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Jeff Baena

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Jeff Baena
Baena posing
Baena at the 2017 Seattle International Film Festival
Born
Jeffrey Lance Baena

(1977-06-29)June 29, 1977
Miami, Florida, U.S.
DiedJanuary 3, 2025(2025-01-03) (aged 47)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma materNew York University
Occupations
  • Director
  • screenwriter
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2021; sep. 2024)​

Jeffrey Lance Baena (/ˈbeɪnə/; June 29, 1977 – January 3, 2025) was an American screenwriter and film director. His most successful films were 2004's I Heart Huckabees and 2020's Horse Girl, though his projects to receive the most contemporary critical acclaim were the 2016 and 2017 films Joshy and The Little Hours. Baena frequently worked with his wife Aubrey Plaza, writing partner Alison Brie, and Molly Shannon.

He began his career as a screenwriter, co-writing the 2004 comedy film I Heart Huckabees and, around the same time, seeing his script for Life After Beth enter production before being shelved. Baena, as an independent filmmaker, expanded to directing a decade later and filmed Life After Beth as his directorial debut, starring Aubrey Plaza and released in 2014. Working with producer Liz Destro, and reuniting with Plaza as well as an expanding group of frequent collaborators, Baena was then writer-director for Joshy (2016) and The Little Hours (2017), which both became critically acclaimed and found a cult audience.

Among the performers in these films was Alison Brie, with whom Baena struck up a writing partnership and created works produced by Duplass Brothers Productions. They made the 2020 psychological drama film Horse Girl together, Baena's most commercial film, followed by the television anthology series Cinema Toast (2021) and Baena's final film, 2022's Spin Me Round. His first films saw Baena implement his post-mumblecore style as an improvisation-heavy filmmaker, and his films co-written with Brie are marked by exploration of expectations in film form.

Early life and education

[edit]

Jeffrey Lance Baena was born in Miami on June 29, 1977,[1][2] to Barbara (later Stern) and Scott Baena.[3] He was raised in a secular Jewish family[4][5] in the suburbs of Kendall and Coral Gables, where he enjoyed being surrounded by Latin and Caribbean cultures; he later said that he "felt a sense of community" there, a contrast to the negative perception of drug cartel violence.[6] His family was from New York City and had moved to Miami due to his father's work as a lawyer. Baena's parents were divorced, which he credited in part with informing his dark sense of comedy.[7] His first stepmother was manic depressive and, under Florida's Baker Act, was frequently institutionalized but then released, with Baena later commenting on systemic challenges in mental health care.[8] He had a brother and two step-siblings.[3]

After Killian High School,[9] Baena graduated from the New York University Tisch School of the Arts with a degree in film, before moving to Los Angeles to pursue directing.[10] He, without really intending, achieved a minor in medieval studies at NYU after taking multiple classes when he "was hard-core into the alchemy shit",[5] and also took classes relating to philosophy.[7]

Career

[edit]

1999–2012: Early career

[edit]

Baena was a production assistant for filmmaker Robert Zemeckis on What Lies Beneath and Cast Away (both 2000).[11][12] Both films were shot back-to-back and Zemeckis then took a production break, causing Baena to seek other employment.[13] He became an assistant editor and, later, personal assistant for writer-director David O. Russell.[11][14] Baena was originally hired to help edit online documentary Benny Hernandez before Russell asked him to contribute some writing ideas for it; the project was ultimately left unfinished.[13][15] 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, Russell began discussing story ideas with Baena. The two ended up collaborating on four scripts together, including I Heart Huckabees, which Russell directed in 2004, and Jay Roach's Meet the Fockers (also 2004), for which they made uncredited revisions.[11][16]: 146–147  The philosophical I Heart Huckabees was noted for the ambition in its storytelling;[17][18][19][20] it was not a commercial success,[21][22] and polarized critics.[20][23] By 2005 it had become a cult hit,[21][9] soon finding a place in the pop culture zeitgeist,[20] and in 2023 Robbie Collin and Tim Robey wrote that it was one of the best box-office bombs, citing its rewatchability two decades later.[24]

Before he began directing, Baena continued working as a screenwriter, mostly for studio assignments and rewrites.[25][26] Warner Bros. Pictures appointed him the screenwriter for the comedy The Awakening of Jean-Luc Barbara in 2006,[27][28] which was still in development in 2010.[29] He performed rewrites on Rami and Etan Cohen's Revenge of the Jocks, a reverse take on Revenge of the Nerds, in 2011. At the same time he was writing an indie adaptation of the Ernest Hemingway memoir A Moveable Feast.[30] Having always wanted to be a director, Baena considered screenwriting "a means to an end" and was critical of his own writing ability.[31] In 2012, he co-judged a short film script competition curated by Roman Coppola,[32] and played a version of himself in the film The End of Love;[33] a dramatization of actor Mark Webber's life, Baena appeared in The End of Love alongside Aubrey Plaza, his partner and Webber's Scott Pilgrim vs. the World co-star.[34][35]

