Field's smiling, put-together character, who also improvised some of her lines, was warmly received by film audiences.
(meta data) TITLE: Meet Gail, A Star Is Born's Best Supporting Character (meta data) AUTHOR: Hunter Harris (meta data) PUBLISHER: https://www.facebook.com/Vulture (meta data) PUBLISHED DATETIME: 2018-10-16T11:23:00.000-04:00 The Cut Grub Street The Strategist Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents Sign Out Comments Leave a Comment a star is born Oct. 16, 2018 # An Interview With Gail, A Star Is Born's Best Supporting Character By Hunter Harris Without Gail, Ally's star might never have been born. Photo: Warner Bros. It takes two hours and 14 minutes for Ally Campana (Lady Gaga) to be born in A Star Is Born, but only one scene for another star to crown: "Hi Ally, I'm Gail!" Rebecca Field says, popping up in the movie's first act. As Gail, she's an assistant–cum–talent wrangler, leading Ally and her friend Ramon (Anthony Ramos) from a blacked-out SUV through a tunnel, down a hallway, up some stairs, and — finally! — backstage at the Greek in Los Angeles, where the pair can enjoy Jackson Maine's (Bradley Cooper) show. Gail doesn't really enter the scene, she just materializes: Click! And the SUV door opens, Gail introduces herself, and Ally and Ramon shuffle out of the car. It's the first indication that maybe this surreal second date is really happening. Ally's ditched her job to show up at some Arizona country star's gig after they spent one night drinking and nose-touching and punching drunk cops. When Gail shows up, a situation that seemed dreamlike becomes more certain: Maybe Jackson really does like Ally, maybe it wasn't just the gin talking, maybe he definitely remembers her. Gail instructs Ally and Ramon to leave their bags in the car, that all they have to do is put on the VIP passes she's had made for them, and follow her up to the stage to the greasy-haired crooner. Gail — this year's Mafalda, nay, this year's Cyril! — has it handled. Field was surprised by the audience's overwhelming affection for her single Star Is Born scene, which she says was shot over one long night. (And, she confirmed, Bradley Cooper usually used his deep Jackson Maine voice when directing — yee-haw!) "I think it's funny. I didn't really realize that anyone would react," Field told Vulture over the phone. "I was just sort of grateful to be included in any way and people have had a really nice reaction. I think [the scene] comes at a really pivotal moment." A pivotal moment, yes, but also a universal fantasy: Doesn't everyone want a Gail to take care of the details? Field — who beat out Casey Wilson for the role — talked to Vulture about the movie, Gail, and the other scene she filmed that didn't make the final cut. Ally's ally. Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images Can you tell me about your audition for Gail? How did you get the part?It was like a year and a half ago, I guess, in the spring. I think they were a little bit secretive about the project or exactly who was involved. I knew that Bradley Cooper was producing and directing, I think. I just went in for an audition and the sides were really fun. It was short but fun. And I played it much more harried and less together sort of like, "Oh okay, I-I got it, Um, I can get this, I can get…" — a little bit more scatterbrained. They called out of nowhere a month later and said, "Yeah, you booked it." I shot for like a week with everybody and it was really intimidating but also really fun to meet Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga and Sam Elliott — incredible people. We had an amazing table read. They had lot of the music cut by then, at least the songs down. They played that throughout our table read which was really exciting to hear. It was great. I don't know if you saw, but the website Into said that Gail is the real star in A Star Is Born. I know! Kevin O'Keeffe. I literally thought maybe he was kidding at first, so I read the whole thing and he was like No, I'm not kidding. Thank you. I wrote to him on Twitter. That was so sweet. I didn't even think about it that way, but I love that was the reaction that he felt he and his friends were feeling, like, this is a very uneasy, unsure moment and I'm freaking out and you know Ally's freaking out and everyone is nervous and then there's Gail, there to guide us and lead us and everything is going to be okay. It's very funny. I like that she's not harried, that Gail is just the person who arrives in the nick of time. Right, I mean Bradley he's the one who said, "You're a gangsta," "You got this, you gotta play this gangsta." That's what he said. He was