Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/760821
52 DGA QUARTERLY CREDIT CREDIT CREDIT CREDIT E V E R S I N C E H I S U C L A S T U D E N T T H E S I S F I L M The Passion of Martin, caused a sensation at a campus screening in 1990, leading to a job at Universal barely a month later, expectations for the next Alexander Payne film have been high. Although the Universal deal didn't result in a film for the studio, it allowed Payne to draft the foundation of what would become About Schmidt a dozen years later. But first there was Citizen Ruth (1996), which established Payne's trademark tightrope walk between pathos and farce. His output•including Election (1999), Sideways (2004), The Descendants (2011) and Nebraska (2013)•has earned an aggregate score of 88.8 on Rotten Tomatoes, with most of his titles turning a profit. It's as solid a track record in a risky business as they come. Walking the Walk * * ...and Talking the Talk with Alexander Payne THE DGA INTERVIEW BY STEVE CHAGOLLAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY BRIAN DAVIS