Interview Produced by Vanity Fair Studios with kate spade new york

Anna Faris and Rosie Perez Return in “The Pit Stop” by kate spade new york

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It’s the most wonderful time the year for fans of #missadventure. “The Pit Stop”, the holiday episode of kate spade new york’s delightful series featuring some of your favorite actresses in unlikely scenarios, has arrived. Anna Faris and Rosie Perez reprise the roles they created this summer as newly minted sisters-in-law with very different personalities who are thrown together as airplane seat-mates. In this go-round, the pair prepares to travel together by rental car from Manhattan to a big holiday gathering with their blended families. Anna zips into Zabar’s to pick up what she thinks will be an impressive goody basket—and has to think fast to charm a store manager played by Ben Sinclair. Meanwhile, Rosie double parks outside the fabled gourmet store, where she’s confronted by a meter maid played by Greta Lee.

For a bit of much-needed cheer, watch “The Pit Stop”, and read Vanity Fair Studios’ interviews with Anna Faris and kate spade new york’s SVP of brand creative, Kristen Naiman, who has spearheaded #missadventure since its debut in 2015.

Anna Faris

This is your second episode with #missadventure. What do you share with the version of yourself you play in the episodes? How are you alike?

“I love being a part of the kate spade campaign because I get to sort of be me at my most upbeat and cheerful.

While every episode of #missadventure involves a misadventure, of course, they seem to be more about the way each character turns their particular lemon into lemonade than the mishap itself. Can you talk a bit about how and why these main characters’ attitudes in the film appeal to you?

“I’m really good at trying to make the best out of any situation, even when it’s rough. So, for me it’s fun to explore that by being my character in #missadventure.

How much fun was it to hang out in Zabar’s special basket-making room with Ben Sinclair?

“I loved working with Ben. He is hysterical. Even though we were shooting until 1 in the morning, he just kept me laughing. I had never been to Zabar’s before. It’s unbelievable and I got to be there when it was closed. I got to look around at all the food. I didn’t steal anything…I promise.

Your character and Rosie’s seem to have become closer since your very funny flight together in “Bumpy Ride.”

“I think that while Rosie is constantly frustrated by my character, I also think she can’t help but laugh at my antics. In real life, we completely adore each other. I think it’s easy for us to create chemistry even when we’re frustrated with each other.”

Anna Faris and Ben Sinclair share some holiday sparkle in the latest episode of #missadventure

Kristen Naiman

What is the backstory you concocted for Anna’s and Rosie’s relationship?

“We were exploring the idea of an unlikely friendship and created these two characters who approach the world very differently and who seem, on the surface, to be quite opposite. They are put together through a circumstance—in this case, being sisters-in-law—and find, to each of their surprise, that they’ve grown very fond of each other. Being forced into a kind of intimacy one might not have chosen and finding a deeper appreciation for one another—even if it’s peppered with moments of hilarity and temporary exasperation—is a wonderful form of connection that we wanted to explore. What appears to be opposites, might in fact be complements. I love the idea that these two women can be each other’s foils and accomplices, especially as unlikely bedfellows, and that plays out in a wonderful, comedic way.

How did the ancillary characters—Ben Sinclair, Greta Lee, and that amazing guy at the Zabar’s counter—come to be?

“We have always had an organic, collaborative and intimate casting process for #missadventure. We work with an amazing casting director, Jennifer Vendetti, through the whole process. In this episode Chioke Nassor, our director, brought Ben and Elizabeth Olson, our director of brand creative, was obsessed with Greta and suggested her. As a group, we are all constantly looking around us for what’s interesting and relevant and who can uniquely capture the spirit of our story. We spend a lot of time thinking about which actors might have genuine chemistry with each other, either because they have already worked together or because they seem uniquely complementary. #missadventure has always been very familial and organic that way.

“As for the guy behind the counter, Mario Barton, he is actually the head of e-commerce fulfillment at Zabar’s. When I went to Zabar’s for a meeting I said who’s that guy? He’s so cute and smart and has such a great presence, and he was down for doing it. In all the #missadventures we’ve had people like that. When we filmed “The Great Escape” at the Sunset Tower, we didn’t cast the concierge; we used Dmitri because he is the concierge. It gives #missadventure a flavor that’s both cinematic and authentic.

What do you think the theme is in this holiday #missadventure?

“This #missadventure episode is about connection. It’s about pausing in the chaos of life to notice the person in front of you—even if they’re a stranger or your circumstances put you fundamentally at odds—to find warmth and generosity towards them.

“There are people who come into your day and something about them sparkles a little, and that suddenly makes you perk up and sparkle too. It’s a kind of intrigue, but not necessarily a romantic one, that makes your day a little bit better and a little more fun.

“Anna has to find a way to not go to her party empty-handed and Ben is in the grind of being a store manager at the holidays, but when they collide, that little bit of sparkle between them allows the momentary hassles to melt away. In turn, each of them comes away from the experience having made their days a little bit better. Ben and Anna had really awesome chemistry and it is contagious, which is how it genuinely feels when someone like that crosses your path in the real world.

“For me, real heart of the story is our theme with Rosie and Greta. When Greta lets her guard down and shows Rosie her vulnerability, Rosie is able to listen and find the empathy to offer a little reprieve. They connect in a way that allows both of them to get what they need and that generosity of spirit is what the holidays should be all about. Even if it’s just to offer a small moment of joy, it’s what we can all do for each other and what we wish for in the world right now.”