In a new film, Gia Coppola dissects ‘Mainstream’ culture
ABC News
Gia Coppola had a famous filmmaking surname, a promising debut film under her belt and a timely idea about skewering internet influencer culture, but it still took nearly seven years to get “Mainstream” off the ground
Gia Coppola was feeling out of touch with popular culture when she stumbled upon the ending of Elia Kazan’s 1957 satire “A Face in the Crowd” several years ago. The story of a folksy truth-teller who rises to dangerous levels of fame and influence on television seemed oddly prescient (and this was before it became “trendy” again after the 2016 presidential election). The image of Andy Griffith laughing maniacally stayed with her. At the same time, she was watching the rise of internet stars from afar and wondering where art fits in a world where everyone just wants to watch others play video games and unbox toys. “I’ve always sort of felt a little bit like an alien or something. Just what I like is very different, I think, than what most people like,” Coppola, 34, said. “I think now because of the internet it’s even more in your face of what gets gratification.” It was the genesis of her sophomore feature, “Mainstream,” in which a struggling young artist (Maya Hawke) inadvertently creates a monster when her videos of an antiestablishment loner (Andrew Garfield) go viral. The film, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival, is in theaters and on demand Friday.More Related News