After news broke of the death of director Jeff Baena on January 4, frequent collaborators and friends began paying tribute to the late creative who was instrumental to the indie comedy film scene. Adam Pally, who starred in Baena’s Life After Beth, Joshy, and The Little Hours, mourned his friend on January 5, first playfully as “the scrappiest basketball player with the ugliest jump shot you ever saw,” before sharing Baena’s impact on his life and career. Pally continued in the Instagram post, “He was a talented director with impeccable taste and vision, he was a connector of people, a fosterer of possibility, the guy who knows where the best restaurant was no matter where you were. An overly gracious host with an almost disturbing open door policy, a film encyclopedia, and most importantly to me a friend.”
Molly Shannon, who starred in numerous films of Baena’s like Horse Girl, remembered him through behind-the-scenes photos in their final movie together Spin Me Round. Lauren Weedman, who’s starred in every one of Baena’s films since Joshy, wrestled with how to pay tribute to him but, ultimately, recounted his ability to instill camaraderie on set: “He absolutely knew how to gather people and make art and create actual community. I felt lucky to know him and to have him as a friend.
Baena’s wife Aubrey Plaza and the Baena and Stern families released a brief joint statement on January 6 of the “unimaginable tragedy,” writing: “We are deeply grateful to everyone who has offered support. Please respect our privacy during this time.”
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