like, "Is that a weird note to get from a director?" And I was like, "No, I feel what you're saying." He's like, "You do this all the time. You're a gangsta, you know exactly what needs to happen. You're in charge just make it happen. You're calm, cool, and collected because you do this all the time." It's also like a funny thing — you could have played it a bunch of different ways in the sense, like sometimes people who are assistants see some new girl coming to see a show, it could have just been like [feigns irritation], "Yeah, come on. Let's go. This way." I think there was something unspoken in the way it was written and the moment that was special to him, like, let's take extra care than we normally would. It shows how important Ally was to Jackson. I think you have that line, like, "Oh, he's so excited you're here. "Yeah, [Bradley] said to improv some stuff like that. That wasn't all scripted stuff so that was nice that he let us improve some of our walking lines. He's like, "Throw out a little of this, or a little of that," or whatever feels right somewhere along this line. Logistically, what was it like filming the concert scene at the Greek? I heard that the audio was quiet on set to get a clear recording. Was it kind of weird not being able to hear the music all the way?Yeah. I noticed there was a lot of times where [on set] when she would step onstage you couldn't hear anything at all. It was almost like she was just miming through it but she must have been singing low just like you said, so that it would sound great for the film. Can you tell me about the other scene you did that was cut?I'm fine with it, I'm grateful to be on the screen at all. It was a scene right after the Greek when Jackson and Ally go back to the hotel together and he passes out, and then she wakes up in the morning and he's gone. I come knocking on the door much in the vein of Greg Grunberg [who plays Phil, Jackson's driver] when he knocks on her door: "I'm here to pick you up to take you to the next stop." And Ally's like, "Uh, no." It's another one of those scenes where I've gotta get you on an airplane and she's like, "No where is he? Like he just ditches? This is insane." And I was like, "Well he does kind of disappear sometimes. But I'm sure he'll be there, he always shows up for the venue. You know for the music." And she's very pissed at him and then that's also where Anthony Ramos's character comes in and he lets us both know in that moment that she's been on YouTube and that it's a huge sensation. The Gail line, "Leave your bags in the car," was that improv or was that in the script? Because that's like my favorite line in the movie. No, I think that was in the script. Yeah, that was definitely in the script. I had a sigh of relief when you said that. I mean, that's what I always want to hear: "Oh, leave your bags."Yeah, right? I know, because I was thinking that too, like, they're gonna lug all their shit? No, we gotcha you covered. Gail has it taken care of!Yeah: Your bags will be with you when you need them at the end, so you can sleep and all your shit will be there. You just get up there and hang out. Can you tell me about the first time you saw the movie, and what your reaction to it was?I hadn't seen it until the night of the premiere here in L.A. I don't even know what to say without sounding cheesy and gushy. It was just like otherworldly to me. I was very moved, more than I anticipated being, even though I'd read the script and I knew the story. And I knew when I was on set how great they both were. I didn't expect the chemistry and everything and the music to move me as much as it did. I just feel like it's a movie all about being true to yourself and finding yourself. This movie has really touched me. Have people recognized you when you've gone to see it at a regular movie theater?Yeah! One night I went with my friends, these two girls came down the escalator and they were like, "Oh my God, you were in the movie." She was so cute. It was my one shining moment of Gail, I love it. What do you think Gail would think about the movie?What do I think Gail would think about the movie? I think she would think that it was gangsta. ## Related A Person Who Has Not Seen A Star Is Born Ranks Its Entire Soundtrack ## Tags: a star is born bradley cooper lady gaga Comments Leave a Comment Meet Gail, A Star Is Born's Best Supporting Character ## Most Viewed Stories What Is Every Song on Taylor Swift's Lover Actually About? 