Actor, director and co-writer Bradley Cooper and supporting actor Dave Chappelle sat on the front stage of the Little Art Theatre, to speak about and answer questions on Bradley's new release of “A Star is Born” (Submitted photo by Frédéric Yonnet)
Little Art, Big deal
- Published: October 11, 2018
Several hundred villagers enjoyed a Hollywood moment last Friday, Oct. 5, when actor, director and co-writer Bradley Cooper of the just-released “A Star is Born” appeared with local celebrity and film supporting actor Dave Chappelle at two private screenings of the film at the Little Art Theatre. The two appeared after the 2 p.m. showing of the film to speak about its production and answer questions.
The film tells the classic Hollywood story of Jackson Maine, a rock-and-roll star in decline as he struggles with addiction, who falls in love with an unknown singer with a huge talent, played by Lady Gaga. Chappelle’s role is of Maine’s close friend, Noodles, who advises his friend of the wisdom of settling down and enjoying the ordinary pleasures of life, rather than always pursuing the next big thing.
In his talk, Cooper said he wrote the friend role specifically for Chappelle, whom he had met and bonded with in 2015 in London. Cooper said he made two trips to Yellow Springs to persuade Chappelle to take the role, and wasn’t sure until the last minute that Chappelle would do the part.
Cooper also said that the speech he wrote for Noodles to deliver to Maine in the film was based on what he sees as Chappelle’s own wisdom. “The character [of Noodles] is talking from a deep place that originates in Dave,” Cooper said, also stating that “everyone [in the film] gave all of themselves.”
Chappelle’s daughter, Sanaa, also appears in the film, as the daughter of Noodles.
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