-image-caption="1974: Francis Ford Coppola and his wife, Ellie, on the set of "The Godfather, Part II," a crime drama film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola from a screenplay co-written with Mario Puzo, starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro." data-image-copyright="still-of-francis-ford-coppola-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/still-of-francis-ford-coppola-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture-263x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/still-of-francis-ford-coppola-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture-525x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.5734989648033" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Streetcar-Named-Desire-Book.jpg" data-image-caption="At age 15, Coppola was inspired by reading Tennessee Williams's play "A Streetcar Named Desire."" data-image-copyright="streetcar-named-desire-book" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Streetcar-Named-Desire-Book-241x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Streetcar-Named-Desire-Book-483x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4048059149723" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BE047796.jpg" data-image-caption="Sergi Eisenstein (1898-1948), Russian motion picture director and writer. (Undated photograph; © Bettmann/CORBIS)" data-image-copyright="Serdi Eisenstein In Dark Sinister Pose" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BE047796-271x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BE047796-541x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66052631578947" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/on_the_set_of_apocalypse_now.jpg" data-image-caption="Director Francis Ford Coppola, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro and other members of the crew prepare a shot for "Apocalypse Now" in the Philippines." data-image-copyright="on_the_set_of_apocalypse_now" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/on_the_set_of_apocalypse_now-380x251.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/on_the_set_of_apocalypse_now-760x502.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4990138067061" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton.jpg" data-image-caption="1970: Francis Ford Coppola won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as co-writer, with Edmund H. North, for "Patton," an epic biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II. "Patton" won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay." data-image-copyright="patton" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton-253x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/patton-507x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66842105263158" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/on_location.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola in the director's seat. "Apocalypse Now" was primarily shot in the Philippines, after previous location scouting had covered other possibilities like Queensland." data-image-copyright="on_location" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/on_location-380x254.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/on_location-760x508.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.0066225165563" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine.jpeg" data-image-caption="Winners from "The Godfather Part II" — Gray Frederickson, Francis Ford Coppola, Fred Roos and Francis Ford Coppola's father, Carmine Coppola, at the 47th Academy Awards." data-image-copyright="carmine" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine-378x380.jpeg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/carmine-755x760.jpeg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2007_youth_without_youth_009.jpg" data-image-caption="2007: Tim Roth and Francis Ford Coppola on the set of "Youth Without Youth," a fantasy drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novella of the same name by Romanian author Mircea Eliade. It was the first film that Coppola had directed in ten years since 1997's "The Rainmaker." (Photo by Cos Aelenei. © 2006 American Zoetrope Inc., Courtesy Sony Pictures Classics)" data-image-copyright="2007_youth_without_youth_009" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2007_youth_without_youth_009-380x252.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2007_youth_without_youth_009-760x505.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.78552631578947" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis-Coppola-wine088.jpg" data-image-caption="In 2006, Francis and Eleanor Coppola purchased what would eventually become known as Francis Ford Coppola Winery, marking their initial foray into Sonoma County winemaking. After an extensive two-year renovation that began in 2008, Francis reintroduced his eponymous winery in July 2010, which is one of the latest ventures from the five-time Academy Award-winning director, whose passion for wine, food and adventure is nowhere more evident than in this creative production — a winery resort located in the heart of Alexander Valley, California." data-image-copyright="francis-coppola-wine088" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis-Coppola-wine088-380x299.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis-Coppola-wine088-760x597.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66710526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/quUuLWq.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now," a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" data-image-copyright="quuulwq" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/quUuLWq-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/quUuLWq-760x507.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68947368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/GettyImages-499974528.jpg" data-image-caption="December 4, 2015: Jury members (L-R) actress Amal Ayouch, director Naomi Kawase, director Francis Ford Coppola, actress Olga Kurylenko, actress Richa Chadda, and director Sergio Castellitto arrive at the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Marrakech International Film Festival in the Moroccan city of Marrakech. (AFP PHOTO/FADEL SENNA/AFP/FADEL SENNA) " data-image-copyright="MOROCCO-CINEMA-FESTIVAL-MARRAKESH" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/GettyImages-499974528-380x262.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/GettyImages-499974528-760x524.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.80131578947368" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-and-Lucas001.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola with his lifelong friend George Lucas." data-image-copyright="Francis Ford Coppola with his lifelong friend George Lucas." data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-and-Lucas001-380x304.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-and-Lucas001-760x609.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.74078947368421" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor.jpg" data-image-caption="2016: Francis Ford Coppola with his wife, Eleanor, and his daughter, Sofia. Sofia is a screenwriter, director, producer and actress. In 2003, she received the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the comedy-drama "Lost in Translation." Eleanor is a documentary filmmaker, artist, and writer. While working on the set of the 1962 horror film "Dementia 13," she met her future husband, Francis Ford Coppola. Her position was assistant art director, while Coppola was making his directorial debut with the film." data-image-copyright="francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor-380x282.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/francis_ford_coppola_con_su_hija_sofia_y_su_mujer_eleanor-760x563.