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Paul Haggis

Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953) is a Canadian screenwriter, film producer, and director of film and television. He is best known as screenwriter and producer for consecutive Best Picture Oscar winners Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Crash (2005), the latter of which he also directed. Haggis also co-wrote the war film Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and the James Bond films Casino Royale (2006) and Quantum of Solace (2008). He is the creator of the television series Due South (1994–1999) and co-creator of Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001), among others. Haggis is a two-time Academy Award winner, two-time Emmy Award winner, and seven-time Gemini Award winner. He also assisted in the making of "We Are the World 25 for Haiti". In November 2022, he was found liable in a civil trial which alleged he raped publicist Haleigh Breest and he was required to pay $10 million in damages.[2]

Paul Haggis
Haggis in November 2013
Born
Paul Edward Haggis

(1953-03-10) March 10, 1953 (age 71)[1]
Occupations
  • Screenwriter
  • producer
  • director
Years active1975–present
Spouses
Diane Christine Gettas
(m. 1977; div. 1994)
(m. 1997; div. 2016)
Children4

Early life edit

Paul Edward Haggis was born in London, Ontario, the son of Mary Yvonne (née Metcalf) and Ted Haggis, a World War II veteran and Olympic sprinter in the 1948 Summer Olympics.[3] He was raised as a Catholic, attending Catholic school and facing confrontations with children from Ontario's Protestant majority.[4][5] His family had stopped going to Mass after finding their parish priest driving a Cadillac, and he considered himself an atheist by early adulthood.[4][5] The Gallery Theatre in London was owned by his parents, and Haggis gained experience in the field through work at the theatre.[6]

Haggis attended St. Thomas More Elementary School.[7] He started secondary school at Ridley College in St. Catharines, but began getting into bad behavior by skipping his required Royal Canadian Army Cadets drills, breaking into the prefect's office to erase his demerits, and reading the radical magazine Ramparts. After a year, Haggis's parents transferred him to a more progressive preparatory school in Muskoka Lakes. Haggis was taught by a producer of the CBC Radio One news program As It Happens, who allowed him to sit with him as he edited John Dean's testimony to the Watergate hearings for broadcast.[4]

After being inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard, Haggis proceeded to study art at H. B. Beal Secondary School.[1] He opened a theater in Toronto to screen films banned by the Ontario Board of Censors such as The Devils and Last Tango in Paris.[4] After viewing Michelangelo Antonioni's 1966 film Blowup in 1974, he traveled to England with the intent of becoming a fashion photographer.[1] Haggis later returned to Canada to pursue studies in cinematography at Fanshawe College.[1] While in London, Ontario, Haggis was converted to the Church of Scientology. In 1975, Haggis moved to Los Angeles, California, to begin a career in writing in the entertainment industry.[1][6]

Career edit

Haggis began to work as a writer for television programs, including Dingbat and the Creeps, Richie Rich, Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, The Love Boat, One Day at a Time, Diff'rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life.[4][6][8] With The Facts of Life, Haggis also gained his first credit as producer.[6] 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.[6] He helped to create the television series Walker, Texas Ranger; Family Law; and Due South.[6] Haggis served as executive producer of the series Michael Hayes and Family Law.[6] In 1999, he signed a first look deal with Columbia TriStar Television.[9]

 
Haggis at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival

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".[6] Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd, a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F.X. Toole.[6]

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.[6] Eastwood also directed the film, and used the screenplay written by Haggis.[6] Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture.[6]

After Million Dollar Baby, Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash.[6] 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.[6] Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film.[6] Highly positive upon release, critical reception of Crash has since polarized, although Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005.[6]

Crash received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director, in addition to four other Academy Award nominations.[6] Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film: Best Picture (as its producer), and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay.[6] With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash, Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar-winners in two consecutive years.[10]

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.[11]

He has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Writer's Branch since 2005. This allows him to vote on the Academy Awards.[12]

In 2008, Haggis founded production company Hwy61 Films with producer Michael Nozik, and signed a deal to produce films for United Artists.[13] The company is named after the title track of Bob Dylan's 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited.[14]

