Director Christopher Coppola is working to build a digital movie school in New Mexico to help young moviemakers combine technology with art, believing "the land of enchantment" could become "the next digital capital" for the industry. "Film is daunting for young and old filmmakers because it's expensive," he says, relaxing in a leather easy chair at his movie studio Ears XXI in Los Angeles. "You can buy a digital camera and if you know how to use Final Cut Pro," editing software from Apple Computer, moviemaking can be mastered on a desktop or laptop PC.
Moviemakers are grabbling with methods to combine video gaming with movies and Internet media, and kids will have to find ways to "tell their stories in this kind of multitasking environment," he says. "I don't even like technology, but I've embraced it because I feel it's important for people to learn how to use it, and artists to use it."
Perhaps that's why Coppola chose to create HD American Portraits with retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and PRN Corp., an ad agency, bringing art to the retailer through its closed circuit TV network in stores.
Listen to the podcast to hear Christopher Coppola's thoughts on moviemaking, video podcasting, and the project with Wal-Mart here.