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68026315789474" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford030.jpg" data-image-caption="Motion picture producer, director and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola." data-image-copyright="Motion picture producer, director and screenwriter Francis Ford Coppola." data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford030-380x258.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Coppola-Francis-Ford030-760x517.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66710526315789" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047.jpg" data-image-caption="February 25, 2007: Francis Ford Coppola, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg presented the Academy Award for Best Director to Martin Scorcese at the 79th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California." data-image-copyright="79th Awards Rehearsals Saturday" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/070225_tc047-760x507.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.70131578947368" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226.jpg" data-image-caption="1990: Francis Ford Coppola directs Joe Mantegna (left), Al Pacino (center), Andy Garcia (standing right) and Eli Wallach (seated second from right) on the set of "The Godfather, Part III." [Paramount Pictures]" data-image-copyright="coppola-godfather226" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226-380x267.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-godfather226-760x533.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.58289473684211" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/louis-vuitton-malletier-louis-vuitton-francis-ford-coppola-sofia-coppola-sean-connery-print-195460-adeevee.jpg" data-image-caption="Sofia Coppola and Francis Ford Coppola featured in a Louis Vuitton advertising campaign supporting The Climate Project, taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz. The Climate Project (TCP), founded by Al Gore in 2006, is an organization dedicated to calling attention to what it believes are global problems associated with climate change, providing seminars, training and educational presentations worldwide." data-image-copyright="louis-vuitton-malletier-louis-vuitton-francis-ford-coppola-sofia-coppola-sean-connery-print-195460-adeevee" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/louis-vuitton-malletier-louis-vuitton-francis-ford-coppola-sofia-coppola-sean-connery-print-195460-adeevee-380x222.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/louis-vuitton-malletier-louis-vuitton-francis-ford-coppola-sofia-coppola-sean-connery-print-195460-adeevee-760x443.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.68815789473684" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/godfather2.jpg" data-image-caption="The Corleone family, with Al Pacino and Diane Keaton (center), applaud the Senator's speech in a scene from the film "The Godfather, Part II," 1974. (Photo by Paramount/Getty Images)" data-image-copyright="Al Pacino And Diane Keaton In 'The Godfather, Part II'" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/godfather2-380x262.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/godfather2-760x523.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.3013698630137" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400.jpg" data-image-caption="1930: Russian film producer and director Sergei M. Eisenstein. (Condé Nast Archive/CORBIS)" data-image-copyright="Russian Director Sergei Eisenstein" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400-292x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/CN00026400-584x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2007_youth_without_youth_007.jpg" data-image-caption="2007: On the set of "Youth Without Youth," a fantasy drama film written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novella of the same name by Romanian author Mircea Eliade. It was the first film that Coppola had directed in ten years since 1997's "The Rainmaker." (Photo by Cos Aelenei. © 2006 American Zoetrope Inc., courtesy Sony Pictures Classics)" data-image-copyright="2007_youth_without_youth_007" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2007_youth_without_youth_007-380x252.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/2007_youth_without_youth_007-760x505.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.4901960784314" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola during the production of "Apocalypse Now." In May of 1976, a massive typhoon caused extensive damage to the sets of "Apocalypse Now" and left many of the cast and crew members stranded for up to three days. "Apocalypse Now" is a 1979 American epic war film directed, produced and co-written by Francis Ford Coppola and co-written by John Milius, with narration by Michael Herr. Still photographers: Chas Gerretsen, Josh Weiner, David Jones, and Dick White. (© Zoetrope Studios, United Artists)" data-image-copyright="ybqzghp" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp-255x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ybqzgHp-510x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66052631578947" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Bram_Stoker_Dracula_06.jpg" data-image-caption="1992: "Bram Stoker's Dracula" is an American romantic horror film directed and produced by Francis Ford Coppola, based on the novel "Dracula" by Bram Stoker." data-image-copyright="bram_stoker_dracula_06" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Bram_Stoker_Dracula_06-380x251.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Bram_Stoker_Dracula_06-760x502.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.1411411411411" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497.jpg" data-image-caption="Marlon Brando and Al Pacino in the 1972 film "The Godfather," directed by Francis Ford Coppola." data-image-copyright="brando-pacino497" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497-333x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Brando-Pacino497-666x760.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.70394736842105" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/AP_Francis-Ford-Coppola_5.25.16.jpg" data-image-caption="Film director Francis Ford Coppola kids with his wife, Ellie, for a photographer at the Cannes Film Festival, May 19, 1979. (AP Photo)" data-image-copyright="Francis Ford Coppola, Ellie Coppola, Eleanor Coppola" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/AP_Francis-Ford-Coppola_5.25.16-380x268.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/AP_Francis-Ford-Coppola_5.25.16-760x535.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.82368421052632" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis-Ford-Coppola059.jpg" data-image-caption=""To use technology to create magic is what appealed to me." Francis Ford Coppola, the man behind the camera." data-image-copyright="francis-ford-coppola059" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis-Ford-Coppola059-380x313.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Francis-Ford-Coppola059-760x626.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.88684210526316" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-pictures.jpg" data-image-caption="Director Francis Ford Coppola arrives at the 63rd annual Directors Guild of America Awards (DGA) in Los Angeles on January 29, 2011. (UPI/Jim Ruymen)" data-image-copyright="Francis Ford Coppola arrives at the DGA Awards in Los Angeles" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-pictures-380x337.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/coppola-pictures-760x674.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1792_078169.jpg" data-image-caption="1992: Francis Ford Coppola said that James V. Hart’s script for their 1992 movie, "Bram Stoker’s Dracula," required the costumes to be the set. By collaborating with graphic designer Eiko Ishioka, Coppola fulfilled that vision, and their work together resulted in some of the most memorable costumes ever made for these familiar characters." data-image-copyright="1792_078169" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1792_078169-380x253.