2012–2017: Directorial debut and producing with Destro

[edit]
Baena at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival

Baena had planned for the comedy-drama Joshy to be his directorial debut, but actor and collaborator Adam Pally had to postpone for personal reasons. Baena then decided to work on the zombie comedy Life After Beth, from a script he started writing in 2003,[36] which became his debut.[37][38] This film had been in production but shelved shortly after it was written, and was only picked back up after comic actress Aubrey Plaza was looking for a role and her agent remembered the script; with Plaza attached, the production resumed. Flavorwire wrote that "Baena's control of the material is occasionally uncertain",[39] while Mark Kermode felt Baena "kept things just the right side of believable, eschewing explanation in favour of cracked domesticity."[40] Life After Beth received mixed reviews; the Rotten Tomatoes (RT) critics' consensus suggested the idea was too thin to sustain a whole film, though bolstered by Plaza's performance.[41] In 2016, it was ranked the 38th best ever zombie film and described as both "the best zom-rom-com since Shaun Of The Dead" and a "mumblecore relationship break-up zomcom".[42] It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2014,[37][38] the same festival at which Joshy, as Baena's second film, premiered in 2016.[11]

After Life After Beth, Baena worked on adapting Lysergic, the autobiography of Krystle Cole that he had optioned,[43][44] and suggested he might like to direct Doctor Strange as he was a fan of the character.[13] When production resumed on Joshy, Baena provided his large comedic cast with a 20-page outline, rather than a script, as an experiment to "keep people in the moment." Baena did not audition but cast people he knew would be able to work in such a film.[45] The film's RT critics' consensus highlighted Baena's direction for "strik[ing] a unique, disarmingly heartfelt blend of dark humor and tragedy".[46] The Los Angeles Times praised that despite its improvisational nature, "the film never feels unfocused or messy";[47] Christy Lemire felt Baena's work had improved since his debut;[48] and Glenn Kenny noted Baena's skill in tonally dictating his film.[49] Joshy was ranked the fifth best ever mumblecore film separately by screenwriter Jason Hellerman and critic Mike Bedard,[50][51] with Bedard also describing it as "post-mumblecore".[52]

Jake Johnson as well as some of Baena's filmmaker friends had acting roles in Joshy;[9] the previous year, Baena had similarly made a cameo in Johnson's 2015 film Digging for Fire,[53] the premise of which was based on the strange things found when Johnson, Baena and friends had dug out Johnson's garden.[54] Joshy was also Baena's first film to feature actress Alison Brie, albeit briefly,[48] before she had a main role in The Little Hours. Baena's third film, a 2017 black comedy, The Little Hours also starred Plaza;[55] he wrote in a Reddit AMA that he "made this movie for [Plaza]",[56] for whom it was her producing debut[57] alongside Liz Destro of Destro Films. Destro had produced Baena's previous films,[58] with Baena only starting development of The Little Hours after pitching it to her. Inspired by passages from The Decameron, which Baena had studied,[59] the film was again largely improvised and based in the disconnect of medieval beliefs to modern ones; Baena saw the potential for humor[5] and tragedy in this idea.[60] Reviews were impressed with how well the concept worked,[61][62][63][64] and praised Baena's comedic direction,[65][66][67] with Mick LaSalle writing that "Baena combines a zany comic vision with a rare control of tone. [...] There's no winking or nudging, no straining for laughs. Baena devised the material, and he trusts it."[68]

2018–2022: Creative partnership with Alison Brie

[edit]

Baena directed Brie two more times in the films Horse Girl (2020) and Spin Me Round (2022), which they co-wrote together. The latter also featured Plaza.[69][70] Both actresses were involved in different capacities in Baena's only television work, Cinema Toast, a 2021 anthology series that he created and executive produced. Baena wrote and directed episodes in the series, which reinterpreted public domain footage to tell modern stories.[71][3] Baena and Brie were among the producers for Cinema Toast and both of their co-written films, all of which were executive produced by the Duplass Brothers.[71][72][73]

