Interview: Allison Strong stars as Adam Sandler’s daughter in The Week Of

Allison Strong stars in Netflix’s The Week Of as Adam Sandler’s daughter. Hidden Remote spoke to her about the movie, working with Sandler and more.

Allison Strong’s first feature film will be one she remembers for a long time. She plays Sarah, a bride-to-be, in the Netflix movie The Week Of, starring alongside Adam Sandler, Chris Rock and slew of comedians in a heartfelt look at a father’s determination to do right by his daughter.

Strong, a New Jersey native, found her days filming The Week Of full of laughs, caring and warm people, making it a summer filled with special moments – even getting a block of butter as a welcoming gift.

“I’ve watched a couple of incarnations before the final version and just insanity ensues with so many crazy personalities,” Strong said. “There are so many fun personalities in the two families.”

Strong, who plays Sandler’s daughter in the film, got her start in musical theater and is also a musical artist.  Hidden Remote had a chance to speak to Strong about her role in The Week Of and more.

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Hidden Remote: What are some of the moments that you remember from filming?

Allison Strong: I was sitting alone at lunch and (director) Robert (Smigel) happens to give me a huge box of butter. It made absolutely made no sense. Robert Smigel took it from the fridge where we had craft. He gave it to me and I’m like, I don’t know what to do with this.

I think it might have been in my fridge and then it was gone. I have no idea, but It was weird and hilarious. Made me a feel a lot of more comfortable on a day I was pretty nervous around all of these comic heavyweights.

On the first day of filming, I was in the house and all of sudden, Adam taps me on the shoulder and says, ‘Hey how is it going?’ and he’s in basketball shorts. Adam also loves to keep the set a lot of fun and with music. We always had ice cream trucks coming in from the city. We had taco night. He loves hip-hop. He loves music. There would be some sort of dancing and music going on.

It was really fantastic.

HR: How did it compare to some of the other work that you have done?

AS: It feels like a new era for me. It feels like the start of something completely fresh and new. I loved it. The thing about theater is that you do a production, you do a live performance and it’s gone. It’s a beautiful moment, but it’s gone forever. I will always love theater.

But the beauty of the film is that you have these moments captured on tape pretty much forever. I think I was really spoiled by this film because it’s so beautifully written. It’s hilarious, there are so many hijinks, and it’s also really heartfelt. The team at Happy Madison is just a joy. It was truly an amazing summer.

It feels like a completely different vibe. Also, you have all these joke writers on set. We thought the script was solidified, but every day it was changing. ‘No, add this joke to it. Say this here.’ It was ever-changing. For theater, once the book and music are done, it’s frozen

There was a lot of improvisation on set. That was always hilarious.

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HR: Do you have any crazy wedding stories?

AS: I am in two weddings this year. I am the Maid of Honor for my best friend in August. I’m also a bridesmaid in October. There are so many personalities in a bridal party. It’s just a lot, feels like a power struggle sometimes.

For my best friend, it’s almost six months out, and I had my dress since last year and my shoes. There is a lot of anxiety, even in the months before, but in this film, all the hijinks happen in the one week before the wedding. I think I will be able to relate in August.

As maid of honor, you’re basically doing a lot of the heavy lifting. I don’t think I will do a bachelorette like the one in the film.

I have a friend who has been a bridesmaid (about 10 times) but all last year. She was Maid of Honor in three or four of 10 weddings. After a while, she ran out of boys to go to weddings with her. So I became a professional wedding guest. I was going enjoying the food, dancing. I think for the bride, groom, and families, they are always under fire. It’s really a crazy time.

HR: What did you feel when you saw the final version of the movie, and did you get a chance to see it yet? 

AS: I got to see close to the final version. I’m leaving that as a surprise to myself.

From a personal standpoint, it was really emotional for me. I don’t think I’ve had that experience before. It was such a heartfelt film. I’m a pretty tough critic on myself. I cried, actually.

You’re with these characters from start to finish. Especially with Adam, he is the father trying to pay for his daughter’s wedding. He will do just about anything just to be the only hand on that wedding, the only person taking care of it. You get so attached to him trying to do it. That all these hijinks are really all for love of his daughter.

By the end of the film, I was just in absolute tears. I was able to remove myself from the experience, which was so powerful. It didn’t even feel like I was in it. I was with these families coming together. It was totally hilarious, but the payoff at the end was really beautiful.

We have all gone to weddings.  Anyone would be able to relate to this film. Especially coming out in the spring, prime wedding time.  If people want to have a laugh, be touched by the end, it will be a great film for them.

HR: What kind of relationship did you develop with Adam Sandler?

AS: On our last day of shooting, he gave me his number. He checks in on me every once in a while. I wrote to him on the last day for the wrap party.  He became like my father this summer. Robert Smigel, Allen Covert too, they all became extensions of that. They took care of me. They took care of all of us.

I remember I got a fever when we were rehearsing the wedding. They got me chicken soup, called the doctor, got me cortisone shots. When I had to come back to set, I was strapped in this humongous wedding dress, and Adam and I had a dance together. He was making jokes as the hours rolled on. I had 102 fever, and as the hour rolled on, he said it just went up another degree. They just took care of me.

It was during a night shoot too. I got a crazy fever. I hadn’t experienced a night shoot before. They’re like, ‘Allison, you’re going to be here until 7 a.m.’ My temperature just skyrocketed I think in that second I knew I was going to be staying up that long. To be strapped in a wedding dress that long, you kind of realize why brides have two separate dresses. I realized that pretty quickly.

Adam was a joy. Doing my father-daughter dance with him, I wrote to him, you gave me the father-daughter I never thought I would have. I wasn’t raised with my dad.

At the cast party, the actor and friend playing my husband (Roland Buck III), we had to be a foot distance apart when dancing. He was really protective of me.

I have plenty memories of this summer. I went to see his daughter, Allen’s daughter, a lot of people in production, at the Happy Madison summer camp musical theatre production.

Whenever I think of (Sandler), I just think of crazy music and dancing around. He just loves music.

Next: New trailer for Adam Sandler’s upcoming Netflix movie The Week Of

HR: How do you balance music and acting?

AS: I kind of just go with the flow with whatever is happening at the moment. During the film, I was filming but also producing some music at the same time. In my off time, during weekends, on my off day, I went to see a friend who I produce music with.

For the most part, right now, my focus is on acting. I always find when I get into my music, acting always calls me a little bit stronger. My acting teacher always says when you try to do something else, if you try to leave acting, it just calls you back even harder.

I went to pastry school last semester during my hardest audition season.  It is a balancing act. I am even working on producing new music right now. For the most part, acting has taken over for me.

The Week Of premieres on Netflix on Friday, April 26. Watch the movie then hit the comments to let us know what you think.