Gia Coppola: An Alien on Hollywood Boulevard

Hollywood Boulevard is a microcosm of America, its highs and lows and everything in between. A major tourist destination that features the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars and famous movie theaters, the street also houses many small businesses and several encampments of homeless people. Wandering between celebrity culture and real life is “Edie,” the titular character in Gia Coppola’s new multi-channel video piece. Naïve, charmed, and charming, Edie (played by Jane Moseley) explores Hollywood Boulevard like an alien, casting her curious eyes on the strangeness of humans, revealing some of the magic of everyday life.

Edie debuted on September 11 at the pop-up gallery Kiosque Pixel in Berlin and was open to the public until September 14 as part of Berlin Art Week. Shane Anderson conducted the following interview with Gia Coppola, where they touched upon shooting with a Google Pixel 10 Pro and being curious about people.

Shane Anderson: Can you tell me about the inception of the piece? What's the general idea and/or mood you want to convey?

Gia Coppola: I love that anything can be considered beautiful or art if that’s how you see it. So, I’m sharing a bit of me—my fascination with Hollywood Boulevard, my friends, the extraordinary in the ordinary.

SA: The film takes inspiration from Ed Ruscha's Every Building on the Sunset Strip (1966). What does this street mean to you?

GC: We actually filmed on Hollywood Boulevard. I grew up on the hill watching it evolve. Hollywood Boulevard in particular feels like a very honest part of the city, even in all its facade. It’s strange, and I love how we become immune to its weirdness.

SA: How much of the strip did you film?

GC: One block on either side.

SA: The Ed Ruscha work is about the facades. You also film people, the street (cones), alleys, and such. Why?

GC: Well, I have to make it my own. I’ve always been an observer, I’m curious about people. To me this film also feels like the Sunday newspaper comic strip.

SA: Who is Edie?

GC: My friend Jane Moseley, who plays Edie, has so much personality. I find her extremely unique in the things she likes and how she interacts with the world. I just gave her direction that maybe this is her first time on Earth and she lands, of all places, on Hollywood Boulevard. A bit of Buster Keaton flavor.

SA: How does the film fit into your general oeuvre?

GC: I’m always interested in Americana or the extraordinary in the ordinary.

SA: What did you film on and why? What are the particular aspects you were looking for?

GC: Google Pixel 10 Pro! It’s fun shooting on the phone because it allows us to be nimbler and more candid, but doesn’t compromise the quality. The Pixel has so many options in terms of quality and camera.

SA: Can you tell me about the installation at Kiosque Pixel?

GC: I’m excited about thinking of making something in terms of an installation. I want the experience to feel like you’re in the middle of the two streets, forcing the viewer to choose where to look and interact with the medium.

SA: The music is very whimsical and makes the film feel very inviting. What's the power of music in film?

GC: Music defines so much. It sets the tone. My editor put a whistling tune and I loved it. Feels right, like you’re strolling along, humming a tune in your mind.