Coppola had continued to lecture Lucas that it was the ability to write original material that separated filmmakers from mere directors. “Write the screenplay, and then execute it as a producer and director,” admonished Coppola.57 The irony would be that over the course of their careers, it would be Lucas, the self-proclaimed “terrible writer,” who would write and direct his own original material — and create two iconic film franchises along the way — while Coppola would largely make his name adapting other people’s work for the big screen.
