You, Me & Tuscany Interview with Will Packer and Kat Coiro

The New Black Film Collective recently sat down with filmmaker Kat Coiro and producer Will Packer to discuss the making of their joyful new romantic comedy and the intention behind bringing an uplifting, heartfelt love story to the big screen. In this lively and candid conversation, the pair reflected on the emotional core of the film, from the pivotal moment where Anna’s lie sets the story into motion to the broader message about stepping outside your comfort zone and embracing the possibility of love, joy, and reinvention. Will spoke passionately about the enduring appeal of rom-coms, describing them as an escape from an increasingly chaotic world, while Kat shared how laughter, spontaneity, and collaboration helped shape the film’s warm and playful energy on set.

Throughout the interview, Kat and Will also discussed the importance of authentic representation, with Will reflecting on his commitment to creating stories that allow Black audiences to see themselves in aspirational, romantic spaces rarely centred in mainstream cinema. From filming Halle Bailey against the backdrop of Italian vineyards to incorporating culturally authentic humour and emotional honesty into the script, the duo emphasised the importance of grounding the film in recognisable, human moments. They also opened up about the film’s memorable musical choices, including Mario’s Let Me Love You, the joy of filming Tuscany’s vibrant food culture, and the communal magic of the cinema experience itself. Together, their reflections capture a shared belief in storytelling that prioritises hope, connection, laughter, and the transformative power of love.

TNBFC: We do love a good time, which is why I feel like this movie is going to be wonderful because it does feel like such a good time. And I wanted to ask like what was the line, the scene in the script that made you think, yes, this is what I want to make. We have to make this and we have to make this fun.

Kat: Oh, I love that question.

Will: That's a great question. There's several probably. 

Kat: The heart of the film. I mean, the scene I always felt like we had to get right was the scene where she tries on the ring and then the mother and the nona come in and she said, you know, she says her big lie - that kind of, is the domino effect of the whole film. And so that was, you know, in my mind, I had to have the audience believe that this lie, this preposterous lie is plausible and that it kind of sets off a chain of events where she can't stop lying. Yeah.

Will: And there's a great line said to Anna, I'm paraphrasing, but it's why make up a fabricated life when you can live the perfect life of your own. And to me, that is just so appropo for so many people today who are afraid to get out of their comfort zone, afraid to take risks and chances, but that's where success lies. That's where fun lies. That's where love for a lot of people can lie. You got to get out of your comfort zone.

TNBFC: Ah, of course. It's really interesting though because you both use joy a lot in your work and you know - Will you've produced some iconic black movies, and Kat you've also done incredibly funny work, and I was wondering how did you sustain that energy and that fun and just that joy throughout the entire production.

Kat: Well, we love to laugh.

Will: Yes. 

Kat: And we love to entertain ourselves and I always feel like if we are laughing behind the camera and ruining takes because we are laughing so much then it will translate and other people will find it funny as well.

Will: And that did happen. 

TNBFC: Post-production was very expensive. So Will, what makes you come back to joy and love and what is it about that genre of romcoms that you keep coming back to over and over again?

Will: I love a good romcom. Love it. I think that the world's a crazy place and we need to, you know, turn it off and have a reason to go to theaters. I really do. And I think that the idea of finding love and humor along the way, as Kat always says, it is the most enduring genre. I believe in that. So, it's something that I personally just really gravitate towards and I think a lot of people do. And I'm somebody as a producer, I'm always thinking about the audience, the audience, the audience. You know, what do they want to see? What will they invest in? What will they relate to? And often it's a genre where that makes them feel hopeful.

TNBFC: Yeah. And you have proven that you know black love, black joy, it can sell. Was there a moment in your career that you know cemented that idea for you or was that always what you wanted to do when you became a filmmaker, a producer?

Will: You know I'm really proud of the fact that I have made movies and audiences have come out that other filmmakers and studios have kind of ignored and gone and skipped past. And so that is something that I've always said that if you build it, and you build it for an audience that does not see themselves a certain way, they will come. And if you do it right, other audiences will come as well. Kat and I would have conversations on set and I would say this is such an incredible shot of Halle Bailey in the middle of an incredible Italian vineyard. And I would say, you know, young black girls, they haven't seen themselves on screen like that. My daughters, they don't have an example of seeing someone that looks like them in this backdrop. Black love is just love. And everyone deserves love.