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He covers film and TV for INTO, and writes the movie review column "But How Gay Is It?" every Friday.twitterinstagram 06 Oct 2018 We are of somewhat divided opinion on A Star Is Born here at INTO. I personally thought the movie's first half was incredible, while the second half fell apart. My colleague and The Kiki co-host Mathew Rodriguez was more positive on the film as a whole. But the one thing we can all agree on is that the true star of A Star Is Born is not Lady Gaga. It's not Bradley Cooper. It's not Shangela nor Willam. It's not even Halsey, who shows up to present Best New Artist at the Grammys and isn't even named on-screen. (Poor Halsey.) No, the true star of Cooper's directorial debut is Gail, as played by Rebecca Field. Don't remember Gail? It's understandable; her role in the film is small. But Gail makes an impression. She's the aide who appears at the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles when Ally (Gaga) and her friend Ramon (Anthony Ramos) first arrive. The sequence is rather fast-paced, as Ally and Ramon were just flown out via private jet to meet Jackson Maine (Cooper) at his concert in LA. Ally is overwhelmed, as are we. But then there's Gail. "Hi Ally, I'm Gail," she says. Instantly, we are put at ease. Gail knows what's happening. Gail will get us through this. We can count on Gail. She proves herself a stable guide when Ally starts to go the wrong way, and she gently-but-firmly course-corrects her. Gail is the reason that Ally is able to get to the stage to perform "Shallow," thus making Ally a viral star, setting her on the course for pop superstardom. Gail is an ally to Ally, and to us. Gail is a guardian angel. A Star Is Born would not be the same without Gail. Upon first seeing Gail in the movie, I instantly said, "LOVE Gail." It was a purely emotional response. I adored her from the word go. After seeing the film with a group of five friends, I was heartened that they all had the same reaction to Gail. She was "comforting," one of them said. They also knew we could count on Gail. Gail was a comforting presence in an uncertain time and I want a spin-off film all about her life — Kevin BOO'Keeffe 👻 (@kevinpokeeffe) October 5, 2018 I put my feelings about Gail out there on Twitter, only to be thrilled by the number of people who similarly adored Gail. Her fans are legion! She had my heart at "no,no THIS way!" Poor innocent Ally!!! Thank god Gail was there!!! — Alex Boooodder (@itgetsbedder) October 5, 2018 gail stans lemme hear ya make some noise — nick & sara (@ansara2) October 5, 2018 My favorite character in A Star is Born is Gail — Scott Galina (@scottgalina) October 5, 2018 i am glad my favorite content creator on twitter dot com agrees with me that the secondary female lead of a star is born is gayle/gailhttps://t.co/mddgUjNkrM — character actress georgie rae (@georgiemorvis) October 5, 2018 We need a full spinoff film about Gail (called Gail Force, as critic Guy Lodge suggested). We need a Star Is Born extended cinematic universe for characters like Gail. Because in watching the film — in watching Gail — I knew that her star was being born, too. Image via Getty Read More: 'A Star Is Born' Is a Stellar, and Masc4Masc, Retelling But How Gay Is 'A Star Is Born'? "Why Did You Do That?" Is Neither Bad Nor Intended to Be Bad # Kevin O'Keeffe Kevin O'Keeffe is a writer and 'RuPaul's Drag Race' herstorian. He covers film and TV for INTO, and writes the movie review column "But How Gay Is It?" every Friday. in case you missed itQueer news and culture.For everyone. Thanks! Please check your inbox to confirm your email address. # Related Articles
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Rebecca Field
Life and career.
Field was born in Lenox, Massachusetts. She attended Bridgewater State University, and in her early career has played minor roles in various television shows and movies, including "Monk". 
 Field was cast in her first series regular role of Janet in the ABC short-lived television series "October Road" from 2007 to 2008. In R. Kelly's hip-hop opera, "Trapped in the Closet", she played the role of Bridget. In 2009, she played a recurring role as social worker Susan Winters alongside Jada Pinkett Smith in TNT's "Hawthorne". Field has also made guest appearances on shows such as "Dollhouse", "Drop Dead Diva", "The Mentalist", "Lie to Me", "Mike & Molly", "Criminal Minds", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "Castle", and "Body of Proof".
 As of 2012, Field plays Lacey on "The Client List" starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, on Lifetime. In 2018 Field won an audition for a cameo role as Gail, a concert assistant who welcomes Lady Gaga's character Ally to a performance at the Greek Theatre as the guest of Bradley Cooper's character, singer Jackson Maine.