Alexander Payne

Life is full of sweet highs and terrible merlots on today’s Script Apart as Alexander Payne – director of movies like Election, The Holdovers, Nebraska and About Schmidt – joins us to raise a glass to an indie drama that has aged like a fine wine. The brilliant Sideways was released in 2004 and soon earned four Academy Award nominations, taking home Best Adapted Screenplay. It won six Independent Spirit Awards, was picked up for Japanese remake and instigated a huge tourism boom in the California wine country that forms the film’s backdrop. Co-written with frequent collaborator Jim Taylor, it told the tale of two friends on a wine tasting expedition, each struggling to break out of a certain middle-aged, middle-class male malaise (one of Alexander’s screenwriting specialties). The result? A dramedy widely regarded as one of the best of its decade. The film saw Paul Giamatti play Miles – an aspiring author whose dreams of literary stardom are misfiring, much like his love life. Recently divorced, he and his old college friend Jack, played by Thomas Haden Church, hop in the car to celebrate Jack’s upcoming wedding. But Jack – a washed-up soap opera actor – is intent on hooking up with women as part of one last sexual hurrah before marriage. Caught up in the mix as the pair quarrel and cause trouble is Virginia Madsen’s Maya, a barmaid that Miles strikes up feelings for. Professing those feelings in a serious way, though, is difficult for the wine aficionado and English teacher – a man so mired in regret about what was, he’s unable to grasp the now and what could still be. Much is often made about the recurring quote-unquote “losers” that lead Alexander’s films, and what they might have to say about modern American man. The filmmaker, though, has always been pretty resolute that his movies centre the downtrodden and dopey simply because, deep down, these films are comedies – a genre the historically sides with the little guy, going all the way back to Charlie Chaplin. But how does he define the mix of pathos and hilarity that fill his characters? Where does Alexander’s affinity towards road trip stories come from? What’s so relatable and real about Miles’ fear that his literary dreams might amount to nothing – and that a life of feeling like a loser awaits? And what was the inspiration behind the film’s beautiful ending – a knock at the door that we as an audience never see answered? All is revealed across a fascinating thirty-minute sit down with the auteuer. Script Apart is hosted by Al Horner and produced by Kamil Dymek . Follow us on Instagram , or email us on thescriptapartpodcast@gmail.com. Support for this episode comes from ScreenCraft , Final Draft and WeScreenplay . To get ad-free episodes and exclusive content, join us on Patreon . Support the show Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

On this episode of “The Directors” we are joined by Alexander Payne, who takes us through the inception and making of his early Paramount classic “Election.” Payne discusses the challenges with multiple voiceovers, working with MTV and his playful sense of continuity. If you love “Election” as much as we do (and even if you don’t), this is a very fun conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this very special episode of Film Stories, Simon welcomes Oscar-winning writer and director Alexander Payne to chat, in part, about the newly-released The Holdovers. Yet this is a bit of a different chat, as their conversation not only takes in the film, but also the process of finding the spark for a movie, the process of being interviewed for the release of a feature, and some book recommendations as well. Hope you enjoy the conversation, and The Holdovers is now playing... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Director Alexander Payne discusses his new film, The Holdovers, with fellow Director Jason Reitman in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, he discusses where the inspiration for the story originated, his favorite aspects of each of the three lead actors’ performances, and the filmic inspirations that contributed to the tone of the story. The film tells the story of Paul, a cranky history teacher at a boarding school in the 1960s, forced to chaperone a handful of students with nowhere to go over Christmas break. There, he forms an unlikely bond with a troubled student and the school’s head cook, who lost her son in the Vietnam War. See photos and a summary of this event below: https://dga.org/Events/2024/January2024/Holdovers_QnA_1123.aspx

Alexander Payne is a little bit surprised by the way people are responding to his new film, about three people who form an unlikely bond over Christmas break at a New England boarding school. But he has a hunch it's because there aren't as many movies about human relationships as there were in the early 70s, when the film is set — and he hopes audiences are ready for that kind of throwback. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @vfawardsinsider Email us at littlegoldmen@vf.com Follow our hosts: @kateyrich , @rilaws , @beccamford , @davidcanfield97 Our editor and producer is Brett Fuchs. Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices

Host Micah Walsh and comedian Alexander Payne discuss dead dads, why hospitals suck, finding the humor in tragedy, and Kareem Abdul-Jabar (briefly).

On this episode we went DEEP with our friend, NYC Comedian Alexander Payne We discussed Kurt Cobain and his artistry, the purpose of art itself, and much much more. In our humble opinion, this is one of the most interesting conversations we have had so far on this podcast, and we can't wait for you to listen!

On Cinematalk this week, we are privileged to welcome one of the finest of all contemporary filmmakers, Alexander Payne. Our discussion begins with a look at THE GREAT SILENCE and the mythic qualities of the Western genre. We also touch on the development of his cinephilia and the future of moviegoing. Usually writing in collaboration with Jim Taylor, Alexander Payne is the renowned director of sophisticated comedies for adults like CITIZEN RUTH, ELECTION, ABOUT SCHMIDT, SIDEWAYS, THE DESCENDANTS, NEBRASKA, and DOWNSIZING. He is the recipient of two Academy Awards for his screenplays and he is also a passionate movie-lover. In 2014, he visited madison to present a Wisconsin Film Festival screening of another 60s Italian classic, Dino Risi’s IL SORPASSO. He also joined us at that time for a Cinematheque screening of NEBRASKA. This week he spoke to us from his hometown and the frequent setting of his movies, Omaha, Nebraska.

Today on Negro Jump we go west coast with comedian Alexander Payne! We talk the west's broadcasting of anime and our disappointment in Terrance Howard. Check out Alex's sketch show "Unispired TV" on YouTube and Instagram. Follow Alex! @alexpaynecomedy

SPECIAL PODCAST- Phedon Papamichael, ASC – LIVE at Hot Rod Cameras “Cine Beer” Summer Bash! Cinematographer Phedon Papmichael, ASC In our first ever LIVE podcast Academy Award nominated cinematographer Phedon Papmichael, ASC discusses his collaborations with director’s of Alexander Payne, Oliver Stone, James Mangold. Phedon also discusses his early career working for Roger Corman and [...] The post SPECIAL PODCAST- Phedon Papamichael, ASC – LIVE at Hot Rod Cameras “Cine Beer” Summer Bash! Talks about his films with Alexander Payne, Oliver Stone, James Mangold and more. first appeared on Cam Noir .