Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "Victor Salva" in English language version.
Powder was written and directed by Victor Salva, who had once been a burgeoning filmmaking talent hand-picked by Francis Ford Coppola as a protégé. Salva caught Coppola's eye with the horror short Something in the Basement; the Godfather director would produce his first theatrical film Clownhouse, reportedly even giving him the same camera George Lucas had shot American Graffiti with.
Just before Salva went to prison, he spoke to [his mentor] Coppola, who told him the experience would have value. "Francis said, 'It will make you a better artist,'" Salva recalls. "He left out one important part –– if you survive it."
