Screenwriting 101: Alexander Payne

“Humor comes from the most painful situations you can think of. If comedy is not based in pain, then it’s not really funny. Who laughs harder than people at a wake? You know at the meal you start laughing about things you remember and you hurt so much, but you laugh so hard and it’s great… Jim Taylor and I have a real weakness for realistic, pointed comedy.”

— Alexander Payne from Creative Screenwriting, Fall 1997

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