Alexander Payne Signing Report

On Sunday September 28th at 3:00 p.m. Academy Award winning director and writer Alexander Payne joined Editor Sean Wilsey for a signing and reading from the book State By State.  The book is an original work featuring 50 different essays about the 50 states.  Alexander Payne wrote the section for Nebraska where many of his films are based, and where he still (occasionally) lives.

2:30 p.m. – I drag my friend Vanessa out of the house to get to the signing.  She owes me a thousand favors at this point, so I don’t feel bad making her go.  After all, I need my About Schmidt mini poster signed, and my Election UK mini poster signed as well and I don’t want to seem greedy, even though I might be.  Plus, Vanessa was going to spend the day doing her hair removal regiment and she can do that tomorrow.  Sigh.

2:31 p.m. – We find parking and head up the hill to Sunset Strip.  The nice thing is that this signing will be small and low maintenance.

2:35 p.m. – This is one steep fucking hill.

2:38 p.m. – We’re on Sunset now, and arrive in plenty of time, so we decide, at Vanessa’s request, to go Halloween shopping at Ahh’s.

2:40 p.m. – It’s true; Halloween is just an excuse for women to dress like a slut.  God bless Halloween.

2:41 p.m. – Vanessa is picking up the rubber rats trying to find the most symmetrical one in the bunch.  This is what we call fun back in Michigan.  She wants me to dress like a gladiator for Halloween.  I say no.

2:45 p.m. – We put down the rubber rats and make it over to Book Soup.  There isn’t anyone here.  Wait, Alexander Payne just walked in the store past us.  Would it be rude to skip the event and just ask him to sign my posters now?

2:47 p.m. – Vanessa and I agree it would be rude, so we go in and browse around.  She picks up a Sophia Loren book, and waits for them to start.

3:20 p.m. – They still haven’t started, but everyone is just milling about.  I’m not sure what to do; this is kind of becoming uncomfortable.

3:22 p.m. – Oh, well now they are starting. Editor Sean Wilsey is talking about the book, and he introduces Mr. Payne.

3:25 p.m. – Alexander reads a few passages from his section on Nebraska, and it really is quite good.  This book actually seems interesting even though I have never heard of it.  I know shocking!

3:33 p.m. – Sean and Alexander are now taking audience questions, and discussing some interesting facts about the book.  It’s actually interesting and funny.

3:48 p.m. – The reading is over and no one seems to be lining up or anything.  There are only about 15-20 people here so I guess it’s not that big of a deal.  I see another guy with a Sideways poster going to get it signed and I follow his lead.

3:55 p.m. – Alexander is signing his poster and DVD, and then signs mine.  Vanessa gets the mini poster signed as well.  He’s a really cool guy, and is happy to pose for a picture as well.  He’s one of my favorite directors and if you haven’t checked out Election or About Schmidt, or Sideways, or Citizen Ruth I highly suggest you do so.

Such a fun event!  The nice thing about signings at Book Soup is that usually they will allow you to bring outside items in, and they are generally easy and well organized. This one was a lot of fun and very easy with little fuss.  If you are interested in checking out State By State click on the following link, http://www.amazon.com/State-Panoramic-Portrait-America/dp/0061470902/ref?tag=cinematicdebr-20=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222903788&sr=8-1
Check out the full set of photos from the signing: