By Mike McCarthy
Having a family member in the same business that you are can always make things interesting. Now, throw in two of the biggest last names in film history with Cage and Coppola, and the chances for “interesting” go up exponentially. But, for rising star Weston Cage Coppola, the son of Nicolas Cage and grandson of August Coppola- who’s brother is Francis Ford Coppola- director of “The Godfather,” the pressure of his powerful dynasty is more than intense since, after all, these are serious Academy Award winning heavy-hitters. As just a mere child, Cage Coppola saw some of his dad’s best work come to life, whether it was an action film like “Con Air,” or a powerful drama like “Leaving Las Vegas,” and naturally, the strong work from his family would have an impact on him and inspire him to pursue his own dreams in the field.
And for the 6’3 Hollywood prince, those dreams are extensive and diverse. In fact, the young actor loves being a musician almost, if not more than he does being an actor- and he’s also a trained martial artist. When it comes to his musical skills, seeing a piece of music that he created be added to the score or soundtrack of a film is almost euphoric for the California native. Of course, for a musician, contributing to a film is the absolute ultimate endgame when it comes to getting their music heard- and for Cage Coppola, that endgame is even more meaningful considering it only adds to the many incredible contributions his crest has given to film. In fact, the thoughtful scribe even wrote the title track for the film “Drive Angry,” a film that actually starred his father.
But, while Cage Coppola has a unique sound, exotic influences, and a deep love for music, his passion for acting cannot be undermined, and his interests and character morphing abilities are just as intriguing and versatile. With a commanding presence, the strong talent could easily be seen in a period piece as Roman royalty, his amazing abilities to morph his voice and change dialects could make him one of the most promising character actors in the business, and his long-time love of martial arts could cultivate a career for him as an action star as he sets forth on making his dream come true of remaking some of the old action films starring Chow Yun Fat. After studying martial arts for the past 24 years and just recently becoming a heavyweight champion, his skills are on par with some of the greats that he revered while he was younger- and it wouldn’t be surprising to find him following in their footsteps, as well as the footsteps of his mega-famous family.
A big fan of his own father, Cage Coppola had just seen the newest film in his dad’s repertoire, “Mandy,” quick to state that it will expand people’s consciousness and become a cult classic. The love and honor that Weston shows his father, his family, and his career is incredible to see, and there is no doubt that soon he will be making cinema history just as they did. After all, he did learn from the best, and when he was a kid he would randomly improv with his father while they were on their way to sets or award shows, as well as perform shows for his father and his talented friends- icons such as Jim Carrey and Cary Elwes! For this up and coming star, he wasn’t bitten by the acting bug- it was born in him like a parasite, and to see it rise like a phoenix is truly inspiring.
Fans already know the last name and soon enough, audiences everywhere will know the first. Keep an eye out for Weston Cage Coppola in the next big action film!
WINGMAN: You not only act and produce, but, you are musically inclined. Talk about what it’s like watching a film and hearing one of your songs being used on the soundtrack, as opposed to seeing yourself on screen.
WESTON CAGE COPPOLA: When I hear myself on a soundtrack or any type of composition that I contribute to a film, it’s pretty enrapturing, and when I see that I have enhanced the texture of the film, it is very gratifying because I believe that music is trying to adapt to the space and to fill the volume and to transport the listener within the film.
WINGMAN: I am sure it means a lot to know that you wrote the music that you are playing for the film and not someone else writing your words.
CAGE COPPOLA: Exactly! And as for acting, to actually become someone instead of myself, doing the research, and finding the skeletons and breathing in the life of the character. I believe that art is the highest form of communication and whatever I can do to heal others or bring catharsis, that is my goal.
WINGMAN: Which was the first love that you had, music or acting, and did one lead to the other?