TNBFC: Well, and I have to tell the story because Will is such a genius in that he really does see the storytelling through the audience's point of view. And there was this moment where we were, you know, we have the original vineyard with the sprinklers. And then we were talking about how to make the ending more exciting. And we said, "What if the sprinklers come on again?" And Will said, "My audience in Decatur, Georgia is going to be like, "You know what? He's not that fine. Don't ruin your edges." And I said to him, "Oh my god, that's so funny. We have to put it in the movie." And so that little moment is an example of where we are, through Will, kind of putting ourselves into the audience who's going to be watching this and saying, "Well, we know it's ridiculous that her hair is getting wet, but we're calling it out and we're making a joke of it." And to me, that really grew the script in a way. And that's what he's so good at. 

Will: If you pepper a film with authentic moments, then you're going to win. As long as it's true and it's authentic and it's organic, then you'll win.

TNBFC: Exactly. So, whose idea was it to have Mario's Let Me Love You? 

Will: Team effort. 

Kat: Collaborative. 

Will: Regé, Halle, because a great romcom has got to have great music. You got to have like an underbed of a song. And when you can find the right song that thematically mirrors what the movie is about, that Mario song, R&B classic, all about loving a woman, let me love you. Right.

Kat: And about how a woman deserves to be treated.

Will: There you go.

Kat: And we also wanted to sneak in a little bit of Halle singing. And then we discovered that Regé is also an incredible singer.

Will: We had no idea. No idea. The brother opened his mouth and I said, "Where did that come from?" 

Kat: It was a good moment.

TNBFC: Yeah. That that was so shocking. And also, I've got that on repeat on my head right now. It's just so incredible. And also, I want to talk about the food again. Whose idea was it to have a Michelin star chef? 

Will: the hungry one?

Kat: Well, you know, and then I got my pasta at the monitor, so it all worked out. I mean, we learned a lot about Italian food, actually, and, thematically what we learned was really interesting. It is not presentational. It is not like Michelin, you know, plated. It is real, and it is about the ingredients and it's a little bit messy. And when we started filming it, we're like, "Oh, it's like family, right? It's it's made of all these interesting parts that come together and it's a little bit crazy. So it was fun shooting the food. We learned a lot." 

TNBFC: Yeah. And I bet it must have been incredible eating it as well.

Kat: Yes.

Will: I can confirm 

Kat: No complaints. 

TNBFC: So, if there's one message that you want the audience to take away from this film, what would it be for both of you?

Kat: Joy. Like, I think a lot of our entertainment is reflecting back the cynicism of the world and cynicism breeds cynicism. And we wanted to make something that reflects back the belief in love, the power of hope, the idea that you can step outside your comfort zone and find joy.

Will: Well said.

TNBFC: Do you have anything else to add?

Will: You know what? I think that it's a perfect escape and we need an escape right now. I really do. If there's something I want audiences to take away - it is that. You know what, put the phone down, turn off the news, go into a darkened theater, have an experience with the community, the human community. The person to your left and your right, they're going to be laughing at the same moments that you are. This is a movie that we made for you to talk to the screen. You know, get your popcorn, get your drink, have fun, you know, be into it. That's the best version of movie-going, I think.

TNBFC: Yes. And my final question really is just on set, what was it like? Was it incredibly chaotic? Were there just so many improvised lines or was it, you know, were you running a tight ship?

Kat: I run a very tight ship and the way that I work is I get what's on the page and then when I feel good about it, I tell everyone to do whatever they want. And so we have exactly what we wanted to go out and get and then we have versions where people play and you can see a little bit of that in the post-credit scene. You know, it's always a conversation with the actors and you want them to feel comfortable and you want them to play, but you got to get the script first.

Will: Now all that is true. However, I will say there was definitely some chaos and that is because of Kat, because she is someone that says, "Okay, let's get it. Let's get what we need." And then she is someone that flies off the handle when we get a good take. She's the one that will run into the middle of the scene; “KAT, WE'RE STILL FILMING”, “IT WAS GREAT. I LOVED IT.” Listen, I tell people, when you go see this in cinemas, don't leave. Okay? We have a great moment in the end credits and then you get a little bit of a sense of how Kat Coiro really is on set. That's all I can tell you.

You, Me & Tuscany out in UK cinemas from Friday, 10 April 2026.