Café Society: Blake Lively on Working With Woody Allen and His Empowering Direction

Please subscribe to our newsletter to receive updates from Your Next Shoes. This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure for more details.

In May 2016, Blake Lively looked lovely in red while attending the photo call for ‘Cafe Society’ held during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France.

Blake Lively adorns herself with the Jennifer Meyer gold cross bar necklace in a radiant shade of goldBlake Lively adorns herself with the Jennifer Meyer gold cross bar necklace in a radiant shade of gold (Credit: WENN)

The 2016 American romantic comedy-drama film Café Society was directed by Woody Allen and marked the first time Kristen Stewart auditioned for a role since her role in Twilight (2008). Allen cast Stewart based on her performance in Adventureland (2009), unaware of her Twilight involvement.

The term “Cafe Society” was coined in 1915 to describe high-profile socialites who frequented cafes in New York, Paris, and London. This movie was Allen’s first without co-executive producer Jack Rollins, who had been his manager for over 45 years.

It’s also his most expensive film, with an estimated $30 million budget. This film diverged from Allen’s usual practice of appearing on-screen, and he aimed for a novel-like structure.

In the 2016 film Café Society, Blake Lively portrayed Veronica Hayes, a young divorcee whom Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) encounters and falls in love withIn the 2016 film Café Society, Blake Lively portrayed Veronica Hayes, a young divorcee whom Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg) encounters and falls in love with (Credit: Amazon Studios / Lionsgate)

Bruce Willis was originally cast as Phil Stern in Café Society, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with the Broadway production of Misery. Steve Carell was then cast in the role.

Café Society was Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart’s third film together. They have starred in the 2009 coming-of-age comedy Adventureland and the 2015 action comedy American Ultra.

Blake Lively starred in Woody Allen’s 2016 film Café Society as Veronica, the wife of Bobby Dorfman (Jesse Eisenberg). The film was a critical and commercial success, and critics praised Lively’s performance.

She said that she enjoyed working with Allen and that he was a very “empowering” director.

Corey Stoll, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, director Woody Allen, and Kristen Stewart attend the "Cafe Society" PhotocallCorey Stoll, Jesse Eisenberg, Blake Lively, director Woody Allen, and Kristen Stewart attend the “Cafe Society” Photocall during The 69th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2016, in Cannes, France (Credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock)

Lively told Hamptons Magazine, “It’s really cool to work with a director who’s done so much, because he knows exactly what he wants. The fact that he does one shot for an entire scene—[and] this could be a scene with eight people and one to two takes—it gives you a level of confidence because when he’s got it, he knows he’s got it.”

“It’s amazing what Woody has written for women,” said Blake Lively in an interview with The Los Angeles Times.

“It’s very dangerous to factor in things you don’t know anything about,” she said about a controversial joke about Allen’s legal issues was made during the film’s Cannes 2016 screening.

“I could [only] know my experience. And my experience with Woody is he’s empowering to women.”

Blake Lively Shows Off Baby Bump in Juan Carlos Obando Jumpsuit at Cannes

Blake Lively has praised her collaboration with Woody Allen on the film "Café Society," highlighting his empowering directorial approach, encouragement of actor improvisation, and his skill in portraying female characters in his writingBlake Lively has praised her collaboration with Woody Allen on the film “Café Society,” highlighting his empowering directorial approach, encouragement of actor improvisation, and his skill in portraying female characters in his writing (Credit: WENN)

The pregnant actress showed off her growing baby bump in a red Juan Carlos Obando jumpsuit featuring spaghetti straps and silk ‘Poolside Tonka’ trousers.

Blake Lively played the role of Veronica Hayes, a young divorcee who Bobby Dorfman (played by Jesse Eisenberg) meets and falls in love with, while Kristen Stewart played the role of Vonnie, Bobby's uncle's secretary, who is dating a married man in Café SocietyBlake Lively played the role of Veronica Hayes, a young divorcee who Bobby Dorfman (played by Jesse Eisenberg) meets and falls in love with, while Kristen Stewart played the role of Vonnie, Bobby’s uncle’s secretary, who is dating a married man in Café Society (Credit: WENN)

She accessorized with a Jennifer Meyer 14k gold cable chain necklace, a delicate initial ring inset at the face with a pavé white diamond “S” from the same designer, and a white gold bead ring band from Jennifer Meyer.

Blake Lively adorned her neck with a delicate scarf, casually draped—a chic response to the omnipresent choker trendBlake Lively adorned her neck with a delicate scarf, casually draped—a chic response to the omnipresent choker trend (Credit: WENN)

Her stunning ensemble was completed with Christian Louboutin’s ‘Benedetta’ sandals.

Blake Lively's attire featured a vivid red, wide-legged Juan Carlos Obando jumpsuitBlake Lively’s attire featured a vivid red, wide-legged Juan Carlos Obando jumpsuit (Credit: WENN)

“The movie you see is often very different from the movie you shoot. The magic comes together in post-production. But when you’re on a Woody Allen set, you look around and think: ‘We’re making a Woody Allen movie!’ He creates the environment around you. If there’s a band playing, it’s not someone turning on a boombox. It’s a band playing from the beginning of the take. You have to speak loudly,” she told The Guardian about filming Café Society.

Blake Lively showed how to transform a jumpsuit into a maxi dress on the inaugural day of the 2016 Cannes Film FestivalBlake Lively showed how to transform a jumpsuit into a maxi dress on the inaugural day of the 2016 Cannes Film Festival (Credit: WENN)

“He also is really encouraging as to why he cast you,” Lively added a in her interview with Hamptons Magazine about Woody Allen.

“He’ll say, ‘Say the dialogue that’s written and then you can improvise for a while.’ And his dialogue is so specific, and it’s speaking in a 1930s dialect and [with period] references, so it’s intimidating to think, Oh, let me just improvise there and hope that my words blend seamlessly alongside Woody Allen’s. Which they clearly wouldn’t and don’t. But he’s very empowering.”

Director Woody Allen, Kristen Stewart, and Blake Lively strike a pose while attending their photo call for Cafe SocietyDirector Woody Allen, Kristen Stewart, and Blake Lively strike a pose while attending their photo call for Cafe Society held during the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in Cannes on May 11, 2016 (Credit: WENN)