Personal life edit

Haggis lives in Santa Monica, California.[15] He has three daughters from his first marriage to Diana Gettas and one son from his second marriage to Deborah Rennard.[16] His younger sister, Jo Francis, is a film editor; they have worked together on several projects.[16][17]

In 2009, Haggis founded the non-profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice to assist impoverished youth in Haiti.[18][19] In an interview with Dan Rather, Haggis mentioned that he is an atheist.[20]

Break from Scientology edit

After maintaining active membership in the Church of Scientology for 35 years, Haggis left the organization in October 2009.[21][22][23][24] 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 same-sex marriage in California.[23]

Haggis wrote to Tommy 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."[23][24][25] 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.[23][24]

The Observer comments that: "The decision of [Jason] 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."[26]

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."[27] 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."[16] Haggis was interviewed as part of a group of ex-Scientologists for the 2015 movie Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief.[28]

Sexual misconduct allegations edit

In 2017, Haleigh Breest filed a lawsuit against Paul Haggis regarding an alleged rape in 2013. Haggis denied all allegations and filed a countersuit, claiming Breest intended to bankrupt him by extracting a $9 million settlement. His suit was dismissed.[29]

In 2021, Haggis asked a judge to expedite his civil trial. He said he "cannot continue to pay his legal bills." Haggis requested the judge set a trial "at the earliest practical date." His lawyer, Seth Zuckerman, wrote in the motion that "the defendant is no longer in a position to finance his defence with this matter lingering in advance of trial."[30] Following the initial accusation, three additional women came forward with various accusations of sexual assault and misconduct.[31]

Fellow former Scientology members Leah Remini and Mike Rinder have defended him, suggesting that the Church of Scientology may be involved, an assertion both the accusers and the Church itself deny.[32]

On June 19, 2022, Haggis was arrested in Ostuni in southern Italy over allegations of sexual assault.[33][34] Local law enforcement charged him with aggravated sexual violence and aggravated personal injuries.[34] A judge of the local court of Brindisi overturned Haggis' house arrest on July 4. On July 29, a three judge panel of the District Court of Lecce unanimously dismissed the charges against Haggis.[35]

On November 10, 2022, a New York jury found Haggis liable for the rape of Breest in a civil suit and ordered him to pay her at least $7.5 million.[36] On November 14, the jury ordered Haggis to pay an additional $2.5 million in punitive damages.[37]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Director Writer Producer Ref.
1993 Red Hot Yes Yes No [38]
2004 Million Dollar Baby No Yes Yes [38][39]
Crash Yes Yes Yes [38][39]
2006 The Last Kiss No Yes No [38]
Flags of Our Fathers No Yes No [38]
Casino Royale No Yes No [38][39]
Letters from Iwo Jima No Story Executive
2007 In the Valley of Elah Yes Yes Yes [38]
2008 Quantum of Solace No Yes No [38]
2010 The Next Three Days Yes Yes No [40]
2013 Third Person Yes Yes No
2016 Gold No No Executive
2018 5B Yes No Yes Documentary film
Co-directed with Dan Krauss[41]

Television edit

Year Title Director Writer Executive
producer
Creator Notes Ref.
1987 The Return of the Shaggy Dog No Yes No No [38]
1987–1988 thirtysomething No Yes No No Also supervising producer
1990 City No No Yes Yes
1990–1991 You Take the Kids Yes Yes Yes Yes
1993–2001 Walker, Texas Ranger No No No Yes
1994–1999 Due South Yes Yes Yes Yes Also unit director [38]
1996–1997 EZ Streets Yes Yes Yes Yes
1997–1998 Michael Hayes No Yes Yes No Also developer
1999–2002 Family Law Yes Yes Yes Yes
2006 Entourage No No No No Cameo as himself
2007 The Black Donnellys Yes Yes Yes Yes
2015 Show Me a Hero Yes No Yes No Miniseries

Video games edit

Year Title Role
2011 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Co-writer

