Alexander Payne
Bio
Alexander Payne is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and director. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, Alexander has been personally nominated for 7 Academy Awards, winning 2, while his films have been nominated for 19 Academy Awards.
Stories (2)
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Alexander Payne Shares his Most Valuable Screenwriting Lessons
According to Alexander Payne, “Screenwriting is the hardest part of filmmaking.” So, when the Academy Award-winning filmmaker gets a new screenplay, what makes him want to keep reading? “It’s nice when a screenplay is written clearly and succinctly,” shares the 60-year-old director. “It’s arduous to read an overwritten screenplay. This might sound superficial, but the screenplay is the catnip that attracts money and talent, and it must be easy and entertaining to read.”
By Alexander Payne4 years ago in 01
Alexander Payne Dishes on His Successful Writing Partnership with Jim Taylor
Jim Taylor co-wrote five of the seven feature films that Alexander Payne has directed. Their partnership is successful by Hollywood standards and beyond. Both men won the Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award for Sideways in 2005, and their films have grossed nearly $500 million worldwide. Payne, 60, considers himself lucky to have that kind of connection with Taylor. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with excellent talent in my career,” says Payne. “Working with Jim is always a peak experience. We both feel very, very lucky to have found each other.”
By Alexander Payne4 years ago in 01
