Alexander Payne to Make Directorial Debut with Documentary About World’s Best Film Professor

Two-time Oscar winner Alexander Payne is set to make his documentary directorial debut with a project about the trailblazing cinema scholar Jeanine Basinger. The documentary, set to be released in 2025, will follow Basinger’s journey from her humble beginnings as a movie theatre usher in Brookings, South Dakota, to becoming a renowned figure in the film industry.

Throughout her 60-year career, Basinger founded one of the country’s first and best film studies programs, authored 13 influential film books, and shaped generations of individuals who have made significant contributions to the American film industry. The project is being produced by Sam Wasson and Brandon Millan, with Wasson being a former student of Basinger’s and her co-author on the book Hollywood: The Oral History.

Basinger, 88, expressed her excitement about working with Payne, stating, “When it really matters, a midwesterner chooses another midwesterner.” The special relationship between Basinger and Payne was highlighted at the recent TCM Classic Film Festival, where Payne helped honor Basinger with the fest’s Robert Osborne Award.

The documentary promises to provide an insightful look into the life and career of Jeanine Basinger, offering audiences a deeper understanding of her impact on the film industry. With Payne at the helm, this project is sure to be a captivating and informative exploration of a true pioneer in cinema scholarship.