Director of “Sideways” and “Election” Visits Film School

Oscar-winning director Alexander Payne dropped by the Film School on a Monday morning to chat with students about filmmaking. He talked about his own creative process, offered advice, and answered questions, peppering it all with the same mixture of cockeyed humor and introspection he brings to his films.

Payne talked about the writing process, and about his long-time collaboration with co-writer Jim Taylor. He admitted that they don’t follow the rules you learn in film school about how to write a script. “We don’t outline, nor do we really know our ending when we begin.” But he wasn’t recommending that students follow his example. He said that it really helps to have an ending you can aim toward as you write, and lamented his inability to work that way.

Payne admonished students to use their time in film school to focus on film as a medium of personal artistic expression, and to find their voices. He advised them to take time to watch a lot of films, especially great ones, and to watch their favorites over and over, to memorize them. He likes to watch the first 45 minutes of the 90s movie Casino for inspiration, “It’s film magic!”

He also emphasized the importance of acting to the success of the director’s vision. “The true medium of cinema is human behavior. Pay the most attention to learning how to work with actors. Don’t be afraid of those people; they’re just actors!”

A student question led to a conversation about short films, the meat and potatoes of film school. “I love short film. You’re much freer in the short form to have cinema be whatever you want it to be. The feature form is oppressive. Shorts are like poems.”

And he assured the students that even in hard times, “There’s always opportunity. Everything’s always in the process of becoming.”

There is no question each student came away with at least one useful piece of advice from the conversation. Tallahassee may seem to be off the beaten path, but visits like Payne’s are a regular occurrence at the Film School. Just another reason it’s one of the best in the country.