The directors two Oscars are both in the Adapted Screenplay category (for co-writingThe DescendantsandSideways, respectively).
I trained as a director, not a writer.
To be a filmmaker, you write, direct and edit.
(L-R) Paul Giamatti and Dominic Sessa in ‘The Holdovers’Focus Features /Courtesy Everett Collection
But I much prefer directing to writing.
Writing is hard, and Im slow at it.
Payne added that he consideredThe Holdovershis first experience directing a writer as he commissioned the screenplay.
Theres a reason Alexander is such a great writer and its because hes a humanist, he continued.
He always wants to tell the human story and thats what he encouraged me to do.
Im forever grateful that he drove me in that direction.
He wants to see people in all their flawed glory on screen.
The Holdoversmade a splash when it had its world premiere at Telluride and opened wide November 10 viaFocus Features.
Click below to read the script.
