Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953) is a Canadian screenwriter, producer, and director. He spent his early career producing and directing various American and Canadian television network series.
[edit] Early life and education
Haggis was born on March 10, 1953, in London, Ontario,[1] the son of Mary Yvonne (née Metcalf) and Edward H. Haggis.[2] He was raised as a Catholic,[3] but considered himself an atheist until joining the Church of Scientology.[4] The Gallery Theatre in London, Ontario, was owned by his parents, and Haggis gained experience in the field through work at the theatre.[5] He attended St. Thomas More Elementary School,[6] and after being inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, proceeded to study art at H. B. Beal Secondary School.[1] After viewing Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blowup, he traveled to England with the intent of becoming a fashion photographer.[1] Haggis later went back to Canada to pursue studies in cinematography at Fanshawe College.[1] In 1975, Haggis moved to Los Angeles, California, to begin a career in writing in the entertainment industry.[1][5]
[edit] Career
Haggis began to work as a writer for television programs, including The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life.[5] With The Facts of Life, Haggis also gained his first credit as producer.[5] During the 1980s and 1990s, Haggis wrote for television series including The Tracey Ullman Show, Due South, L.A. Law, and EZ Streets.[5] He helped to create the television series Walker, Texas Ranger, Family Law, and Due South.[5] Haggis served as executive producer on series including Michael Hayes and Family Law.[5]
He gained recognition in the film industry for his work on the 2004 film Million Dollar Baby, which Allmovie described as a "serious milestone" for the writer/producer, and as "his first high-profile foray into feature film".[5] Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F.X. Toole.[5] Haggis acquired the rights to the stories, and developed them into the screenplay for Million Dollar Baby. Clint Eastwood portrayed the lead character in the film.[5] Eastwood also directed the film, and used the screenplay written by Haggis.[5] Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture.[5]
After Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash.[5] Haggis came up with the story for the film on his own, and then wrote and directed the film, which allowed him greater control over his work.[5] Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film.[5] Critical reception of Crash was positive, and Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005.[5] It received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to four other Academy Award nominations.[5] Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film; Best Picture (as its producer), and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay.[5] With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years.[7]
[edit] Personal life
Haggis lives in Santa Monica, California.[8]
After maintaining active membership in the Church of Scientology for 35 years, Haggis left the organization in October 2009.[9][10][11][12] He was motivated to leave Scientology in reaction to statements made by the San Diego branch of the Church of Scientology in support of Proposition 8, the ballot initiative which banned gay marriage in California.[11] Haggis wrote to Thomas Davis, the Church's spokesman, and requested that he denounce these statements; when Davis remained silent, Haggis responded that "Silence is consent, Tommy. I refuse to consent."[11][12][13] Haggis went on to list other grievances against Scientology, including its policy of disconnection, and the smearing of its ex-members through the leaking of their personal details.[11][12] The Observer commented on defections of Haggis and actor Jason Beghe from Scientology, "The decision of Beghe and Haggis to quit Scientology appears to have caused the movement its greatest recent PR difficulties, not least because of its dependence on Hollywood figures as both a source of revenue for its most expensive courses and an advertisement for the religion."[14] In an interview with Movieline Haggis was asked about similarities between his film The Next Three Days and his departure from the Scientology organization; Haggis responded, "I think one’s life always parallels art and art parallels life."[15] In February 2011, The New Yorker published a 25,000-word story, "The Apostate", by Lawrence Wright, detailing Haggis's allegations about the Church of Scientology. The article ended by quoting Haggis: "I was in a cult for thirty-four years. Everyone else could see it. I don’t know why I couldn’t."[4]
[edit] Filmography
| Year |
Film |
Role |
Notes |
| 1993 |
Red Hot |
Screenwriter, Director[16] |
|
| 2004 |
Million Dollar Baby |
Screenwriter, Producer[16] |
|
| Crash |
Story, Screenwriter, Composer, Director, Producer[16] |
|
| 2006 |
The Last Kiss |
Screenwriter[16] |
|
| Flags of Our Fathers |
Screenwriter[16] |
|
| Letters from Iwo Jima |
Screenwriter, Executive Producer[16] |
|
| Casino Royale |
Screenwriter (adaptation)[16] |
|
| 2007 |
In the Valley of Elah |
Screenwriter (adaptation), Director, Producer[16] |
|
| 2008 |
Quantum of Solace |
Screenwriter[16] |
|
| 2009 |
Terminator Salvation |
Writer (rewrite)[16] |
|
| 2010 |
The Next Three Days |
Screenwriter, Director[17] |
|
[edit] Television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1987 |
Return of the Shaggy Dog |
Screenwriter[16] |
|
| 1987–1988 |
thirtysomething |
Supervising producer, Writer, Director |
|
| 1989–1990 |
City |
Creator |
|
| 1993–2001 |
Walker, Texas Ranger |
Co-creator |
|
| 1994–1999 |
Due South |
Creator, Executive Producer, Screenwriter, Unit Director[16] |
|
| 1996–1997 |
EZ Streets |
Creator, Executive producer |
|
| 1997 |
Walker, Texas Ranger: Sons of Thunder |
Creator, Director[16] |
|
| 2005 |
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial By Fire |
Director[16] |
|
| 2007 |
The Black Donnellys |
Creator |
|
[edit] Video Games
[edit] Awards and nominations
Haggis has been nominated for dozens of awards.[18]
[edit] See also
[edit] Further reading
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Turner Classic Movies staff (2009). "Biography for Paul Haggis". Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner. http://www.tcmdb.com/participant.jsp?participantId=1004241. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ^ Riggs, Thomas (2003). Contemporary Theatre Film & Television. Gale / Cengage Learning. p. 181. ISBN ISBN0787663638.