Baena at the premiere of Horse Girl

Having formed a friendship after working on previous movies, and knowing of the creative risks Baena liked to take, Brie pitched the idea for a drama about fear of mental illness to him while on a hike. He had been suggesting that she play a "horse girl" character, and they realized they could combine the ideas to create what became Horse Girl.[74] The pair pitched it to the Duplass Brothers, who joined and offered it to Netflix.[75] Baena and Brie wrote the screenplay together, and some of the film's dialogue was improvised. After premiering at Sundance in 2020, Horse Girl began streaming on Netflix[76] and was the most commercially successful of Baena's works.[77] Reviews noted the use and subversion of form to inform the story,[78] which was generally praised[79][80][72] but also criticized by Adrian Horton in The Guardian.[81]

The pair again chose to subvert expectations in Spin Me Round, the shoot of which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. They used the delay to expand the film outline into a more detailed script.[82][83] The film combined comedy and thriller genres, and critics noted the story for "a provocative #MeToo statement".[73][83] Spin Me Round saw mixed reviews, its RT critics' consensus saying that "it never quite lives up to its potential" but is nevertheless enjoyable and elevated by Plaza and Brie.[84] The Hollywood Reporter felt it was "amusing but the most lightweight" of Baena's films.[85]

Style

[edit]

Baena's films found a cult audience,[61] and critics appreciated the attention and care Baena gave to topics that were not frequently tackled in Hollywood films: Baena's films broadly deal with themes of grief, loss, love and mental health.[60][8][7] In his own words, he described them as "destabilizing, unmoored, and full of chaos";[82] literary author William Deresiewicz wrote they are "odd, generically hybrid, tonally complex".[86] Ryan Gilbey wrote in an obituary for The Guardian that despite some similarities and all sharing "some unforeseen emotional kick, the subjects and styles [of Baena's films] were strikingly dissimilar, a fact on which he prided himself" as he did not want to do the same thing more than once.[9] Baena enjoyed creative freedom to mix genres and expectations,[82] and preferred not to use labels for his works so as to not create expectations.[86]

He "never really audition[ed], ever" for his films, saying he was inspired by Federico Fellini choosing performers based on seeing them in a more natural setting than a line reading. Baena created ideas of characters then, once he knew which actors he would use, would "try to build the part around them, and ... make it more true."[45] He ended up with a group of frequent collaborators, particularly Brie, Plaza, Molly Shannon, Lauren Weedman and Paul Reiser (who each starred in four of his five films)[83][82][9][87] – this was primarily because Baena enjoyed working with them and always wanted to bring out new things from actors he enjoyed;[82] in 2014 he said: "John [C. Reilly], Aubrey [Plaza], Molly [Shannon], Paul Reiser, [are] all people who have one foot in straight comedy and one foot in straight drama. They can move between both within a single scene or a single line of dialogue if they have to."[88] He also found it advantageous to work with familiar actors due to his own "slightly nontraditional way" of writing and directing, so that he could rely on performers who understood his process.[82] Baena typically wrote and worked from film outlines, rather than full screenplays, so his films could incorporate improvisation, though his first and final films, Life After Beth and Spin Me Round, were more traditional.[45][82] He was considered one of the prominent filmmakers of the mumblecore subgenre.[50][52]

Frequent actor collaborations (2 or more projects)
Work
Actor
 The End of Love
(Mark Webber, 2012) 		Life After Beth
(2014) 		Digging for Fire
(Joe Swanberg/Jake Johnson, 2015) 		Joshy
(2016) 		The Little Hours
(2017) 		Horse Girl
(2020) 		Cinema Toast
(2021) 		Spin Me Round
(2022) 		Total projects
Aubrey Plaza Herself Beth Does not appear Jen Producer
Sister Fernanda 		Does not appear Writer-director
Karen 		Kat 6
Alison Brie Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Rachel Sister Alessandra Writer, producer
Sarah 		Jane Writer, producer
Amber 		5
Lauren Weedman Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Isadora Francesca Cheryl Annie the Housekeeper Liz 5
Paul Reiser Does not appear Noah Does not appear Steve Ilario Gary Does not appear Does not appear 4
Molly Shannon Does not appear Geenie Does not appear Does not appear Mother Marea Joan Does not appear Deb 4
Alia Shawkat Herself Roz Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Actor (unnamed role) Does not appear 3
Paul Weitz Does not appear Mr. Levin Does not appear Private investigator Lurco Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear 3
Adam Pally Does not appear Diner sommelier Does not appear Producer
Ari 		Guard Paolo Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear 3
Nick Offerman Does not appear Documentary narrator Does not appear Does not appear Lord Bruno Does not appear Don Doolittle Does not appear 3
Matthew Gray Gubler Does not appear Kyle Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Darren (character in Purgatory) Jeremy Does not appear 3
Jake Johnson Does not appear Does not appear Writer, producer
Tim 		Reggie Does not appear Does not appear Steve Does not appear 3
Fred Armisen Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Bishop Bartolomeo Does not appear Radio voice
Rick 		Ricky 3
Frankie Shaw Evelyn Does not appear Does not appear Crystal Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear 2
Anna Kendrick Does not appear Erica Alicia Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear 2
John C. Reilly Does not appear Maury Does not appear Does not appear Father Tommasso Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear 2
Jenny Slate Does not appear Does not appear Yoga couple Jodi Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear 2
Luis Fernandez-Gil Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear The Spaniard Does not appear Tow worker Does not appear Does not appear 2
Kate Micucci Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Sister Ginevra Does not appear Actor (unnamed role) Does not appear 2
John Reynolds Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Darren Johnny Does not appear 2
Jay Duplass Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Ethan Writer-director, producer
Actor (unnamed role) 		Does not appear 2
Debby Ryan Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Nikki Does not appear Susie 2
Jake Picking Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Does not appear Brian Does not appear Jake 2