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1792_078169-760x505.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="0.66447368421053" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/7730953.jpg" data-image-caption="November 14, 2010: Eli Wallach, Francis Ford Coppola and Kevin Brownlow at the 2nd Annual Academy Governors Awards, Kodak Theater in Hollywood. " data-image-copyright="at the 2nd Annual Academy Governors Awards, Kodak Theater, Hollywood, CA. 11-14-10" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/7730953-380x252.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/7730953-760x505.jpg"></div>  </figure> <figure class="isotope-item ratio-container--gallery photo" data-category="photo" data-ratio="1.455938697318" title="" data-gtm-category="photo" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Achiever - ">   <div class="lazyload ratio-container__image" data-toggle="modal" data-target="#imageModal" data-image-src="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/still-of-robert-de-niro-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture.jpg" data-image-caption="Francis Ford Coppola directing Robert De Niro in a scene from "The Godfather, Part II."" data-image-copyright="still-of-robert-de-niro-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/still-of-robert-de-niro-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture-261x380.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/10/still-of-robert-de-niro-in-gudfadern-del-ii-1974-large-picture-522x760.jpg"></div>  </figure>    </div> </section> </div> </div> <div class="container"> <footer class="editorial-article__footer col-md-8 col-md-offset-4"> <div class="editorial-article__next-link sans-3"> <a href="#"><strong>What's next:</strong> <span class="editorial-article__next-link-title">profile</span></a> </div> <ul class="social list-unstyled list-inline ssk-group m-b-0"> <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-facebook" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever on Facebook"><i class="icon-icon_facebook-circle"></i></a></li> <li class="list-inline-item"><a href="" class="ssk ssk-twitter" data-gtm-category="social" data-gtm-action="click" data-gtm-label="Shared Achiever on Twitter"><i 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href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/james-cameron/"> <figure class="ratio-container ratio-container--square bg-black"> <div class="lazyload box achiever-block__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cam0-001a-190x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/03/cam0-001a-380x380.jpg"></div> <div class="achiever-block__overlay"></div> <figcaption class="text-xs-center achiever-block__text"> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">James Cameron</div> <div class="achiever-block__known-as text-white sans-6">Film Futurist</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-white achiever-block__text--bottom"> <div class="achiever-block__year sans-4">Inducted in <span class="year-inducted">1998</span></div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="centered-blocks"> <div class="isotope-achiever 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class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">Ron Howard</div> <div class="achiever-block__known-as text-white sans-6">Oscar for Best Director</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-white achiever-block__text--bottom"> <div class="achiever-block__year sans-4">Inducted in <span class="year-inducted">1997</span></div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="centered-blocks"> <div class="isotope-achiever the-arts ambitious curious make-films " data-year-inducted="2006" data-achiever-name="Jackson"> <div class="achiever-block view-grid"> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sir-peter-jackson/"> <figure class="ratio-container ratio-container--square bg-black"> <div class="lazyload box achiever-block__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/jackson2019-760_ac-190x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/08/jackson2019-760_ac-380x380.jpg"></div> <div class="achiever-block__overlay"></div> <figcaption class="text-xs-center achiever-block__text"> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">Sir Peter Jackson</div> <div class="achiever-block__known-as text-white sans-6">Oscar for Best Director</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-white achiever-block__text--bottom"> <div class="achiever-block__year sans-4">Inducted in <span class="year-inducted">2006</span></div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="centered-blocks"> <div class="isotope-achiever the-arts business difficulty-with-school make-films write " data-year-inducted="1989" data-achiever-name="Lucas"> <div class="achiever-block view-grid"> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/george-lucas/"> <figure class="ratio-container ratio-container--square bg-black"> <div class="lazyload box achiever-block__image" data-sizes="auto" data-bgset="/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/lucas_760_ac-190x190.jpg [(max-width:576px)] | /wp-content/uploads/2016/04/lucas_760_ac-380x380.jpg"></div> <div class="achiever-block__overlay"></div> <figcaption class="text-xs-center achiever-block__text"> <div class="display--table"> <div class="display--table-cell"> <div class="achiever-block__text--center"> <div class="achiever-block__name text-brand-primary">George Lucas</div> <div class="achiever-block__known-as text-white sans-6">Creator of <i>Star Wars</i></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="text-white achiever-block__text--bottom"> <div class="achiever-block__year sans-4">Inducted in <span class="year-inducted">1989</span></div> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </a> </div> </div> </div> </footer> </div> </div> </article> <div class="modal image-modal" id="imageModal" tabindex="-1" role="dialog" aria-labelledby="imageModal" 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Dell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ron-dennis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ron Dennis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/joan-didion/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Joan Didion</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/david-herbert-donald-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David Herbert Donald, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/david-doubilet/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David Doubilet</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/jennifer-a-doudna-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jennifer A. Doudna, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/rita-dove/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Rita Dove</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sylvia-earle/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sylvia Earle, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/elbaradei/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mohamed ElBaradei</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/gertrude-elion/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Gertrude B. Elion, M.Sc.