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Alison Brie and Dave Franco are the cool cat parents pet owners aspire to be.
The longtime couple — who wed in 2017 — share cats Arturo, Max, and Otis. Their beloved feline Harry, unfortunately, died in June 2020.
Giving an update on her trio of fur babies, Brie, 39, tells PEOPLE exclusively they’re doing “great” at this time. The actress also shares just how invested she is in the cats she cares for with Franco, 37.
“My husband has to always kind of calm me down,” says the actress and screenwriter while promoting her new film Spin Me Round out in theaters and on AMC+ on Friday, August 19. “Lately, I’ve been obsessed with getting some leashes to take them out of the box. He’s like, ‘No.'”
But Brie’s reasons for wanting to leash her cat children are valid.
“They’re indoor cats. We live in an area with a lot of coyotes, so we really can’t let them be indoor-outdoor because animals get eaten by coyotes all the time,” the Community alum explains.
Brie and Franco, 37, aren’t “dressing them up in much,” but the pair enjoys bonding with Arturo, Max, and Otis as much as possible.
“We love to play with them,” she says. “We’re really devoted.”
Thinking of ways to get her pets outdoors, Brie has contemplated getting a knapsack for carrying her cats while walking around her neighborhood.
“I’ve seen people do it, hiking with their dogs, with a baby carrier. I don’t know,” she explains. “I worry that next time I see you, I’m going to have rashes all on my neck. I’m going to be like, ‘I tried to carry the cats in a carrier.'”
Figuring out ways to bond with her cats isn’t the only thing that’s top of mind as of late. Brie is starring in Spin Me Round as Amber, a woman whose company flies her out to an Italian immersion program, but the trip soon takes a chaotic turn.
“[My collaborator] Jeff [Baena] came to me with the idea. We’ve worked together four times before, and this is our second time writing together and producing together,” the GLOW alum says of the film. “He really had based it on this idea of this exemplary managers program that the characters go on to Italy, thinking that they’re going to get this immersive Italian program, but actually it’s a very Americanized situation. He came to me with that idea and really was basing it on some articles that he sent me about a similar program that exists.”
“I think we just thought that idea alone was so funny and a great chance to get a great ensemble together, playing different characters and getting to bounce off of each other, their different expectations and disappointments around this program,” she continues. “And then he laid out these additional beats. We extrapolated it from there in terms of how a trip like that could go wrong.”
Brie also got to pull from her real-life encounters with men, which loosely inspired her character’s primary love interest, played by Alessandro Nivola.
“It was really fun for me to come in and infuse the story with the nuances of my personal experiences as we were fleshing out the different characters,” she adds. “I find that is, like, a fun way.”
Spin Me Round hits theaters and AMC+ on Friday.
Source: PEOPLE
Alison Brie and Dave Franco continue to inspire each other in more ways than one.
At a screening for her new film Spin Me Round in Los Angeles Wednesday, the actress, 39, told PEOPLE about how she and husband Franco, 37, support each other as they venture behind the camera.
Franco made his directorial debut in 2020 with his film The Rental, which he also co-wrote. Now, it was Brie’s turn as she co-wrote Spin Me Round with director Jeff Baena. She says watching each other wear new hats in their career is “inspiring.”
“Within our household, it’s really fun because it’s inspiring,” she says. “It’s fun to watch each other work on other stuff.”
Brie continues, “I think that was the impetus for any writing on my part was watching Dave write The Rental with Joe Swanberg and seeing his excitement as he was trying out this new endeavor every day.”
Brie recalls her husband being “so empowered and electrified by the process” when he would return home. She says that “empowered” her to explore an idea she had with Baena.
“I think it’s just really fun to come into our own confidence at the same time and in these different ways of working, and that fuels each other,” Brie says. “And it’s a new way for us to connect with each other as well.”
She says the two have “always” related to one another as actors and these new ventures have “just expanded that.”
The couple tied the knot in March 2017. In 2020, Franco opened up about working with his wife on The Rental, which Brie starred in alongside Jeremy Allen White, Dan Stevens, Sheila Vand and Toby Huss. Speaking to Moviemaker Magazine, Franco told Moonlight director Barry Jenkins he couldn’t have done it without her.
“We’ve acted together, and so we knew that we would get along well on a set, but we’ve obviously never worked together in this capacity,” Franco told Jenkins in the cover story. “But what I will say is that I’ve always known that she’s an amazing actress.”
Franco said Brie was indispensable on the set, not just as an actress but as a teammate.
“There were moments throughout the shoot where I would really get into my own head and start to doubt myself in small ways,” he admitted. “And so to be able to go home to her every night and have someone who would build me up and remind me that things were going well and that I was doing a good job — it was invaluable and I honestly don’t think I could have done this without her.”
He continued, “But I swear, watching her intently every day for five weeks, I realized that she might be the greatest actress on the planet and I’m not just saying that because she’s standing 10 feet away.”
