I like actors who, when you see them on screen, you sense a person, not just an actor. Alexander Payne actorpersonscreen Change image and share on social
That's how I like to do it with actors, have them really go for it and I'll tell them when it's too much. It's always easier to bring it back then to push it further. Alexander Payne actorbackbring Change image and share on social
They say you can do honest, sincere work for decades, but you're given in general a 10-year period when what you do touches the zeitgeist - when you're relevant. And I'm aware of that, and I don't want my time to go by. Alexander Payne awaredecadegeneral share on social
I mean, look, I love movies, not just the ones I make... In fact, I don't like the movies I make very much. Alexander Payne factlovemake Change image and share on social
When I'm shooting, I don't care who the star is. I have an actor playing a part, and I'm serving the script, not serving anyone's career. Alexander Payne actorcarecareer Change image and share on social
In a sense, 'Schmidt' is the most Omaha of my films. But have I gotten it right? I'm not sure. Did Fellini get Rome right? Did Ozu get Tokyo right? Alexander Payne fellinifilmomaha Change image and share on social
I don't think so much about verbal comedy. I always think about visual comedy. I was raised watching silents, and I'm always thinking about how to make cinema, not good talking - although I want good talking. I'm much more interested in framing, composition, and orchestration of bodies in space, and so forth. Alexander Payne bodycinemacomedy share on social
It seems that our politicians see the world in black and white, so why not our artists? Did Woody Allen's 'Manhattan' have to be in black and white? No. But is it fantastic that it was? To see New York like that? Yes! Alexander Payne allenartistblack share on social