Bradley Cooper revealed a surprising policy on his film sets: chairs are banned. In a conversation conducted for Variety with Spike Lee, the actor-director explained the approach he takes while directing, including his stance on seating during shoots for Maestro, the project about the legendary composer Leonard Bernstein.
According to Cooper, he has never liked chairs on set. He believes that sitting down drains energy and changes the on-set dynamic. He also noted that he does not use a monitor while filming, underscoring a preference for live, uninterrupted performance rather than playback checks. In his words, there is no chair on the set, and the result is a more active, energized shoot that keeps momentum high and focus unbroken.
Cooper further stated that the production environment is tightly controlled and closed off from outside influence. He mentioned that only Steven Spielberg visited the set on three occasions, apart from those visits, there were no other guests. He described the shooting space as a shelter, a safe place where the cast and crew could work without distraction or external interference.
The discussion also touched on public reactions to Cooper’s choices. Jewish organizations spoke out during the summer, responding to the criticism that accompanied the director’s use of a false nose to resemble Bernstein more closely. The aim, it seems, was to capture authenticity in Bernstein’s appearance for the film, though it drew debate about makeup choices in biographical storytelling.
In a broader note about the industry context, the piece also referenced contemporary releases. The Wonka project, featuring Timothée Chalamet, marked one of the film’s high-profile premieres, illustrating how star-driven productions continue to shape box office conversations and audience expectations in modern cinema. The discussions around Maestro, along with other high-profile titles, highlight how directors balance artistic vision with public scrutiny—especially when biographical subjects are involved—and how production tactics, from seating policies to camera monitoring, intersect with audience perception and industry standards. (Attribution: Variety)