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My night with Francis Ford Coppola
Dressed in an all-white suit, Francis Ford Coppola, the famous California winemaker who we've heard has directed a film or two, brought a multimedia dog-and-pony show The Harold Washington Library last night to tout his portfolio of businesses, which range from pasta to wine to resorts.
The entertaining 60-minute interactive presentation ended with the unveiling (and uncorking!) of new Rosso & Bianco, wine from his new Sonoma vineyard.
I think Coppola's true objective, however, was to answer the one question that irritates him the most: "Why not just stick to movies?" By weaving stories of his family (his mother was the daughter of a music publisher, his grandfather invented a prototype of movie sound) while talking about his products, the energetic Coppola explained how all his businesses spring organically from his life's passions.
"It just happens to me naturally as I [am] living my life," he said from the stage.
Well, despite all his accomplishments--Academy Awards, a successful wine and food business, a resort business, the award-winning literary mag All-Story, Coppola missed his true calling by about 100 years: "I always wanted to be in Vaudeville."
I could tell: Despite some not-so high-tech flourishes -- Coppola timed himself walking on and off screen in synch with the filmed images of himself -- this was an old-fashioned evening of light humor, storytelling and magic--and, yes, food.
Coppola's stage assistants passed large platters of antipasti to the audience, and a couple of pizzas made an appearance -- as did a big red sauce smear on his white lapel.
Don't feel bad, Francis: At a meet-and-greet wine tasting after the show, I think I left wearing more of the new Rosso than I actually drank.
P.S.: One exciting bit of news for fans of Sofia Mini, the portable single-serve bubbly. Coppola has a new product in the works: Rosso to Go--single serving cups of red wine; just peel back the foil lid and gulp. It's been a big hit with Giants fans at AT&T Park in San Fran; but no ETA on its Chicago debut. Hurry Francis, Ravinia season is about to start.
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