Today we’d like to introduce you to Weston Cage Coppola.
I came into this world with an undeniable awareness of my purpose. When I was a boy, I knew I was supposed to communicate to the world through my artistry and that I had an infinitely powerful love and connection with someone out there. I knew I had an artistic mission and a soulmate. I began exploring acting when I was three by entertaining my parents and company with little plays or puppet shows using action figures. By the time I was in elementary school I was motivating my classmates to come over and make full-blown home movies that included stage blood, intense dialogue and combat sequences (supported by my martial arts training which I began at age three). Parents were terrified and my friends became enamored with acting. I couldn’t stop creating and this desire to create also brought me to the piano, the drums and the guitar at the age of eight. My passion for music and acting got me accepted into the Youth Academy of Dramatic Arts where I performed in plays like “Annie” and “Guys And Dolls”. By high school, I was studying acting at Stella Adler in the advanced adult program. Now, after a very a relentless journey and unwavering dedication, I am a working actor and I am married to Hila, my miraculous soulmate that I was destined for.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I took many horrifying detours along the way and met resoundingly turbulent times as well as obstacles. I believe I didn’t really get to start my life until I was twenty-five because of the suffering that I endured. I became addicted to alcohol which affects me like kryptonite. The majority of people drink to feel more relaxed and socially unrestricted. I go absent. I think that alcohol is actually great for certain people and I admire the craftsmanship in making wine and whiskey, I just simply can’t consume it. My former alcohol and substance abuse all stemmed from my wanting to pacify a nightmarish and ferocious case of true obsessive compulsive disorder that I had and instead it made me wake up to ominous aftermaths and chaos. The battle with OCD began when I was a child and it brought me to many tortured moments. I began excelling in combat sports and winning championships left and right as a teenager which really got me to leave the war in my head. I also encountered the same thing my father did. People assuming that you got to where you are because of your family or that you think your going to get the job because of names. It only makes you have to work twice as hard coming from fame in my experience because people already have a preconceived notion about you and who you are or what you’re like. I audition like everybody else and at the end of the day skill, hard work and perseverance speaks for itself.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
I am diligently focused on my acting, music career and martial arts as these are my primary artforms. My wife, friends and I are also working on BarWeek, a ten-day annual event that showcases the best drinks and food paired throughout the city at an exclusive discount. We’re passionate about our city and want everyone to experience the best of the best of what it has to offer. Lastly, we are launching Coppola Cage Productions, more on that at another time.
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
The proudest moment in my career so far is when I got the play the real-life and triumphant WW2 hero, Colonel James Earl Rudder in the film D-Day. I auditioned for a supporting role and was humbled to be offered the lead. The icing on that cake was finding out that my brother from another mother, Jesse Kove would be one of my co-stars, as well as childhood icons and UFC Legends Randy Couture & Chuck Liddell, and Karate Kid’s/Cobra Kai’s Martin Kove. D-Day is set to come out on September 13, 2019.
It was also a proud moment of gratitude to have completed my first solo album in which I played every instrument on, entitled Hollywood Noir with producer, Ryan Greene. This album is an echo of my musical upbringing and each song was done with a cinematic vision in mind. I used different characters in my singing and aim to release this album alongside each track finding its home in a film.
What were you like growing up?
As a child, most people would describe me as wild and deeply spiritual. I was also tormented by a severe and merciless case of OCD. Being born into fame also presented many difficulties. At times it made things problematic socially and it made a lot of people define me for themselves before even knowing me. I spent the majority of my childhood exploring the many channels of artistic expression and expanding my abilities. I was always performing in the dramatic arts, making music, sculpting, doing martial arts, writing poetry and painting. I always desired the cathartic release in creation.
- Website: http://barweek.com/
Image Credit:
(Headshot by) Joshua M Shelton
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