A toast to Payne

I’ll toast a glass of wine to filmmaker Alexander Payne anytime! [“Meet His Latest Crush,” Sept. 26]

Payne recently was honored by L.A.-based Filmmakers Alliance, a wonderful film collective. He gave one of the best speeches I’ve ever heard to aspiring filmmakers. He said “Hollywood is not the enemy.”

With all his films, and with the wonderful “Sideways,” Payne is making films about the human spirit without explosions, car crashes or violence ... and within the studio system.

George Zaver

Los Angeles