"He knew the process. It felt honest right through," Dern tells TT.
The film is based on true events. When John Bishop in Manchester was going through a divorce from his wife Melanie, he happened upon a stand-up club. He went on stage and improvised. It went so well that it led to a stand-up career - and to Melanie and him being reunited.
Many years later, Bishop met American actor Will Arnett and told his story. Arnett was inspired, and with Bishop's permission, he wrote a script that moved the action to New York. The result was "Is this thing on?", starring Arnett and Laura Dern and directed by Bradley Cooper.
Made "A Star Is Born"
Cooper was previously known only as an actor but has received widespread attention as a director for the films "A Star Is Born" and "Maestro".
"Everything felt so pure, it was a journey of discovery. I've never had this experience before. Brad was keen that it didn't feel like we were acting, that it would be seamless," says Laura Dern.
She met Melanie and John Bishop before filming.
"It was a gift to get to know them. It was very inspiring. And it helped me "find" the character."
Wanted to get the green light
Arnett emphasizes that it was important for him to get John Bishop's approval before writing the script.
"I told him that I would of course make up some things that hadn't happened, and he was fine with that. I knew how it would start, I knew how it would end. But I was keen that it wouldn't be melodramatic, that the script would capture all aspects of their relationship and how it developed."
Gunnar Rehlin/TT
Facts: Laura Dern and Will Arnett
TT
Age: 59.
Family: Two children.
Lives: In Los Angeles.
Occupation: Actor.
Previous roles in selection: "Foxes", "Mask", "Blue Velvet", "Wild at Heart", "Jurassic Park", "A Perfect World", "I Am Sam", "Inland Empire", "The Master", "Wild", "Downsizing", "Star Wars: The Last Jedi", "Cold Pursuit", "Jurassic World Dominion", "Jay Kelly".
Current: In "Is this thing on?" which has a Swedish cinema premiere on 2/27.
Age: 55.
Family: One child.
Lives: In Los Angeles.
Occupation: Actor.
Previous roles in selection: "Arrested Development", "Murderville", "Blades of Glory", "Jonah Hex", "The Nut Job", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "Next Goal Wins".
Current: In "Is this thing on?" which has a Swedish cinema premiere on 2/27.
