Few filmmakers with a global reputation have stayed as rooted in regionalism as Alexander Payne. The native of Omaha, Neb., used his hometown as the location for his first three studio features — the comedies "Citizen Ruth," "Election" and "About Schmidt" — even though the latter movies were based on novels that were set elsewhere. And the Cornhusker State will be the location for his upcoming road-trip comedy called simply "Nebraska."
