Bradley Cooper Takes Notes From Zack Snyder, Christopher Nolan For Their Strange ‘No Chair on Set’ Rule
Each director in the film industry has their own rules and a specific way of working. However, the “no chairs” rule set by renowned filmmakers Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder still feels a bit strange. And now, even Bradley Cooper appears to have taken notes, recently claiming that even he doesn’t allow chairs on the sets of his films.
While talking about his recent project Maestro, the American actor and filmmaker revealed that he dislikes chairs on the sets while working, as they dampen the energy. Even though this might sound incredibly strange, Hollywood’s two most iconic directors Nolan and Snyder also have a similar approach when it comes to chairs on their sets.
Bradley Cooper Adopts Christopher Nolan and Zack Snyder’s Approach
Usually, some filmmakers learn distinctive approaches to craft movies and make them stand out. However, Bradley Cooper’s approach still comes off as unusual. While promoting his movie Maestro, Cooper explained that chairs on sets drain energy, which is why he hates to keep them around while working. According to Variety, the Guardians of the Galaxy star said:
“There’s no chairs. I’ve always hated chairs on sets; your energy dips the minute you sit down in a chair. There’s no video village.”
This is something that the Interstellar director Christopher Nolan and acclaimed filmmaker Zack Snyder do while filming their projects. While talking about his first Netflix movie, Army of the Dead on the Fourth Wall Podcast, Snyder said:
“There’s no sitting down, like, I banned chairs from the set. But the nice thing is, it’s really intimate. I can just talk to the actors right there, I’m not back in a monitor across the room. It was definitely the most purely engaged I’ve been making a movie.”
The director explained that removing chairs from the sets worked quite well for him as he was able to interact with the actors and managed to create an intimate and engaged environment.
Bradley Cooper Receives Backlash For Banning Chairs On Sets
While Bradley Cooper expressed his opinion on restricting the use of chairs in the movies he directed, many fans did not find the option worth the trouble. According to a post shared on X (earlier Twitter), the Oscar-nominated actor and filmmaker received negative comments from many:
Anyway, I think every single person on set should get a provided chair, not just cast/video village, because working 12 hour+ days without being allowed to sit down is inhumane https://t.co/0Y7J4Kg1mv
— ali golub 🌼 (@alibrooke4ever) December 14, 2023
On my sets I do not allow floors. My energy dips the minute I touch cement.
— Dan Marcus (@Danimalish) December 14, 2023
Cooper better have a quick day then. I hate this militant style of directing. You look at a David Lynch shoot and there’s chairs everywhere. Dont agree with Nolan doing it either. pic.twitter.com/xwURhhtzAg
— Joey Pedras (@JoeyPedras) December 15, 2023
He’ll change his tune when his back turns about 55 years old
— Sitchinite (@ARPEXC) December 15, 2023
Even though Bradley Cooper doesn’t allow chairs on his sets, it was claimed by Christopher Nolan’s representatives (via IndieWire) that the director only bans cell phones on sets and generally does not choose to use chairs himself. However, the actors that work for him are allowed to do so.
Maestro hits Netflix on December 20, 2023.
