IN HOLLYWOOD, PRODUCTION on a film or television series usually ramps up once major talent is attached. Tried-and-tested film-makers or stars guarantee an audience; that, in turn, makes the industry’s financiers more willing to sign cheques. Francis Ford Coppola and Kevin Costner are two such big names. One is the director of “Apocalypse Now” and the “Godfather” movies. The other won Oscars for Best Director and Best Picture for “Dances With Wolves”, and has recently starred in a hit television series, “Yellowstone”.

You would assume, then, that both men could easily secure funding for any big-screen endeavour that took their fancy. Apparently not. Both Mr Coppola and Mr Costner had to self-finance their new films, “Megalopolis” (pictured above) and “Horizon” (pictured below), which debuted at Cannes Film Festival on May 16th and May 19th.