Spin Me Round — starring Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Tim Heidecker, Zach Woods, Debby Ryan, Ayden Mayeri and Molly Shannon — premieres Friday in theaters, on demand and streaming on AMC+.
Source: PEOPLE
Alison Brie and Dave Franco are one of those rare Hollywood couples that seem to just work. Brie says one reason for their close connection apparently stems from them working hard to keep in touch, despite their schedules.
Brie and Franco walked the red carpet at a special IFC screening of her new film, Spin Me Round, at The London West Hollywood at Beverly Hills, and the celebrated actress spoke with ET’s Cassie DiLaura about her happy marriage of five years — as well as their upcoming project.
Brie is starring in the forthcoming romantic dramedySomebody I Used to Know, which Franco is directing and was co-written by the couple.
“To me the best part is getting to experience all these other people on set realizing how incredible he is,” Brie said of getting to work with her husband on a film. “I already know, [but] its really fun to watch all the new eyes kind of take him in. And as a director, he is extraordinary.”
Franco previously directed Brie in his directorial debut, The Rental, which came out in 2020. It’s just one of the many projects the pair have collaborated on, and for Brie, its one way the pair stay close.
Reflecting on her secret to maintaining a healthy and happy marriage, Brie shared, “Communication. Its all about good communication.”
“Everybody says it, but I think that’s why we try to work together so much honestly, just so we can spend more time together,” she shared. “So we don’t have to be apart so much.”
“But even when we’re apart, we really make an effort to connect every day,” she added. “and that’s important.”
As for her latest film, Spin Me Round, Brie not only stars, but also co-wrote the script with director Jeff Baena, and she serves as a producer.
The movie follows Amber (Brie), the manager of an American restaurant chain who is selected to go on a company trip to Italy for special chef training. However, the idyllic vision of a European vacation slowly takes a strange turn.
“Its really unexpected,” Brie said of the movie excitedly. “I don’t think its gonna be like anything that they’ve seen before and to me that’s exciting! It might not be exciting for everybody, but I hope that they’re excited by it and that it makes them want to rethink their vacations.”
Spin Me Round is in theaters, on VOD and is streaming on AMC+ on Aug. 19.
Source: ET Online
Alison Brie added another impressive notch to her writing belt with the film Spin Me Round, screening at the Cinequest Film Festival Wednesday evening (September 17) at 7:15 p.m. PT at the Hammer Theatre Centre in San Jose, California. Spin Me Round will be in theaters, On Demand, and streaming on AMC+ August 19th.
The movie marks the third feature film writing credit for Brie, who plays “Amber” in addition to co-writing the movie about a woman who wins an all-expenses-paid trip to her company’s facility outside of Florence and the chance to meet the restaurant chain’s rich, charismatic owner.
As Alison has impressed with her acting in major projects like Community, Glow, and Mad Men over the years, as well as 70-plus other works, I found myself zeroing in on the story, character development, and jokes in Spin Me Round — which all flowed beautifully like an Italian red — that she helped create.
Brie co-wrote the film with Jeff Baena, who directed the movie. Molly Shannon had plenty of room to steal scenes and Aubrey Plaza and Alessandro Nivola gave strong, memorable performances as well.
Alison had worked with Baena and Shannon on previous films and was game to give it another whirl for Spin Me Round.
Hold on to your hats from the Hat Club, human beings: We could be headed back to Greendale. Maybe. Possibly. At least according to Community star Alison Brie.
While promoting her new film Spin Me Round, which she stars in and co-wrote with director Jeff Baena, Brie addressed recent rumors that the beloved show could be closer than ever to getting the movie cherry on top of its six-season sundae.
“Recently you were quoted as saying that a Community movie is maybe a possibility—can you say anything else about that?” Newsweek asked her on August 15.
Brie’s answer: “I don’t think I can say anything else, but I will double down on what I did say: It’s maybe a possibility. It’s definitely maybe a possibility.”
She added with a laugh, “Honestly, and I’m not trying to be coy, I’m honestly trying to give you as much information as I have. It’s been talked about in the way that’s the most hopeful that I’ve ever witnessed, but still who knows. I’m crossing my fingers as much as anyone else. I hope it happens.”
Ever since Community wrapped in 2015, fans and those involved with the show alike—including stars Brie, Joel McHale and Danny Pudi, along with creator Dan Harmon—have expressed their enduring desire to do a film. The hashtag #sixseasonsandamovie has been a fandom rallying cry, an homage to the TV-obsessed character Abed (Pudi), who demanded nothing less than six seasons and a movie for the criminally underrated series The Cape. (Sadly, The Cape lived on only in the darkest timeline.)
Against all odds, Community got its six seasons, premiering on NBC in 2009 and surviving showrunner changes, cast member departures (Donald Glover, Chevy Chase and Yvette Nicole Brown) and even a hopscotch across platforms, landing on Yahoo! for its sixth and final season in 2015. Now, could it finally get its movie all these years later?