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/larry-j-ellison/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Larry J. Ellison</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/nora-ephron/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nora Ephron</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/julius-erving/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Julius Erving</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/tony-fadell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Tony Fadell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/paul-farmer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Paul Farmer, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/suzanne-farrell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Suzanne Farrell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/anthony-s-fauci-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sally-field/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sally Field</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/lord-norman-foster/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lord Norman Foster</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/aretha-franklin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Aretha Franklin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/milton-friedman-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Milton Friedman, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/carlos-fuentes/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carlos Fuentes</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/athol-fugard/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Athol Fugard</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/peter-gabriel/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peter Gabriel</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ernest-j-gaines/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ernest J. Gaines</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/william-h-gates-iii/"><span class="achiever-list-name">William H. Gates III</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/leymah-gbowee/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Leymah Gbowee</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/frank-gehry/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank O. Gehry</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/murray-gell-mann-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/carlos-ghosn/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carlos Ghosn</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/vince-gill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Vince Gill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ruth-bader-ginsburg/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ruth Bader Ginsburg</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/louise-gluck/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Louise Glück</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/whoopi-goldberg/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Whoopi Goldberg</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/jane-goodall/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dame Jane Goodall</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/doris-kearns-goodwin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Doris Kearns Goodwin, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/mikhail-s-gorbachev/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mikhail S. Gorbachev</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/nadine-gordimer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nadine Gordimer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/stephen-jay-gould/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen Jay Gould, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/carol-greider-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carol W. Greider, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/john-grisham/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Grisham</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sir-john-gurdon/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir John Gurdon</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/dorothy-hamill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dorothy Hamill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/demis-hassabis-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Demis Hassabis, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/lauryn-hill/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lauryn Hill</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sir-edmund-hillary/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Edmund Hillary</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/reid-hoffman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Reid Hoffman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/khaled-hosseini/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Khaled Hosseini, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ron-howard/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ron Howard</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/john-hume/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Hume</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/louis-ignarro-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Louis Ignarro, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/daniel-inouye/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Daniel K. Inouye</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/jeremy-irons/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jeremy Irons</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/john-irving/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Irving</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/kazuo-ishiguro/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Kazuo Ishiguro</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sir-peter-jackson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sir Peter Jackson</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/donald-c-johanson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Donald C. Johanson, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/frank-m-johnson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank M. Johnson, Jr.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/philip-johnson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Philip C. Johnson</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/chuck-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Chuck Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/james-earl-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Earl Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/quincy-jones/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Quincy Jones</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/beverly-joubert/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Beverly Joubert</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/dereck-joubert/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dereck Joubert</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/paul-kagame/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Paul Kagame</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/thomas-keller-2/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Thomas Keller</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/anthony-m-kennedy/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony M. Kennedy</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/carole-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carole King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/b-b-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">B.B. King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/coretta-scott-king/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Coretta Scott King</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/henry-kissinger-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Henry A. Kissinger, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/willem-j-kolff/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Willem J. Kolff, M.D., Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/wendy-kopp/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wendy Kopp</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/henry-r-kravis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Henry R. Kravis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/nicholas-d-kristof/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Nicholas D. Kristof</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/mike-krzyzewski/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mike Krzyzewski</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ray-kurzwell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ray Kurzweil</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/eric-lander-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Eric S. Lander, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/robert-s-langer-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert S. Langer, Sc.