Is This Thing On? with Bradley Cooper and Bennett Miller (Ep. 597) episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 9, 2026 · 29 MIN

Is This Thing On? with Bradley Cooper and Bennett Miller (Ep. 597)

from The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast · host Directors Guild of America

Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Is This Thing On?, with fellow Director Bennett Miller in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the true story circumstances that inspired the film, how he envisioned and cast Will Arnett and Laura Dern in the leading roles, and utilizing his cinematography to emphasize the vulnerability of performing stand up comedy. The film tells the story of Alex, a middle aged man facing a divorce, who finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene. As he pursues comedy, his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices made for their family, forcing them both to navigate co-parenting and their changing identities. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/february2026/isthisthingon_qna_1225

Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Is This Thing On?, with fellow Director Bennett Miller in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the true story circumstances that inspired the film, how he envisioned and cast Will Arnett and Laura Dern in the leading roles, and utilizing his cinematography to emphasize the vulnerability of performing stand up comedy. The film tells the story of Alex, a middle aged man facing a divorce, who finds new purpose in the New York comedy scene. As he pursues comedy, his wife, Tess, confronts the sacrifices made for their family, forcing them both to navigate co-parenting and their changing identities. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://www.dga.org/events/2026/february2026/isthisthingon_qna_1225

NOW PLAYING

Is This Thing On? with Bradley Cooper and Bennett Miller (Ep. 597)

0:00 29:55

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast?

This episode is 29 minutes long.

When was this The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast episode published?

This episode was published on January 9, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Director Bradley Cooper discusses his new film, Is This Thing On?, with fellow Director Bennett Miller in a Q&A at the DGA theater in New York. In the conversation, he discusses the true story circumstances that inspired the film, how he envisioned...

Can I download this The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!