After crafting incredible musical dramas like A Star is Born and Maestro, Bradley Cooper is set to mount his next directorial venture as a comedy. The actor-filmmaker has been chasing the ever-elusive Academy Award with incredible performances and Oscar-bait movies. However, this time, he seems to have changed the game. Apart from co-starring, co-writing, and directing the upcoming Will Arnett starrer Is This Thing On?, Cooper will reportedly also operate the B camera.
The comedy also stars Laura Dern, Sean Hayes, and Emily Blunt. Previously, Cooper made the musical biopic Maestro, which was nominated for Best Picture and Best Actor. He is known not only for his drop-dead gorgeous looks but also for his incredible acting performances in films like Silver Linings Playbook, American Sniper, and more. The star of The Hangover turned director with A Star is Born, in which he also sang and co-starred with Lady Gaga.
Despite Cooper’s talents and accolades, he has been snubbed by the Academy Awards so many times that he has been compared to pre-The Revenant Leonardo DiCaprio. The memes have escalated now that Cooper announced his new position in his next directorial film, Is This Thing On?. The actor’s decision to operate the B camera has been met with both appreciation and humor from fans, who chided the star for taking on additional roles within the technical crew as a strategy to secure an Oscar.
One fan noted, “I see the vision: Bradley Cooper realizes the Academy will never award him for his acting or directing, so he decides to become a skilled DP. If that fails, he’ll keep trying elsewhere—makeup, sound editing, VFX… before long he’ll be a master of all crafts.” Another tweeted, “Guy deserves an Oscar, and he’s willing to fight for it.” Supporters of Cooper’s multi-talented approach eagerly await his prospects, even joking about potential future wins.
While the American Hustle star explores new avenues in filmmaking, fans have seized the opportunity to share jokes at his expense. Bradley Cooper has worn many hats not just as an actor but also within the crew of various films. He began his career on television shows like Alias and Sex and the City, but he soon transitioned to more behind-the-scenes roles as he progressed in the industry. He produced the film Limitless and also contributed as one of the producers for Joker.
Now, Cooper is prepared to take on the role of camera operator on Is This Thing On?, which he is also writing, directing, and acting in. He recently mentioned that he had just joined the union—speculated to be the International Cinematographer’s Guild—and shared his excitement for his new role. He expressed to IndieWire, “I’ll operate the camera, which I’m very excited about because we did some stuff. We went down to Chinatown and yeah, it’s been amazing. […] We start in two weeks, so it’s kind of crazy.”
Cooper emphasized the importance of key crew positions, stating, “anybody that’s ever made a movie knows that the camera operator and the dolly grip and the sound mixer, and the first AD, these are key positions that are as important as the actors or anybody else.” He also mentioned that he will have a relatively small part in the upcoming film, which features Will Arnett and Laura Dern as a recently separated couple.
As Bradley Cooper dives into these new challenges in his comedy, the significance of his multi-faceted approach may shift how his talents are perceived in the industry. Fans and audiences alike are eager to see if this bold turn will finally lead to the coveted Oscar he has long sought. With his determination and willingness to take on new roles, it seems that Bradley Cooper’s Oscar hunt is more alive than ever.
