‘Spin Me Round’ Director Jeff Baena Had A Mighty Need To Film In Italy Once More – SXSW Studio

Spin Me Round is the latest indie comedy directed by Jeff Baena (The Little Hours), who co-wrote the script with the film’s star Alison Brie. Both act as producers along with Dylan Sellers, Chris Parker and Mel Eslyn. Along with Brie, Aubrey Plaza, Alessandro Nivola, Molly Shannon and Lil Rel Howery star, with the movie being produced by the Duplass Brothers Productions and Limelight.

Brie plays the manager of the Bakersfield, CA  franchise of the Italian eatery chain Tuscan Grove. She wins an all-expenses trip to the company’s gorgeous “institute” outside of Florence, Italy, and the chance to meet the restaurant chain’s wealthy and charismatic owner (Nivola). Along with a mismatched group of local American franchise managers (played by Debby Ryan, Ayden Mayeri, Molly Shannon, Tim Heidecker and Zach Woods), Amber finds a far different adventure than the romantic fantasy she had imagined.

Ryan, Mayeri, Heidecker and Woods came to Deadline’s SXSW Studio with Baena to gush about their trip to Italy, and how that is the perfect setting for this modern comedy.

Baena wasted no time talking about his love for Italy and wanting to return.

“I shot a film there in 2016 called The Little Hours and had such an awesome time shooting there,” he said of the film, which also featured Brie, Plaza and Shannon in the cast. “I learned the differences between shooting in America and Italy, and having been there I wanted to go back knowing what I know and do it again. It’s the only country I can think of where every time I go, I learn something new. It’s my all-time favorite country.”

Watch the video above to hear the cast talk about their experience working on this wacky comedy.