‘The Holdovers’ Director Alexander Payne Weighs In on AI, Working With Paul Giamatti and Returning to His Greek Roots in Thessaloniki
variety.comSavina Petkova Hollywood might have ground to a halt in recent months during the recent labor strikes, with the role of artificial intelligence in the moviemaking business a key stumbling block between studio bosses and both the writers and actors guilds.
But two-time Academy Award winner Alexander Payne (“Sideways”) quipped at the Thessaloniki Film Festival this week that when it comes to AI, he’s all for it. “If AI could write a script for me, I would be so happy,” Payne joked. “I trained as a director, not a writer.
To be a filmmaker, you write, direct and edit. But I much prefer directing to writing. Writing is hard, and I’m slow at it.” The Oscar-winning screenwriter is in Thessaloniki to present his latest feature, “The Holdovers,” the “Sideways” director’s portrait of a curmudgeonly history teacher at an elite New England prep school, played by Paul Giamatti.
Slated for a wide release by Focus Features on Nov. 10, the film bowed to rave reviews at Telluride, with Variety awards pundit Clayton Davis saying it “feels like the slam-dunk Oscar contender the establishment members of the Academy can get behind.” Speaking in Thessaloniki, Payne, whose two Academy Awards came in the adapted screenplay category, described “The Holdovers” as his “first experience directing a writer.” “I found [David Hemingson, known for ‘Whiskey Cavalier’ and ‘Kitchen Confidential’].
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