Mike Figgis (Leaving Las Vegas, Hotel) directs Megadoc, a feature-length fly-on-the-wall documentary about the making-of Francis Ford Coppola’s polarizing self-funded epic Megalopolis. The doc proves that cinephiles and critics alike weren’t the only people puzzled by last year’s movie – everyone featured in Megadoc is trying to make heads or tails of Megalopolis, including Francis Ford Coppola.

The documentary is as much about Megalopolis as it is about collaborating with Coppola. The interviewed cast and crew are ecstatic to be working with the director of Apocalypse Now and The Godfather trilogy. The production is excited to experiment with in-camera effects and wild concepts, but they start to have apprehensions when the payoffs and the scheduling take unexpected turns.

The actors enter rehearsals as open-minded vessels for Coppola’s ideas, as they partake in theatre exercises that are designed to loosen them up and identify with their character’s personality. But as the shoot goes on, and Coppola’s directions become more heady, the on-set experience grows more tense. At one point, some of the younger actors who were so starstruck to be working with the likes of Jon Voight, Aubrey Plaza and Shia LaBeouf look towards Figgis for a suggestion on how they should act in their scenes. Figgis’ self-taped diaries provide interesting perspectives on the Megalopolis production as well; along with his curious and honest interviews with Coppola as the outsider tries to pinpoint what his documentary is ultimately about.

Physical media enthusiasts may perceive Megadoc as a glorified featurette that would usually belong on the film’s home release. But considering how Megalopolis is currently unavailable to rent or purchase in North America (unless you have a region-free Blu-ray/DVD player), Megadoc may be the only insight most movie goers will be exposed to regarding this strange drama.

Some of Coppola’s more unusual creative decisions go unmentioned (such as the film’s interactive moment, where a theatre patron is given scripted dialogue to read aloud during a press conference) as well as other controversies over the director’s “unprofessional” on-set behaviour (which Coppola took umbrage with). But, whether he figured out the meaning of his doc or not, Figgis has captured raw insight on creating art. The most memorable exchanges happen between Coppola and LaBeouf, resulting in both men having respect yet animosity for each other. LaBeouf, looking for more pragmatic assistance from Coppola, is constantly provoking the director and Coppola isn’t afraid to bark back when he’s pushed on his set. Meanwhile, Voight and Dustin Hoffman (who began their careers with a similar spirit as LaBeouf’s) provide advice that is reflective of their careers and why they’re more receptive to a gutsy filmmaker’s ambition.

Megadoc may have only been made for dweebs who love the filmmaking process or for those who saw Francis Ford Coppola’s $120,000,000 box office bomb. But, for that core demographic (which includes myself), Figgis’ documentary is a fascinating treasure.

Ottawa’s Mayfair Theatre will be screening Megadoc along with encore screenings of Megalopolis: The Ultimate Experience (including the interactive scene). Tickets are now available to purchase at the theatre or online at www.mayfairtheatre.ca

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Addison Wylie: @AddisonWylie