During the pre-production phase of Gardens of Stone, Coppola was given the responsibility of filming the rehearsals and supervising the electronic cinema staff.

There was also potential for Coppola to intern with director Steven Spielberg to work on the television series Amazing Stories before his death.

Director Penny Marshall had also hired him to work on the second unit for her feature film Jumpin' Jack Flash.

He ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of "negligent operation of a boat", was fined $200 and sentenced to 18 months' probation in 1987.

Eleanor Coppola's touring art installation, Circle of Memory, commemorates the life of her son, and has been exhibited in San Diego, Oakland, Santa Fe, Montpellier, Salzburg, Stockholm, and Oslo.