It’s a wrap on the set of “About Schmidt” - the new Jack Nicholson movie will open next year. For two months locations in Nebraska City, Minden, Kearney, Lincoln and Omaha brought a touch of authenticity to the film. The film crew came here because the director, Alexander Payne, grew up in Omaha. Payne’s first two movies – “Citizen Ruth” and “Election” – were popular with critics and movie-goers, and were also shot in Nebraska.
All three films share something else – the people responsible for choosing the locations and the cast are also products of Omaha. “Statewide’s” Bill Kelly takes us inside the making of “About Schmidt,” and reports that these two men, and the hometown director, worked hard to make this new movie something that looks and feels like Nebraska.
The film tells the story of Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson), a retiring insurance executive in Omaha, Nebraska. Just days before he and his wife are to take the trip of their dreams, she passes away. The loss devastates Schmidt, and leads him to take a look at what was important in his own life, while reconciling with a daughter with whom he could never connect.
