Paul Haggis
Paul Haggis
Paul Edward Haggisis a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known as screenwriter and producer for consecutive Best Picture Oscar winners, 2004's Million Dollar Baby and 2005's Crash, the latter of which he also directed...
NationalityCanadian
ProfessionScreenwriter
Date of Birth10 March 1953
CityLondon, Canada
CountryCanada
accept asking changed comment corners episode good producer questions wrote
I wrote an episode for 'thirtysomething,' and a producer said, 'That's really good, but what is it about? What does it say about you? What questions are you asking yourself?' I had never thought about that. This comment changed who I was, because it made me look at my own soul, the dark corners in my soul, and accept that dark side.
characters create damaged drawn easy empathetic good guy strive sympathy
I am really drawn to damaged characters, and I have a lot of sympathy for them. Making those complicated characters empathetic is something to strive for. It's too easy to create a good guy or a good girl.
against bad best directions hurt love people push trying work
For me, the most interesting people are ones who often work against their best interests. Bad choices. They go in directions where you go, 'No no no nooo!' You push away someone who is trying to love you, you hurt someone who's trying to get your trust, or you love someone you shouldn't.
emotional filmmaker logical
Film is an emotional medium; it's not a logical medium. It's not an intellectual medium, so every decision you make as a filmmaker and an actor has to be emotional in some way, even in the rejection of logic.
absolutely believe believing campaign dvds hands hoped picture sell shot though
They managed the campaign very well, getting the DVDs into the hands of the viewers, believing that the picture would sell itself. I thought that we had absolutely no shot at the Oscar, though I hoped that some of the actors would be remembered.
hollywood rewarded year
This is the year that Hollywood rewarded rule-breakers.
affected great rather stake
As a filmmaker, it's a great thing to feel you've really affected them, one way or another. I'd much rather have that than have someone say, 'Nice film, man.' That's a stake through your heart.
came hope los maybe snow time
This all came from the time in the '70s when it actually snowed in Los Angeles. I figured, you know what? If it can snow in Los Angeles, anything is possible. Maybe there's actually hope for us.
bond call four girls talking three week
They're talking to three to four girls right now. Every week I read there's a new Bond girl, and I call them and they say, No, you idiot.
becoming crash guy happier hard hold hustle starting
He's becoming a hard guy to get hold of, ... You could see it starting with the Crash reviews. And then Hustle & Flow. I couldn't be happier for him.
bad bothered explore good people questions
My questions were all about things that bothered me personally. I wanted to explore how good people can do bad things.
mind
My mind was just mush. I was shocked.
finished healthier next point weeks
got the point and let me go back the next day. I finished the film much healthier than I had been two weeks before.
avoided friend knew morning phone repeat sentence three
I avoided the phone this morning because this (the DGA nomination) was the one I knew I wouldn't get. When my friend called to tell me, I made him repeat the sentence three times.