The filmmaking process begins with a writer sitting down and crafting a story. Whether adapting an existing work or creating a new story, the writer sets out the story for investors and crew members. Oscar-winning writer-director, Alexander Payne is looking to build on the success he has achieved for the eight movies he has completed. The eighth movie on the list, “The Holdovers” has started a new era in the creative process for Payne and his collaborators.
The films of Alexander Payne have been written alongside co-writers. “The Holdovers” marks a change in the career of Payne because he is not working alongside frequent collaborator, Jim Taylor. The idea for the movie came from a 1930s French movie Payne had recently watched. The director had been sent a TV pilot about a prep school in the late-60s written by David Hemingson. Payne contacted Hemingson and began a collaboration on the script.
Despite the success he has achieved as a darling of the critics, Alexander Payne keeps an eye on the box office potential of his movies. Payne believes a script over 120 pages is too difficult to handle for a commercial director. One page of a typed script is translated to one minute of screen time for a filmmaker. Alexander Payne believes a long script will leave him worrying about cutting out chunks of the story to meet a two-hour run time.
“The Holdovers” sees Paul Giamatti’s character, Professor John Hunham placed in charge of a group of schoolchildren unable to return home for the Holidays. Payne’s love of human stories is evident in the story that eventually becomes a three-handed production. Professor Hunham is left with a single student and the cook, Mary for company. Payne retains a link to his roots in Nebraska and returns to shoot his movies in the state regularly. The understanding of human nature is part of the success of Alexander Payne. The director believes most 21st-century movies are too long and would benefit from trimming down their running times.