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 . . .