Paul Haggis

Born: 1953-03-10

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. With The Facts of Life, Haggis also gained his first credit as producer. During the 1980s and 1990s, Haggis wrote for television series including thirtysomething, The Tracey Ullman Show, FM, Due South, L.A. Law, and EZ Streets. He helped to create the television series Walker, Texas Ranger; Family Law; and Due South. Haggis served as executive producer of the series Michael Hayes and Family Law. 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". Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F.X. Toole. Haggis later 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. Eastwood also directed the film, and used the screenplay written by Haggis. Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture. After Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash. 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. Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film. Highly positive upon release, critical reception of Crash has since polarized, although Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005. Crash received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to four other Academy Award nominations. Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film: Best Picture (as its producer), and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay. With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years. Haggis said that he wrote Crash to "bust liberals", arguing that his fellow liberals were not honest with themselves about the nature of race and racism because they believed that most racial problems had already been resolved in American society.


Placeholder

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief

as Self - Interviewee
Released: 2015-01-25

GOING CLEAR intimately profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, shining a...

Movie page

Miss Representation

as Self
Released: 2011-01-20

The film MISS REPRESENTATION exposes how American youth are being sold the concept that women...

Movie page

Casting By

as Self
Released: 2012-11-01

This essential new documentary pays tribute to the legacy of the late, legendary casting...

Movie page

Becoming Bond

as Self
Released: 2006-11-07

A documentary which shows the creation of Casino Royale (2006).

Movie page

The Evolution of Clint Eastwood

as Self
Released: 2008-06-03

Follow Eastwood's career from television star to matinee idol to Oscar-winning director in this...

Movie page

The Road to Casino Royale

as uncredited
Released: 2008-10-21

Documentary that traces the tangled rights to Ian Fleming's "Casino Royale," the first James...

Movie page

The Dialogue: An Interview with Screenwriter Paul Haggis

as Himself
Released: 2006-06-19

Oscar-winning writer, director and producer Paul Haggis (Crash) reflects on his remarkable...

Movie page

The Business End: Violence in Cinema

as Self
Released: 2008-06-03

An unflinching look at the ongoing debate on violence in movies and its effect on the audience.

Movie page

MLE

as Director
Released: 2015-01-24

MLE ('My Little Eye') is based on a true story - Julie Robert, (nope, not Julia Roberts, as she...

Movie page

Ian Fleming's Incredible Creation

as uncredited
Released: 2008-10-21

A documentary about Ian Fleming.

Movie page

Late Night with Seth Meyers

as Self
First aired: 2014-02-25

Seth Meyers, who is "Saturday Night Live’s" longest serving anchor on the show’s wildly popular...

TV Show page

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

as Self
First aired: 2005-01-03

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is an American late-night talk show hosted by Scottish...

TV Show page

Entourage

as uncredited
First aired: 2004-07-18

Film star Vince Chase navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends...

TV Show page

The Oscars

as Self
First aired: 1953-03-19

An annual American awards ceremony honoring cinematic achievements in the film industry. The...

TV Show page

Kulturplatz

as Self
First aired: 2004-09-01

TV Show page

Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath

as Self
First aired: 2016-11-29

Leah Remini, along with high level former Scientology executives and Church members, explores...

TV Show page