Sofia Coppola Speaks Out on Budget Disparity in Film Industry

Despite Challenges, Director Finds Freedom in Smaller Budgets

Sofia Coppola, director of the film 'Priscilla', has spoken out about the disparity in film budgets between male and female directors, stating she fights for a 'tiny fraction' of what her male counterparts receive.
Coppola's film 'Priscilla', a biopic about Priscilla Presley, was made on a budget of less than $20 million, forcing the director and her team to get creative with production and shoot digitally due to time constraints.
Despite the challenges, Coppola sees an upside to working with smaller budgets, citing the freedom from extensive input from studio executives and the opportunity for creative independence.
Coppola also highlighted the importance of showcasing a female perspective in her films, a sentiment echoed in 'Priscilla', which tells the story of Priscilla Presley's life with Elvis Presley from her point of view.
Due to rights issues, the film features few Elvis Presley songs, instead concluding with Dolly Parton's 'I Will Always Love You', a decision Coppola says was important to maintain a woman's voice at the end of the film.