Alexander Payne

Started by MacGuffin, July 02, 2003, 08:30:23 AM

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MacGuffin

Alexander Payne makes TV debut with 'Hung'
HBO comedy project first picked up by Naegle
Source: Hollywood Reporter

Oscar winner Alexander Payne is set to make his TV debut with HBO's comedic project "Hung."

Payne is set to direct the potential pilot, penned by "The Riches" creator Dmitry Lipkin and his wife/writing partner, Colette Burson.

"Hung" centers on an average middle-aged basketball coach who excels in one (private) area and figures out a way to put his endowment to use.

"Hung" marks the first project picked up by HBO's new entertainment president Sue Naegle.

Although it hasn't been officially greenlighted to pilot, "Hung" was put on the fast track, and the signing of Payne solidifies a formal production order.

Payne also will serve as an exec producer on the pilot along with Lipkin, Burson and Blueprint Entertainment's Michael Rosenberg, John Morayniss and Noreen Halpern.

A search will begin shortly for an actor to play the lead.

Payne, who won an Oscar in 2005 for writing "Sideways," is repped by WMA and attorney John Diemer.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

MacGuffin

Alexander Payne is 'Downsizing'
Giamatti, Baron Cohen, Witherspoon to star
Source: Variety

Alexander Payne is putting the finishing touches on the social satire "Downsizing," a script about small people, and has put together a big-name cast.

Paul Giamatti, Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon have all committed to star in the film, which would likely land at Fox Searchlight, where Payne has a first-look deal.

Giamatti, who previously teamed with the director on "Sideways," is on board to star as a man low on money who decides he can have a much nicer life if he undergoes a process to shrink himself.

Witherspoon, also a Payne alum, whose career took off after starring in "Election," would play a woman Giamatti meets on his journey as a small person. Cohen would play a pint-sized foreigner.

There are no deals in place for the three principals, and no negotiations will take place until Payne finishes his screenplay, which he is penning with Jim Taylor. Jim Burke is producing alongside Payne.

Unlike previous Payne pics, "Downsizing" would require considerable special effects and could push the budget out of Searchlight's realm.

Project marks Payne's first pic since "Sideways," which was a Searchlight pic.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

Pozer

MacGuffin, understandably so that it is a work overload monday for ye, but this laundry needs to be put right here.

john

Speaking of Payne...

Any Northern California residents that want to take a pleasant drive to sleepy Monterey sometime might want to consider doing so on March 22nd, at 2:00 PM because that when Alexander Payne will be at the Golden State Film Festival screening Citizen Ruth (!) and doing a Q & A.

http://www.goldenstatetheatre.com/filmfestival/schedule/sch_guests.html#Anchor-49575B

Afterward, you can get drunk and reenact scenes from East of Eden out in a field somewhere.

Maybe every day is Saturday morning.

MacGuffin

Alexander Payne raises 'Descendants'
Fox Searchlight to produce new family dramedy
Source: Variety

Alexander Payne and Fox Searchlight are reteaming on family dramedy "The Descendants," Payne's first feature since "Sideways."

Payne begins lensing in Hawaii at the end of the year or early 2010. Project isn't yet cast.

Filmmaker is in the midst of polishing Nat Faxon and Jim Rash's script, adapted from Kaui Hart Hemmings' debut novel of the same name.

Set in Hawaii, "Descendants" tells the story of a wealthy landowner who takes his two daughters on a search for his wife's lover in the hopes of keeping his family together.

Payne, Jim Burke and Jim Taylor are producing through their shingle Ad Hominem.

After waiting nearly five years to direct his next feature, Payne has two projects ramping up: "Descendants" and "Downsizing."

Paul Giamatti, Sacha Baron Cohen and Reese Witherspoon have all committed to starring in "Downsizing," a social satire in which Giamatti's character realizes he would have a better life if he shrank himself.

Payne opted to shoot "Descendants" first in order to give "Downsizing," a larger production, more prep time.

While Payne hasn't shot a feature, he's served as exec producer on HBO skein "Hung."
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

MacGuffin

Clooney in talks for 'Descendants'
Payne directing family dramedy for Fox
Source: Variety

George Clooney is circling the lead in the Alexander Payne-helmed family dramedy "The Descendants" for Fox Searchlight.

The actor, who is currently shooting Anton Corbijn-directed thriller "The American," is in talks to topline "Descendants," which centers on a wealthy landowner who takes his two daughters on a search for his wife's lover in the hopes of keeping his family together.

Project, which marks Payne's first feature in five years, is scheduled to begin lensing in February in Hawaii. "Descendants" would rep the first collaboration between Clooney and Payne.

Screenplay, which is based on Kaui Hart Hemmings' debut novel of the same name, was penned by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

Payne, Jim Burke and Jim Taylor are producing through their shingle Ad Hominem.

Clooney, who last starred in "Burn After Reading," has three films set for release in the coming weeks: "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and "Up in the Air."
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

Stefen

Clooney is the man. He continues to work with great filmmakers.
Falling in love is the greatest joy in life. Followed closely by sneaking into a gated community late at night and firing a gun into the air.

modage

Seriously, he's like the Brad Pitt of our times.
Christopher Nolan's directive was clear to everyone in the cast and crew: Use CGI only as a last resort.

Fernando

yeah, both clooney and pitt are on a fucking roll, this is what tom cruise should be doing, the guy used to pick great interesting roles and worked with great directors, I miss that cruise.

Alexandro

cruise is too busy planning his shitty comeback in shitty films. he clearly enjoys more being popular than recognized as an actor. I used to think otherwise, but that's the only reason I can think of for his obsession with controlling every movie he is in nowadays.

MacGuffin

Payne's 'Descendants' adds to cast
Greer, Bridges, Lillard, Forster join pic
Source: Variety

Judy Greer, Beau Bridges, Matthew Lillard and Robert Forster have joined the cast of Fox Searchlight's George Clooney topliner "The Descendants," which Alexander Payne begins lensing this week in Hawaii.

Based on Kaui Hart Hemmings' critically acclaimed debut novel, adapted screenplay was penned by Nat Faxon, Jim Rash and Payne. Story revolves around an indifferent husband and father of two girls who is forced to confront his past when his wife suffers a boating accident off of Waikiki beach, and decide whether to sell his family's land, handed down from Hawaiian royalty.

Producers are Ad Hominem's Payne, Jim Burke and Jim Taylor.
"Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art." - Andy Warhol


Skeleton FilmWorks

Pubrick

apart from cloon-dog, everyone in that cast reeks of desperation. matthew lillard, beau bridges, robert foster..! maybe judy greer can get away with it.. barely. alexander payne better hav a good script on his hands cos there's nothing at all in that cast or story that makes this interesting, then again everything this guy's done has been a bit overrated especially About Schmidt which could be the most forgettable film ever made.

he's like a less maligned David O Russell, he's only ever made one good movie, the rest hav just tried very very hard.
under the paving stones.

72teeth

no way man, he's the modern day Ashby. No does melancholy better imo...
Doctor, Always Do the Right Thing.

Yowza Yowza Yowza

polkablues

He's a master of middle-class Midwestern malaise.  But p's right about About Schmidt; it's basically a movie that you've already forgotten seeing halfway through seeing it.

And as much as I enjoyed Sideways, my experience of the film itself is totally canceled out by my utter hatred of all the douchebag trend-hoppers who started thinking they gave a shit about wine after they saw it.  If you can't define what a tannin is, you're not allowed to use the word when describing the glass of wine you're drinking.  And I don't care what the funny man in the movie said, if you like merlot, you can drink fucking merlot!
My house, my rules, my coffee