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/richard-leakey/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Richard E. Leakey</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/leon-lederman-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Leon Lederman, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/robert-lefkowitz-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert J. Lefkowitz, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/congressman-john-r-lewis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Congressman John R. Lewis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/maya-lin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Maya Lin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/george-lucas/"><span class="achiever-list-name">George Lucas</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/paul-b-maccready-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Paul B. MacCready, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/norman-mailer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Norman Mailer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/peyton-manning/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peyton Manning</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/wynton-marsalis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wynton Marsalis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/john-c-mather-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John C. Mather, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/johnny-mathis/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Johnny Mathis</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ernst-mayr-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ernst Mayr, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/willie-mays/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Willie Mays</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/frank-mccourt/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frank McCourt</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/david-mccullough/"><span class="achiever-list-name">David McCullough</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/audra-mcdonald/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Audra McDonald</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/admiral-william-h-mcraven/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral William H. McRaven, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/w-s-merwin/"><span class="achiever-list-name">W. S. Merwin</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/reinhold-messner/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Reinhold Messner</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/james-a-michener/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James A. Michener</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/marvin-minsky-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Marvin Minsky, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/mario-j-molina-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Mario J. Molina, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/n-scott-momaday-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">N. Scott Momaday, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/story-musgrave/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Story Musgrave, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ralph-nader/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ralph Nader</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/peggy-noonan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Peggy Noonan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/jessye-norman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jessye Norman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/tommy-norris/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/joyce-carol-oates/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Joyce Carol Oates</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/pierre-omidyar/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Pierre Omidyar</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/jimmy-page/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jimmy Page</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/larry-page/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Larry Page</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/arnold-palmer/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Arnold Palmer</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/leon-panetta/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Leon Panetta</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/rosa-parks/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Rosa Parks</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/suzan-lori-parks/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Suzan-Lori Parks</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/linus-pauling/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Linus C. Pauling, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/shimon-peres/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Shimon Peres</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/itzhak-perlman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Itzhak Perlman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/general-david-petraeus/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General David H. Petraeus, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sidney-poitier/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sidney Poitier</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/general-colin-l-powell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General Colin L. Powell, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/harold-prince/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Harold Prince</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/venki-ramakrishnan-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Venki Ramakrishnan, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/lord-martin-rees/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lord Martin Rees</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/lloyd-richards/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lloyd Richards</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sally-ride-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sally K. Ride, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sonny-rollins/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sonny Rollins</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/anthony-romero/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Anthony D. Romero</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/james-rosenquist/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James Rosenquist</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/pete-rozelle/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Pete Rozelle</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/bill-russell/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Bill