Personal life and death

[edit]
Baena and Plaza in 2017

Baena was renowned for the game nights he hosted, creating a social environment among filmmakers and friends that was reflected on his film sets.[89] He met actress Aubrey Plaza during a game night in 2011,[9] after which they began dating.[90] Baena proposed to Plaza at a site related to the Basque witch trials in Zugarramurdi.[91][92] They were married in 2021, to celebrate their tenth anniversary together, in a small ceremony in their backyard.[90][10] They began experiencing marital difficulties before quietly separating in September 2024, with Plaza staying in New York.[93][94] Baena made "concerning remarks" to Plaza in October, which prompted her to call a friend to perform a welfare check on him; Baena then began attending therapy.[93]

On January 3, 2025, Baena's body was discovered at his home in Los Angeles by his dog walker; he was last known to be alive at 10:36 am EST that morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene.[93][95] The Los Angeles County medical examiner reported the cause of death as suicide by hanging. Baena was 47.[96][97] According to the medical examiner's report, Baena had no previous suicide attempts.[95] The 82nd Golden Globe Awards ceremony was held on January 5, with Best Director winner Brady Corbet paying tribute to Baena at the end of his acceptance speech;[98] Plaza had been set to present at the ceremony but pulled out.[34] Baena's funeral took place on January 10, 2025, in Miami.[99]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

Year Title Director Writer Producer Ref.
2004 I Heart Huckabees No Yes No [11]
Meet the Fockers No Uncredited No [16]
2014 Life After Beth Yes Yes No [36]
2016 Joshy Yes Yes No [11]
2017 The Little Hours Yes Yes No [3]
2020 Horse Girl Yes Yes Yes [69]
2022 Spin Me Round Yes Yes Yes [100]

Acting roles

Year Title Role Ref.
2012 The End of Love Himself [33]
2015 Digging for Fire BB Gun Friend

Television

Year Title Director Writer Creator Executive
Producer 		Notes Ref.
2021 Cinema Toast Yes Yes Yes Yes Directed 1 episode, wrote 9 episodes [3]

Other credits

Year Title Credit Ref.
2000 What Lies Beneath Production assistant [101]
2000 Cast Away Production assistant: Fiji
2014 Lennon or McCartney Self [102]
2018 Duck Butter Thanks [101]
2018 Madeline's Madeline Thanks
2022 Emily the Criminal Special thanks

Unrealized projects

Year Project Notes Ref.
2000 Benny Hernandez An online documentary by David O. Russell, with writing input from Baena [13][15]
2001–2004 David O. Russell collaborations Baena and Russell collaborated on a number of scripts. [11]
2006–2010 The Awakening of Jean-Luc Barbara Baena wrote the Warner Bros. Pictures–Tapestry Films "battle-of-the-sexes" comedy, to be directed by Justin Reardon. Produced by Andrew Panay, Peter Abrams, Robert L. Levy, and executive produced by Michael Schreiber. [27][29][103][104]
2011–2012 Revenge of the Jocks Baena made credited rewrites to a film script written by Rami and Etan Cohen, a reversal of the concept of Revenge of the Nerds, originally picked up in 2009. Jeff Tremaine was attached as director, with Tapestry's Abrams, Levy and Panay as producers, and Schreiber as executive producer; Sarah Schechter oversaw for Warner Bros. [30][105][106]
2011 Adaptation of A Moveable Feast Baena was writing a film adaptation of the memoir for an independent production; rights had been picked up by Mariel Hemingway and producer John Goldstone in 2009. [30][107]
2014 Adaptation of Lysergic Baena had optioned Lysergic, the autobiography of Gordon Todd Skinner's wife Krystle Cole about her experiences with him, and was writing an adaptation. [43][44]

References

[edit]
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