Alexander Payne will shoot his next movie in Omaha a few days this week, and The World-Herald has learned of a few details and locations, including a school, a pizza place and a few blocks in midtown.
The biggest detail: “Downsizing” star Matt Damon will be in Omaha for the shoot.
It’s unknown if any of the film’s other stars — including Kristen Wiig, Neil Patrick Harris, Jason Sudeikis and Christoph Waltz — will be here.
For his new film, Payne is going back to his old school, Creighton Prep, and he’s bringing Damon with him.
Last week, Creighton Prep parents received an email that the entire Prep campus will close at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday and will remain closed the rest of the day and evening. All vehicles need to be out of the parking lot by that time or they will be towed.
Jeremy Caniglia, an art teacher at Creighton Prep, confirmed that the event is the “Downsizing” shoot and said Matt Damon would be on location.
“I’m really excited for their visit,” Caniglia said in an email. “It has been a fun year for filmmaking in the Omaha area.”
Payne has spoken before to students in one of Caniglia’s classes.
Caniglia did not know more details about the shoot. Those handling local publicity for “Downsizing” could not be reached for comment.
The World-Herald also learned of a couple of other spots where “Downsizing” will be filming this week.
The film will shoot around La Casa Pizzaria, said Victor Hahn, assistant manager of the restaurant at 4432 Leavenworth St.
“I can tell you that there will be no stars,” he said. “It’s simply exterior shots.”
The film will also be shooting around Douglas Street between 46th and 48th Streets.
Last week, residents in the neighborhood received courtesy notices from the production, saying that crews will be on site preparing to film throughout this week. The shoot there is slated to take place from 5 p.m. to midnight Monday and from 5 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.
The notice says the production will include large equipment and trucks. “We will make efforts to let you in and out of your apartments,” the letter reads. “You may be delayed passing between takes.”
Lynn Giordana, an assistant location manager who was listed as a contact on the notice, said she could not reveal any additional details about the shoot.
A representative of the Omaha Police Department’s traffic unit said it was not aware of any traffic enforcement requests for the area.
“Downsizing” is Omahan and Oscar-winner Payne’s follow-up to “Nebraska” and his first film to shoot in Omaha since “About Schmidt.”
It will also be his first film to use visual effects. The sci-fi tinged “Downsizing” follows humanity’s efforts to shrink itself as a solution to overpopulation and climate change. After the shrinkage, a process performed by Norwegian scientists, a 6-foot-tall man becomes 5 inches tall.
The film is set about 15 years into the shrinking process and focuses on an Omaha man (Damon) who decides to make the transition.
Payne co-wrote the script with Jim Taylor.
The film will shoot in three countries: the U.S., Canada and Norway. The bulk of the four-month shoot will take place in Toronto. But Payne said he will also shoot in L.A. and Omaha in April for a week apiece.
Contact the writer: micah.mertes@owh.com, 402-444-3182, twitter.com/MicahMertes
