 In late 1999, nearly a year after it had been written, one of the submissions by Pickett’s agent, Jess Taylor, at Endeavor, went to Alexander Payne’s agent, David Lonner at the same agency.Payne’s assistant, Brian Beery, read it then passed it to Payne who immediately optioned it.Shortly after Payne optioned "Sideways" it was greenlit by Artisan Entertainment.