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Work Result
1985 Humanitas Prize Children's Animation Category CBS Storybreak: "Zucchini" Nominated
1988 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Drama Series thirtysomething Won
Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series: Business as Usual Won
Humanitas Prize 60 Minute Category Won
1989 Writers Guild of America Award Episodic Drama Nominated
1995 Gemini Award Best Dramatic Series Due South Won
Best TV Movie Due South: Pilot (#1.0) Won
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Won
Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Due South: Pilot (#1.0) Nominated
1996 Canada's Choice Award Due South Won
Best Dramatic Series Won
Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South: "Hawk and a Handsaw" Won
Due South: "The Gift of the Wheelman" Won
1997 Viewers for Quality Television Award Founder's Award EZ Streets Won
2001 Writers Guild of America Award Valentine Davies Award Contributions to industry Won
2005 Writers Guild of America Award Best Adapted Screenplay Million Dollar Baby Nominated[39]
American Screenwriters Association Discover Screenwriting Award Won
Academy Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Black Movie Award Outstanding Motion Picture Crash Won
Deauville American Film Festival Grand Special Prize Won
European Film Award Screen International Award Nominated
Hollywood Film Festival Directing work Breakthrough Directing Won
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award Best Screenplay Crash Won
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Screenplay, Adapted Million Dollar Baby Nominated
San Diego Film Festival Discover Screenwriter Award Life's Work[42] Won
San Francisco International Film Festival Kanbar Award Screenwriting work Won
Satellite Award Best Screenplay, Adapted Million Dollar Baby Won
Outstanding Screenplay, Original Crash Nominated
Southeastern Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay, Original Won
USC Scripter Award USC Scripter Award Million Dollar Baby Won
Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay – Original Crash Won
2006 Writers Guild of America Award Best Original Screenplay Won[39]
Academy Awards Best Picture Won
Best Original Screenplay Won
Best Director Nominated
BAFTA Awards Best Original Screenplay Won
Best Direction Nominated
Golden Globe Awards Best Screenplay Nominated
Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nominated[39]
Austin Film Critics Award Best Director Won
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Writer Won
Best Director Nominated
Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay Won
David di Donatello Best Foreign Film Won
Edgar Award Best Motion Picture Screenplay Nominated
Humanitas Prize Feature Film Category Won
Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature Won
London Critics Circle Film Award Screenwriter of the Year Won
Director of the Year Nominated
Online Film Critics Society Award Best Breakthrough Filmmaker Won
Best Screenplay, Original Nominated
Producers Guild of America Award Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Nominated
Robert Award Best American Film Nominated
Satellite Award Best Screenplay, Adapted Flags of Our Fathers Nominated
2007 Saturn Award Best Writing Casino Royale Nominated
Edgar Award Best Motion Picture Screenplay Nominated
BAFTA Awards Outstanding British Film Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
Venice Film Festival SIGNIS Award In the Valley of Elah Won
Golden Lion Nominated
Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay Letters from Iwo Jima Nominated
2008 David di Donatello Best Foreign Film In the Valley of Elah Nominated
2011 Zurich Film Festival A Tribute To... Award Lifetime Achievement Won
2015 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing – Miniseries or Television Film Show Me a Hero Nominated[43]