CAGE COPPOLA: From what I have heard, it was simultaneous. When I was three years old, Jim Carrey, Cary Elwes, and my dad would sit down and I would put on plays for them. Or I would have my friends come over and I would get some of that stage blood called Ben Nye. Their parents would pick them up covered in stage blood from our house and I was making movies with my little camera. I was trying to direct and was constantly making movies. I am always trying to make movies with my wife Hila, who is one of the greatest artists I have ever met. I almost quit playing guitar because it was getting in the way.
WINGMAN: Who were your musical inspirations when you were a kid that made you fall in love with a certain genre of music, and made you want to pick up an instrument?
CAGE COPPOLA: Honestly when I was a kid, Enya was always being played in our house. We also had Buddha Bar, or middle eastern music, and Gypsy Kings. So I was always running around this house that was enveloped in incense with Enya’s voice being blasted through a sound system. That’s when ethnic music really captivated me, especially Middle Eastern- which is the most enchanted and sometimes haunted with beauty. Of course when I got older, System of a Down was all I really listened to.
WINGMAN: Growing up with one of the most sought after actors in Hollywood must’ve been a trip. Talk about that a little bit and how that that affected your childhood.
CAGE COPPOLA: It was always an honor to have such a brilliant and encouraging father. I always say that he was the photosynthesis to the seeds and growth in me, which I called the torch, and he never let the torch go out. Being with my dad was so refreshing. We would be in a limousine together for a two hour ride, and we would just do some improv acting. At school, they didn’t see my father as an individual, they saw him as an emblem, so I would get harassed a lot. And then when my friends met my dad they realized that he was a dignified individual. There were kids that would take photos of us. It was definitely interesting, especially those tour buses that would bring people by your house. You feel like you are a zoo animal. My dad definitely had to increase the strictness when I was throwing diapers at the buses when I was twelve.
WINGMAN: Whether it be action, drama, or thriller, what draws you to a project and makes you go; “damn, that looks fun!”
CAGE COPPOLA: Definitely things that are dialogue dominant. I really appreciate the linear family dramas or dramatic acting. I have been doing martial arts for 24 years and just became heavyweight champion so I really want to implement that into true action films and revive them. I love “Hard Boiled,” Chow Yun Fat, and would love to see those kind of action movies become more prevalent because I really think that the stories, especially the ones in the Asian action movies are developed in a way that keeps you engaged in the story and isn’t just relying on explosions. So if I could be the Coppola version of Jet Li, that would be interesting [laughs.] The martial art that I do, systema; which is a Russian martial art, has never been incorporated into a movie before, which I find to be very strange since most of the villains are Russian.
WINGMAN: Would you be more into the films like “Kickboxer” that was just rebooted, or something more dialogue and story driven?
CAGE COPPOLA: Oh absolutely. My dad was nice enough to take the two champions from Thailand and got the whole gym at the Four Seasons given to me as a gift for a night and they taught me how to throw kicks. They were throwing kicks faster than I could throw punches, and I was wondering how they did that.
WINGMAN: You just got married a few months back. Talk a little about how a strong home life keeps you grounded when filming.
CAGE COPPOLA: Hila is my sacred love, my soul-mate. I didn’t know what love was until I met her. I imagined her before I met her, and I would love to write a film about that. True love is no longer a fantasy to me. It definitely gives me more energy, and I am the healthiest I have ever been. I used to be a tortured artist, and now I am a very blissful and grateful artist. It’s all about magnetism and my new album will definitely expose that.
WINGMAN: Your family is obviously is extremely well known. Do you try and distance yourself from the famous last names at all, or do you embrace them?
CAGE COPPOLA: I embrace it fully. I used to be a little more ambivalent and trying to prove that I wasn’t riding on anyone’s coattails. I was trying to emulate my grandfather, August Coppola , and I dedicate a lot of my lyrics to him and my wife who is my muse. My grandpa August is my guardian Angel, and I went full blown and embraced Coppola. I switched my name and my dad said that I had the right to choose either names, so, now I have both.
And while both his last names may hold extreme clout, soon enough, the entire world will stand at attention simply for the name “Weston,”- count on it!