Spin Me Round’s Alison Brie on creating a romantic comedy

After nearly two decades of acting, Alison Brie is now writing and producing her own projects. After breaking out with roles in Community and Glow, Brie collaborated with Jeff Baena to co-write and co-produce 2020’s Horse Girl, a film in which she also served as the main character. The multi-talented actress is reuniting with Baena once again for Spin Me Round, a genre-bending romantic comedy set in the Italian countryside.

In Spin Me Round, Brie plays Amber, an employee who is flown out to Italy to meet the affluent owner of the restaurant chain (Alessandro Nivola) and learn at their culinary institute. The romantic comedy quickly turns into a thrilling whodunit as Amber slowly learns the true nature of her trip. In an interview with Digital Trends, Brie talks about the joys of shooting in Italy, her collaboration process with Baena, and how the ensemble brought a unique perspective to each character.

Note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Digital Trends: As I watched this movie from my apartment, my biggest takeaway is the need for me to get back to Italy. What was it like to return to Italy and shoot this film? 

Alison Brie: Oh, it was so wonderful to be back in Italy. It’s always a dream to go there, but it was especially magical to be there with this group of people who are so fun and just good. I think we all really bonded.

We had some amazing dinners. It was a great time to be there last summer when nobody was there because the travel was limited because of COVID versus this summer [when] everybody seems to be there. I’ve not been to Italy this year, and it was unintentional.

I don’t think we anticipated that when this movie came out, it would really lean into the FOMO that everyone’s having already. Just seeing everyone in Italy, [and] pictures on Instagram. Italy and Greece are all over Instagram.

Totally.

Aubrey Plaza, Alison Brie, Alessandro Nivola, and Ayden Mayeri pose for a picture in a scene from Spin Me Round.

This marks a reunion with your co-writer Jeff Baena, who also directed the film. Take me through your collaboration process. I spoke with Jeff, and he mentioned how this script relied less on improv as opposed to your previous films. 

Yeah. This is the fourth film that I’ve made with Jeff, and the previous three were all fully improvised, including Netflix’s Horse Girl, which he and I co-wrote and co-produced. And this one because of COVID, we had so much time from when he brought me the idea.

We first sort of just expanded it into a 30, 35-page outline, which is what we did for Horse Girl, and how we did The Little Hours and stuff like that. And I think that’s all we would have done, but because the world shut down, we had all this extra time. He and I just started doing Zoom writing sessions and decided to write the full script and all the dialogue.

It ended up [being] a really good idea because once we were in Italy, you know, the shoot was real fast. It’s all real touch-and-go. It was kind of nice to just have the material, but also with such a talented cast, there was still room to let people riff a little bit.

Some of the best moments in the movie, I think, are those moments when the cast was kind of playing with it. When you’re with so many talented comedians, it is important, for lack of a better word,  to “let them cook?” You give them the script, turn on the camera and let them do their thing? Oh, absolutely.

I think once we had the cast in place, Jeff and I would go back through the script and tailor it to all of the specific actors and kind of tonally, really try to hone those characters into what we think the tone of their voices [are]. But it’s so much more beneficial to get on set and let them run with it and infuse every character with their own energy. I think that’s one of the great things about this ensemble, aside from them all just being so talented, so funny, everybody’s really a unique performer.

They each bring a really different energy to their characters so it was fun to watch all of those different energies bounce off one another. One of the performances that stood out for me came from Alessandro, who is usually a dramatic actor. Was it fun doing scenes with him?

Oh, absolutely. Alessandro is so good in this movie, and he really brought a thoughtful perspective to that character who, as originally written, was probably even a bit more one-dimensional. You know, I’m sort of writing this character, and some of those scenes are sort of based on my personal experiences that I’ve had with men.

But obviously, that’s my perspective. That’s a woman’s perspective on what’s happening in those scenes. And obviously, we want to feel that perspective, but once we had brought Alessandro into the fold, he just had so many great ideas for what makes that guy tick.

I think it really adds.

You don’t want any character in a movie to be one-dimensional.

Spin Me Round will be released in theaters, on-demand, and streaming on AMC+ on August 19.

Editors’ Recommendations

Tags:

center-parcs listed on couponmatrix.ukdivan-beds-centre listed on couponmatrix.ukgoddiva listed on couponmatrix.ukmahabis listed on couponmatrix.uktwinlakes-park listed on couponmatrix.ukvoi-london listed on couponmatrix.uk
center-parcs listed on couponmatrix.ukTreat the whole family to an awarding-winning break at Center Parcs and unwind with a diverse range of activities, guaranteed to put a smile on anyone’s face. Help yourself to our Center Parcs discount codes to cut the cost of your trip and discover the delights of a fun-filled holiday village without busting your budget. From relaxing spas and luxury hot tubs to outdoors activities and pools with slides and rides, Center Parcs is the staycation you’ve been dreaming off. Book your break today!
divan-beds-centre listed on couponmatrix.ukDivan Beds Centre is one of the UK's leading suppliers of divan beds and bedroom furniture. They offer a wide range of products at great prices, with something to suit everyone's taste and budget. Plus, they regularly offer Divan Beds Centre discount codes, so you can save even more on something snug. With ottoman beds, headboards and made-to-measure designs to pick from, you’re bound to find the perfect sleeping pattern at Divan Beds Centres. Looking to save on your next purchase from Divan Beds Centre? Groupon can help! We work with Divan Beds Centre to bring you the best deals and Divan Beds discount codes. Whether you're looking for a new bed, mattress, or bedroom furniture, they've got you covered. Be sure to check back often, as we regularly update our selection of Divan Beds Centre promo codes and deals. Whatever the bed, there whole thing is useless without a good mattress to dress it. Luckily for you, Divan Beds Centre stock a wide array of mattresses to enjoy from memory foam to pocket sprung, so you can find the perfect one for you. Plus, with a Divan Beds Centre mattress promo code you’ll get an even better price on your luxury bedding. Say no to irregular and interrupted sleep, give yourself a welcome rest with Divan Bed Centre mattresses.
goddiva listed on couponmatrix.ukIf you're looking for a sensational evening, party or other occasion dress then you need look no further than Goddiva. Everyone working at this wildly-popular store with its in-house design team lives, eats and breathes women's fashions - and our Goddiva discount code makes it all very affordable. There's no need to worry about sizing as you can make returns and exchanges incredibly easily, and deliveries are all made next day - so if you want to make a last-minute or impulse buy you'll be free to do so.
mahabis listed on couponmatrix.ukmahabis has revolutionised the humble slipper, creating a super comfortable, highly durable design that can be worn both inside and outside. Make the most of a mahabis discount code to cut the cost of the premium quality price tag. With a 100% wool lining, adaptable foam footbed and durable hybrid sole, these are slippers like no other - and with plenty of styles to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect pair for you!
twinlakes-park listed on couponmatrix.ukUp and coming theme parks are always great value for money, especially for those with younger children - and Leicestershire’s 70 acre signature attraction is one of the very best examples in the UK. Twin Lakes offers you the chance for the whole family to escape the real world for a whole day, with flat rides, coasters, a zoo and even a falconry centre on offer, with plenty of affordable dining options and easy access from every corner of the country.
voi-london listed on couponmatrix.ukFrom tracksuits to T-shirts, Voi London (formerly known as Voi Jeans) has everything you need to get kitted out on a budget. We share all the Voi London discount codes, sales and deals available now, so you can find your streetwear, loungewear or kicks for a great price! Whether you’re after some famous Voi London jeans or the ultimate get-up for chilling, when it comes to premium quality menswear (plus stylish women’s sets!), Voi London should be your first choice.