How Coppola Became Cage tells the story of Nicolas Cage's early career and rise to fame, examining the formative performances that made him an icon of independent cinema of the eighties and early nineties. By interviewing dozens of directors, producers, and actors who worked closely with Cage, author Zach Schonfeld takes readers behind the scenes of his legendary early films and provides a revealing portrait of Cage's intensely devoted commitment to his roles.