“It surprises me and warms my heart truly,” Brie said about fans’ ongoing dedication to the series and getting the film made. “I loved making that show and I still love that cast; we’re all texting this morning. Our group chain is constant after what, 12 years? It means so much to me that it still means so much to the fans.”
Brie was less optimistic about a resurrection of her critically acclaimed series GLOW, which was canceled in 2019 after three seasons.
“I have heard nothing on that front,” she said. “Sadly, I continue to not be optimistic about that. I don’t see a resurrection happening. I was so heartbroken to say goodbye to GLOW. It will forever be that great love of my life in terms of work, and I miss it a lot.”
As for Community, Brie partly credits new fans for reinvigorating the discussion around a movie. “I think that ever since it went up on some more streaming platforms in the past couple years…we’ve seen a whole new audience who’s come to love the show, and it means a lot to all of us.”
All six seasons (but no movie…yet) of Community are available on Netflix.
Spin Me Round, which also stars Aubrey Plaza, Molly Shannon, Ayden Mayeri, Debby Ryan, Zach Woods, Tim Heidecker, Ben Sinclair, Alessandro Nivola and Lil Rel Howery, hits theaters, VOD and AMC+ on August 19.
Source: Newsweek
With her breakout supporting work in “Mad Men” and “Community” far behind her, Alison Brie has been fashioning a lead career by in part portraying characters who don’t usually see center stage. In 2020, she expressed a spectrum of mental illness in a quiet and bold performance in “Horse Girl,” a glass character study she co-wrote with director Jeff Baena. In “Spin Me Round,” Brie uses that same gentleness and actor’s empathy for a woman named Amber, who Brie describes as “very passive for a film’s protagonist.” A manager of an Olive Garden-like Italian food franchise, Amber is sent on a special work retreat in Italy with stars in her eyes. The trip proves to be a manipulated rip-off in more ways than one, especially when she meets franchise owner Nick (Alessandro Nivola), who is nothing like she had dreamed him to be.
Brie co-wrote “Spin Me Round” with Baena, and is joined on-screen by an ensemble cast that includes Debby Ryan, Molly Shannon, Zach Woods, Tim Heidecker, Ben Sinclair, Ayden Mayeri, Fred Armisen, Lauren Weedman, and Aubrey Plaza.
RogerEbert.com spoke to Brie about the collaborative energy of “Spin Me Round,” its personal components, the time she got nervous meeting Frances McDormand, and more.
Mad Men and Community star Alison Brie’s charm and charisma saw a number of fans hope for her to join a major cinematic franchise, with the physical abilities she put on display in GLOW earning her even more attention, with reports emerging years ago that Marvel was seeking an “Alison Brie-type” performer to star in She-Hulk. While that role went to Tatiana Maslany, Brie has collaborated with Marvel as a filmmaker for their Marvel’s 616 and she’ll be voicing a role in the animated Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur, but if she were to join the live-action franchise, she’d like to take over a villainous role. In the meantime, fans can see Brie in the new film she co-wrote and stars in, Spin Me Round, which will be in theaters, On Demand, and streaming on AMC+ on August 19th.
When asked by ComicBook.com if Brie had her eyes on a new Marvel role she’d like to embody, the actor admitted, “Nothing specifically that I have set my sights on, no, and I think that would be a mistake, because clearly you can’t really dictate. Marvel’s going to do their thing, as they should. I think there’s a fantasy deep in my mind that one day I would get to play a great Marvel villain, but I don’t know which one that would be. People, fans, send me some ideas so I can start the campaign.”
While a number of performers have campaigned for themselves to take over beloved roles in major franchises, Brie was inadvertently thrown into the discussion when casting reports about She-Hulk emerged. Brie had embraced the idea, though hadn’t necessarily championed herself as loudly as her fans did.
In Spin Me Round, Brie stars as the manager of an Italian restaurant chain who wins the opportunity to attend the franchise’s educational immersion program in Italy. What she thought would be a romantic getaway devolves into chaos and catastrophe.
From Duplass Brothers Productions, the new comedy Spin Me Round is directed by Jeff Baena (The Little Hours, Life After Beth) and co-written with frequent collaborator Alison Brie (Horse Girl, The Little Hours, Joshy). The film features a heavyweight of indie comedic actors including Brie (GLOW, Community), Alessandro Nivola (The Many Saints of Newark, American Hustle), Aubrey Plaza (Ingrid Goes West, Parks and Recreation), Molly Shannon (The Little Hours, Other People, SNL), Zach Woods (Silicon Valley, The Office), Ayden Mayeri (The Afterparty, Homecoming), Ben Sinclair (High Maintenance), Tim Heidecker (Eastbound & Down, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!), Debby Ryan (Insatiable, Jessie), Fred Armisen (Portlandia, SNL), and Lil Rey Howery (Free Guy, Get Out).
Stay tuned for updates on Brie’s possible future with the MCU. Spin Me Round will be in theaters, On Demand, and streaming on AMC+ on August 19th.
Source: ComicBook.com