- ^ Clarke, Cath (January 6, 2011). "Paul Haggis: 'You have to question your beliefs'". guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/jan/06/paul-haggis-interview?INTCMP=SRCH. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Wright, Lawrence (2011-02-12). "The Apostate". The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/02/14/110214fa_fact_wright?printable=true¤tPage=all. Retrieved 2011-02-13.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Albertson, Cammila (2009). "Paul Haggis - Biography". Allmovie. Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmovie.com/artist/paul-haggis-274585/bio. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Rumelski, Kathy (September 12, 2006). "London fans toast Haggis". Jam! Showbiz (Canoe Inc). http://jam.canoe.ca/Movies/2006/09/12/1828902.html. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Salem, Rob (February 25, 2007). "Who needs Oscar? He has a mob: Nominee Paul Haggis returns to TV with new crime saga". Toronto Star (www.thestar.com). http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/185439. Retrieved 2009-10-26.
- ^ Whipp, Glenn (May 8, 2005). "The 'Crash' of '05 - Paul Haggis explores intolerance and isolation in modern L.A.". Los Angeles Daily News. http://www.thefreelibrary.com/THE+'CRASH'+OF+'05+PAUL+HAGGIS+EXPLORES+INTOLERANCE+AND+ISOLATION+IN...-a0132281294. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Irish Independent staff (January 26, 2008). "The silence of Cruise's 'sinister' Cult". Irish Independent.
- ^ Goodstein, Laurie (March 7, 2010). "Breaking With Scientology". The New York Times (The New York Times Company): p. A1. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/us/07scientology.html.
- ^ a b c d Brooks, Xan (October 26, 2009). "Film-maker Paul Haggis quits Scientology over gay rights stance". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/26/paul-haggis-scientology-prop-8. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
- ^ a b c Ortega, Tony (October 25, 2009). "'Crash' Director Paul Haggis Ditches Scientology". Runnin' Scared (The Village Voice). http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/10/crash_director.php. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ Moore, Matthew (26 October 2009). "Crash director Paul Haggis quits Church of Scientology over gay marriage opposition". The Daily Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/6436548/Crash-director-Paul-Haggis-quits-Church-of-Scientology-over-gay-marriage-opposition.html. Retrieved 26 October 2009.
- ^ Beaumont, Peter; Toni O'Loughlin, Paul Harris (November 22, 2009). "Celebrities lead charge against Scientology: Hollywood figures quit 'rip-off' church as Australian prime minister threatens parliamentary inquiry into its activities". The Observer (The Guardian). http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/22/scientology-cruise-haggis-us-australia. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
- ^ Ryan, Mike (November 15, 2010). "Paul Haggis on The Next Three Days, Scientology and Why He’s OK With You Hating Crash". Movieline (Movieline LLC). http://www.movieline.com/2010/11/paul-haggis-on-the-next-three-days-scientology-and-why-hes-ok-with-you-hating-crash.php. Retrieved 2010-11-15.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Turner Classic Movies staff (2009). "Filmography for Paul Haggis". Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner. http://www.tcmdb.com/participant.jsp?spid=1004241&apid=&category=filmography. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
- ^ Bodey, Michael (March 24, 2010). "Indian extravaganza a juicy win for rival capitals of film". The Australian (www.theaustralian.com.au). http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/indian-extravaganza-a-juicy-win-for-rival-capitals-of-film/story-e6frg8n6-1225844492778. Retrieved 2010-03-23.
- ^ Internet Movie Database staff (2009). "Awards for Paul Haggis". Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc.. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0353673/awards. Retrieved 2009-10-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Allmovie staff (2009). "Paul Haggis - Awards". Allmovie. Macrovision Corporation. http://www.allmovie.com/artist/paul-haggis-274585/awards. Retrieved 2009-10-28.
[edit] External links
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Films directed by Paul Haggis
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| 2000s |
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Michele Gallery (1979) · Seth Freeman (1980) · Steven Bochco, Michael Kozoll (1981) · Steven Bochco, Michael Kozoll, Jeff Lewis, Michael I. Wagner, Anthony Yerkovich (1982) · David Milch (1983) · Tom Fontana, John Masius, John Ford Noonan (1984) · Patricia Green (1985) · Tom Fontana, John Masius, Joe Tinker (1986) · Steven Bochco, Terry Louise Fisher (1987) · Paul Haggis, Marshall Herskovitz (1988) · Joseph Dougherty (1989) · David E. Kelley (1990) · David E. Kelley (1991) · Diane Frolov / Andrew Schneider (1992) · Tom Fontana (1993) · Ann Biderman (1994) · Lance A. Gentile (1995) · Darin Morgan (1996) · Stephen Gaghan / David Milch / Michael R. Perry (1997) · Bill Clark / David Milch / Nicholas Wootton (1998) · David Chase / James Manos, Jr. (1999) · Rick Cleveland / Aaron Sorkin (2000)
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| Persondata |
| Name |
Haggis, Paul |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
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| Date of birth |
March 10, 1953 |
| Place of birth |
London, Ontario, Canada |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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