Alison Brie talks about Dave Franco directing her sex scenes. Image Source: People
Alison Brie talks about Dave Franco directing her sex scenes.
Actress Alison Brie recently spoke to Jezebel about how she feels about her husband Dave Franco directing her sex scenes with Jay Ellis in her new romantic comedy, "Somebody I Used to Know."
Alison said that she realized that it sounds wild, but they are actors, and this is their job, adding that it is not that weird, and with something like this because it’s their baby that they made together, their priority is always just the movie. Dave Franco and Alison Brie co-wrote the film's script and the actress notes because doing the scenes ends up feeling right and good, adding that they don't want her romantic moments with co-star Jay Ellis to play oddly or weirdly on-screen.
Community alum revealed that she and her actor-director husband Dave Franco have collaborated long enough just to feel more comfortable doing something like steamy sex scenes in public. Alison continued by stating that as actors, they collaborated for their second film which was Jeff Baena's "The Little Hours," and explained that the movie was liket he band-aid being ripped off because in that movie, Dave had to make-out or perform sex sequences with three other actors including her.
Aside from "The Little Hours," the pair has also appeared in movies including "The Disaster Artist," "The Rental," and, most recently, "Horse Girl." Alison Brie plays Ally, a reality TV show creator who comes back to her hometown and rekindles her old flame with her ex-boyfriend Sean, played by Jay Ellis, on the weekend of his marriage ceremony to Cassidy, played by Kiersey Clemons, in Somebody, I Used to Know, which has been co-written by the couple and directed by Dave Franco.
Previously, Alison told People that she and Dave Franco usually have some kind of discussion before taking on a job or project with a sex scene just to give the other individual a heads-up. She explained that they do not want to catch their partner off guard with that information adding that it is a necessary part of their job anyway. Alison continued that it's a strange part, and she can see how it might come off to the untrained eye but they are all professionals, and when they are in character, it's its own thing. It's exactly what they as actors agreed to.
Alison Brie previously discussed the married couple's scriptwriting split with The Hollywood Reporter. She defined it as a practical experience method, comparable to how Dave is at the computer while she paces the space, hopping off the walls, and attempting to prepare dinner. Dave Franco adds he'd ask her how she'd react in a specific situation, and that she'd start modifying and going to act it out, and he'd note down everything she said and they'd simply kind of go back and forth like that.
The actress says their collaborations—they most recently collaborated on Dave Franco's directorial debut, The Rental—brought them even closer together as a couple.They've been together for 11 years, and she says it's been extremely satisfying to discover a new way to communicate through film in such an inventive, artistic way. Continuing further she said that they are constantly learning new things about how the other works, and she is discovering new things she likes about him adding that it sounds corny, but every time they work together, Alison says she falls in love with Dave Franco a little more.
Over the years, Dave says that he has known that Alison was a great actress but when he was in a position where he was intently watching her for months at a time, he realized she's one of the greatest. The director-actor says that Alison makes his job so much easier, and she's also a fantastic support system while they're making these films. As you might expect, there are times when one doubts himself as a director so it was invaluable to have her there at the end of each night.
Actor Jay Ellis also shared that Alison Brie and Dave Franco's collaboration created a space for play, and freedom to explore and improvise while also finding moments through what was written on the page. He added that they had a great time doing it noting that it's a fantastic cast—this cast is insane almost like they're the funniest people in town, great actors, and all-around nice people. Alison Brie collaborated with longtime friend Danny Pudi for Somebody I Used to Know and at the premiere the actor said that it was the simplest transition as Alison and he is very close and they spend a lot of time together but they hadn't filmed anything since Community, so it was just a way for them to continue their friendship off-screen and just putting it on-camera.
Somebody I Used to Know is streaming on Amazon Prime.