Russell</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/albie-sachs/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Albie Sachs</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/oliver-sacks-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Oliver Sacks, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/jonas-salk-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Jonas Salk, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/frederick-sanger-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frederick Sanger, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/george-b-schaller-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">George B. Schaller, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/barry-scheck/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Barry Scheck</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/richard-evans-schultes-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Richard Evans Schultes, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/general-h-norman-schwarzkopf/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/stephen-schwarzman/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen A. Schwarzman</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/glenn-t-seaborg-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Glenn T. Seaborg, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/neil-sheehan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Neil Sheehan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/admiral-alan-shepard-jr/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral Alan B. Shepard, Jr., USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ellen-johnson-sirleaf/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Ellen Johnson Sirleaf</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/carlos-slim/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Carlos Slim Helú</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/frederick-w-smith/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Frederick W. Smith</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/stephen-sondheim/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Stephen Sondheim</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/sonia-sotomayor/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Sonia Sotomayor</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/wole-soyinka/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wole Soyinka</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/esperanza-spalding/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Esperanza Spalding</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/martha-stewart/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Martha Stewart</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/admiral-james-b-stockdale/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/hilary-swank/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Hilary Swank</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/amy-tan/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Amy Tan</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/dame-kiri-te-kanawa/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Dame Kiri Te Kanawa</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/edward-teller-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Edward Teller, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/twyla-tharp/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Twyla Tharp</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/wayne-thiebaud/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Wayne Thiebaud</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/lt-michael-e-thornton-usn/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lt. Michael E. Thornton, USN</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/clyde-tombaugh/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Clyde Tombaugh</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/charles-h-townes-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Charles H. Townes, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/david-trimble/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lord David Trimble</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/ted-turner/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Robert Edward (Ted) Turner</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/desmond-tutu/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Archbishop Desmond Tutu</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/john-updike/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Updike</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/gore-vidal/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Gore Vidal</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/antonio-villaraigosa/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Antonio Villaraigosa</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/lech-walesa/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Lech Walesa</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/herschel-walker/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Herschel Walker</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/alice-waters/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Alice Waters</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/james-d-watson/"><span class="achiever-list-name">James D. Watson, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/andrew-weil-m-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Andrew Weil, M.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/leslie-h-wexner/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Leslie H. Wexner</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/elie-wiesel/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Elie Wiesel</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/edward-o-wilson-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Edward O. Wilson, Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/oprah-winfrey/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Oprah Winfrey</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/tom-wolfe/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Tom Wolfe</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/john-wooden/"><span class="achiever-list-name">John Wooden</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/bob-woodward/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Bob Woodward</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/shinya-yamanaka-m-d-ph-d/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Shinya Yamanaka, M.D., Ph.D.</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/general-chuck-yeager/"><span class="achiever-list-name">General Chuck Yeager, USAF</span></a> </li> <li> <a href="/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/achiever/andrew-young/"><span class="achiever-list-name">Andrew J. Young</span></a> </li> </ul> <div class="list__close"></div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6 col-lg-3"> <ul id="menu-footer-menu-col-1" class="menu list-unstyled"><li class="menu-item menu-item-has-children menu-our-history"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/our-history/">Our History</a> <ul class="sub-menu"> <li class="menu-item menu-about-the-academy"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/our-history/">About the Academy</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-academy-patrons"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/our-history/patrons/">Academy Patrons</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-delegate-alumni"><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200917235318/https://achievement.org/our-history/alumni/">Delegate Alumni</a></li> <li class="menu-item menu-directors-our-team"><a 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