Bradley Cooper and
Lady Gaga talked about their partnership during a Q&A following the film's
TIFF debut on Sunday night, both explaining it "was the greatest artistic experience" of their respective careers.
The final question that
Cameron Bailey, co-head of the
Toronto International Film Festival, asked
A Star is Born collaborators Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga during the post-premiere Q&A at the Elgin Theatre Sunday night was this: "Bradley will you direct again; Gaga will you be acting again?"
Cooper, who co-wrote and makes his directorial debut with the reimagination of the classic tale of an alcoholic superstar who falls in love with a young aspiring singer, answered first. "It was the most artistically fulfilling experience that I've ever had, and it was the most at home I've ever felt ever as an artist. So if someone will fund it, yeah, I'll do it again," he said, to which co-star Dave Chappelle immediately quipped, "I got [$5] on it."
Cooper then handed the microphone to his lead actress and creative inspiration, Lady Gaga, to answer Bailey's question. "I have to echo Bradley: This was the greatest artistic experience of my career," she said. "Working with [Cooper], working with every single person on this stage, connecting with everyone, yes, I'm interested in acting more but I am spoiled. I'll tell you something, I am spoiled. These are some talented, passionate people up here. They put every last drop of blood from their heart and their veins on set every single day. I watched [Bradley] work tirelessly on this film, giving it everything, and you never stopped. Nobody here did."
That's when Lukas Nelson — known as a talented musician in his own right in addition to be the son of legendary rocker poet Willie Nelson — interrupted to address Gaga directly. "You neither," said Nelson, whose father just so happened to be performing a concert in Toronto on Sunday night. The younger Nelson worked closely with Cooper to craft songs for the film, and was highly praised by Cooper on stage during the press event. "You just destroyed every single scene you were in."
The compliment caused the audience to erupt in applause, instantly drawing a standing ovation. (During the screening, audience members also broke out with applause following many of the movie's big performance sequences). Gaga put her head in her hands and looked to be fighting back tears. She took a moment and then stood up, hugged Cooper and said, "I probably said this earlier, but there could be 100 or 1000 people in the room and 999 don't believe in you and one does. I would not be here without you," she said to Cooper. "I would not be here without you. I want to act but I don't want to act if I don't have a director like this."
With that, the final question had been answered (greeted by more applause) and the festivities then moved on to a post-TIFF premiere party at events venue Masonic Temple, located just up the street on the corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street. Cooper and Gaga were joined by WB's Toby Emmerich and Blair Rich, [producer Todd Phillips, executive producer Sue Kroll, Nelson, casting director Mary Vernieu, members of the cast including Chappelle, Anthony Ramos, Sam Elliott and William Belli. Other notable names in attendance included Salma Hayek, Jason Isaacs, Dylan O'Brien, Max Minghella, Cynthia Erivo, producer Fred Berger, CAA's Bryan Lourd, Kevin Huvane, Dave Bugliari, Tracy Brennan and DJ Kardinal Offishall, the latter of whom livened up the crowd well past midnight. His DJ duties proved to be the opening act for Chappelle who welcomed a rousing band to close out the night.
Many revelers stayed until close to 2 a.m., hoping that Gaga would eventually take the stage as a surprise. But by that point, it wasn't necessary: A star was already born.