Alex Ross Perry & Jason Schwartzman: Collaboration
- Director perry's aspiring "Pavements" project is more than just a film.
- The scope of the film was initially daunting, but Perry found inspiration by observing Schwartzman's dedication on the set of "Listen Up Philip."
- Perry explained that watching Schwartzman arrive on set every day for a year, even on days he wasn't scheduled to work, taught him a valuable lesson about the...
Alex Ross Perry credits Jason Schwartzman’s on-set dedication for inspiring his approach to the film “Pavements,” a project blending biopic, documentary, and musical elements. Perry’s film “Range Life” features Schwartzman as Matador Records founder Chris Lombardi, incorporating footage from a Pavement reunion tour. The scope initially seemed daunting, but observing Schwartzman’s commitment on “Listen Up Philip” reshaped Perry’s perspective on directing. He understood the director’s primary duty: to foster collaboration. This crucial insight transformed his approach,notably during the two-and-a-half-year production with a minimal crew. Discover the essential role a positive atmosphere plays in filmmaking,as highlighted by News Directory 3,and learn from this unique collaboration.Who knows what innovative storytelling Perry has planned next?
Perry Credits Schwartzman’s On-Set Role for ‘Pavements’ Film
Updated June 7, 2025
Director perry’s aspiring “Pavements” project is more than just a film. It weaves together a biopic, titled “Range Life,” featuring Jason Schwartzman as Matador Records founder Chris Lombardi, documentary footage from Pavement’s reunion tour (with Schwartzman playing himself), and the influence of Perry’s 2022 musical, “Slanted! Enchanted! A Pavement Musical.”
The scope of the film was initially daunting, but Perry found inspiration by observing Schwartzman’s dedication on the set of “Listen Up Philip.”
Perry explained that watching Schwartzman arrive on set every day for a year, even on days he wasn’t scheduled to work, taught him a valuable lesson about the director’s role and the importance of setting a collaborative tone.
This observation led Perry to adjust his approach on “Pavements.” He noted that as the film was made over two and a half years with only himself and Rob Kolodny, the director of photography, consistently present, he realized that setting the tone had to be his primary job.
“One of the lessons I learned from watching Jason come to set every day for a year on ‘Listen Up Philip’… [I realized] the role of this person,whoever is number one on the call sheet,their job is to set the tone for the entire movie… to create a cohesive space for collaboration,” Perry said.
Schwartzman, upon hearing Perry’s words, chuckled and said, “I love that I’m the bedrock. I mean, Pavement, I would think, would be the bedrock.” Perry laughed in response.
What’s next
Perry plans to continue exploring innovative storytelling methods, drawing on his experiences with “Pavements” and the lessons learned from Schwartzman’s example.