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Jeff Baena

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American screenwriter and film director (born 1977)
Jeff Baena
Baena posingBaena at the 2017 Seattle International Film Festival
Born (1977-06-29) June 29, 1977 (age 47)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
EducationNew York University
Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
Years active2004–present
Spouse Aubrey Plaza ​(m. 2021)​

Jeff Baena (born June 29, 1977) is an American screenwriter and film director known for Life After Beth (2014), Joshy (2016), The Little Hours (2017), Horse Girl (2020), Spin Me Round (2022), and for co-writing I Heart Huckabees (2004). He is known for his frequent collaborations with actresses Alison Brie and his wife, Aubrey Plaza.

Career

After graduating NYU Film School, Baena moved to Los Angeles to start building his career. He became a production assistant for Robert Zemeckis, working on a number of films.

After working with Zemeckis, Baena took a job as an assistant editor for writer-director David O. Russell. After a year-and-a-half of working together, a minor car accident injured one of Baena's eyes. Partially to keep his spirits up and pass the time during his recovery from that, Russell began discussing story ideas with Baena. The two ended up collaborating on four scripts together.

One of those four scripts was I Heart Huckabees, which Russell directed in 2004. At the same time, Baena began to focus his career on writing and wrote the zombie comedy Life After Beth, which would wind up being his debut feature as a director.

Baena had planned for Joshy to be his directorial debut, but actor and collaborator Adam Pally had to pull out for personal reasons. Baena then decided to work on Life After Beth, which he had begun writing in 2003.

The next film for Baena was The Little Hours, which was released in 2017. The film features actors Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly and Molly Shannon along with multiple cameos.

Baena's film Horse Girl, which he wrote with Alison Brie, who stars in the film, had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2020.

Personal life

Baena grew up in a secular Jewish family in Miami. He has been in a relationship with actress Aubrey Plaza since 2011. In May 2021, Plaza revealed that she and Baena were married.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2004 I Heart Huckabees No Yes No
2014 Life After Beth Yes Yes No
2016 Joshy Yes Yes No
2017 The Little Hours Yes Yes No
2020 Horse Girl Yes Yes Yes
2022 Spin Me Round Yes Yes Yes

Television

Year Title Director Writer Producer
2021 Cinema Toast Yes Yes Yes

References

  1. ^ Kate Erbland, ‘Joshy’ Director Jeff Baena: Why Marketing Can Ruin a Movie, Indie Wire, 10 August 2016.
  2. ^ David Zax, How A Freak Eye Injury Became A Career Turning Point For The Director Of "Joshy", Fast Company, 3 February 2016.
  3. Dave McNary, Alison Brie’s Dark Comedy ‘The Little Hours’ Selling at Cannes, Variety, 26 April 2016.
  4. Siegel, Tatiana (December 4, 2019). "Sundance Unveils Female-Powered Lineup Featuring Taylor Swift, Gloria Steinem, Abortion Road Trip Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
  5. Russell, Anna (26 June 2017). "Jeff Baena and Aubrey Plaza's Medieval Adventure". The New Yorker.
  6. Bahr, Lindsey (July 7, 2016). "Aubrey Plaza, rising: A Hollywood dreamer with a biting wit". Associated Press. Retrieved October 17, 2016.
  7. "Aubrey Plaza Marries Longtime Love Jeff Baena: 'My Darling Husband'". PEOPLE.com. May 7, 2021. Retrieved 2022-04-19.

External links

Films directed by Jeff Baena
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