Hi everyone and thank you for tuning in to the 509th episode of the Hollywood

reporters Awards Chatter Podcast.

I'm the host Scott Feinberg and my guest today is Omaha who is one of the most

talented filmmakers of his generation. Described by the New York Times as one of

this country's most exciting movie directors

and by the Los Angeles Times as a genuinely original talent,

one of Hollywood's most admired auteurs,

and the most gifted social satirists to hit our movies since Preston Surges.

His directing credits include 1996's Citizen Ruth, 1999's election, 2002's About Schmidt, 2004 Sideways, 2011's The Descendants, 2013's Nebraska,

and this year's The Holdovers, a film about a boarding school teacher, student, and cafeteria worker, each

with different sadnesses in their lives, who begrudgingly spend the 1970 Christmas break together.

I'm talking, of course course about Alexander Payne. Over the course of our conversation

at the four seasons in Los Angeles the 62-year-old and I discuss his feelings

about writing versus directing. He has written or co-written all of his films except Nebraska

and the holdovers. The importance of place in his films, be it,

at Omaha, Honolulu, or New England. How he has approached working with actors,

be they locally hired extras, or world famous stars

like Jack Nicholson and George Clooney,

who are but two of seven actors

who have received Oscar nominations for performances in his films,

plus much more. And so without further ado, let's go to that conversation.

All right Alexander, thank you so much for doing this and great to have you. Thanks Scott.

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