And she was lucky to be part of that equation working alongside the director in 2020’s Horse Girl as well as 2022’s Spin Me Round, both featuring Alison Brie.
“He believed in me. I feel really proud to be able to say that,” Ryan wrote. “Jeff was a rare person in the world who gave me the dignity of introducing myself, of being taken at my present. And I liked who he saw. Like good friendship helps you love yourself, good collaboration gives you the chance to be the best evolution of yourself.”
And their friendship went far beyond the screen. During the pandemic, Baena hosted game nights on zoom for their community. And when the world began to open up again, he invited Ryan to film festivals, introduced her to new restaurants and, as she detailed, brought her “to the most beautiful places I’ve worked.”