See also edit

Further reading edit

  • Wells, Barry. . Alt London. www.altlondon.org. Archived from the original on October 24, 2007. Retrieved September 13, 2006.
  • Forsythe, Coco (January 27, 2008). "Down In The Valley". FutureMovies. www.futuremovies.co.uk.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Turner Classic Movies staff (2009). . Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved October 27, 2009.
  2. ^ Queen, Jack (November 14, 2022). "Oscar-winner Paul Haggis must pay total of $10 million in civil rape case". Reuters. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Riggs, Thomas (2003). Contemporary Theatre Film & Television. Gale / Cengage Learning. p. 181. ISBN 0787663638.
  4. ^ a b c d e Wright, Lawrence (2013). Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood and the Prison of Belief. Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 9780307700667. OL 25424776M.
  5. ^ a b Clarke, Cath (January 6, 2011). "Paul Haggis: 'You have to question your beliefs'". guardian.co.uk. Retrieved April 27, 2011.
  6. ^ 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. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  7. ^ Rumelski, Kathy (September 12, 2006). "London fans toast Haggis". Jam! Showbiz. Canoe Inc. Archived from the original on January 1, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ Brady, Tara. "Paul Haggis: "I do feel quite guilty sometimes . . . This is who we are. We're vampires"". The Irish Times. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Hontz, Jenny (February 11, 1999). "Haggis inks three-year, first-look deal with Col". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  10. ^ 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. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  11. ^ Buxton, Ryan (June 16, 2014). "Paul Haggis: I Wrote 'Crash' To 'Bust Liberals'". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
  12. ^ Chang, Justin (June 27, 2005). "Acad extends invites to 112". Variety. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  13. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (January 30, 2008). "Haggis, Nozik take Hwy61 to UA". Variety. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  14. ^ Mayberry, Carly (January 30, 2008). "Haggis takes Hwy61 to United Artists". Reuters. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  15. ^ Whipp, Glenn (May 8, 2005). "The 'Crash' of '05 - Paul Haggis explores intolerance and isolation in modern L.A." Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  16. ^ a b c Wright, Lawrence (February 12, 2011). "The Apostate". The New Yorker. Retrieved February 13, 2011.
  17. ^ Blake, Lisa (November 17, 2010). "From Ontario to Oscar". AARP. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  18. ^ Tang, Syl (February 17, 2014). "Paul Haggis Receives Millions From Bovet Watches for Haiti Help". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  19. ^ Dekel, Jon (September 24, 2012). "Paul Haggis' quest for Peace and Justice in Haiti". Canada.com. Retrieved March 30, 2015.
  20. ^ . YouTube. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved February 5, 2016.
  21. ^ Irish Independent staff (January 26, 2008). "The silence of Cruise's 'sinister' Cult". Irish Independent.
  22. ^ Goodstein, Laurie (March 7, 2010). "Breaking With Scientology". The New York Times. p. A1.
  23. ^ a b c d Brooks, Xan (October 26, 2009). "Film-maker Paul Haggis quits Scientology over gay rights stance". The Guardian. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  24. ^ a b c Ortega, Tony (October 25, 2009). . Runnin' Scared. The Village Voice. Archived from the original on October 27, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2009.
  25. ^ Moore, Matthew (October 26, 2009). "Crash director Paul Haggis quits Church of Scientology over gay marriage opposition". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2009.
  26. ^ 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. Retrieved November 22, 2009.
  27. ^ Ryan, Mike (November 15, 2010). . Movieline. Movieline LLC. Archived from the original on November 18, 2010. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  28. ^ Pritchard, Tiffany (February 4, 2015). "Alex Gibney, Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief". Screen Daily.
  29. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (June 19, 2022). "Paul Haggis Arrested in Italy on Sexual Assault Charges". Variety. from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  30. ^ Cullins, Ashley (January 5, 2018). "Four Women Accuse Paul Haggis of Sexual Misconduct, Including Two Rapes". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
  31. ^ Maddaus, Gene (December 27, 2019). "Paul Haggis Loses Appeal, as Court Finds Rape Is a Hate Crime". Variety. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  32. ^ Nyren, Erin (January 18, 2018). "Leah Remini Defends Paul Haggis, Suggests Scientology May Be Behind Misconduct Claims". Variety. from the original on March 21, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  33. ^ Hellmore, Edward (June 19, 2022). "Film-maker Paul Haggis arrested over sexual assault allegations in Italy". The Guardian.
  34. ^ a b Bubola, Emma; Bahr, Sarah (June 19, 2022). "Paul Haggis Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges in Italy". The New York Times. from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved June 22, 2022.
  35. ^ Vivarelli, Nick (July 30, 2022). "Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Case Dismissed by Italian Court". Variety. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  36. ^ Jacobs, Julia (November 10, 2022). "Jury Says Paul Haggis Raped Woman After Film Premiere". The New York Times. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  37. ^ Piccoli, Sean; Pederson, Erik (November 14, 2022). "Paul Haggis Civil Trial: Jury Awards $2.5M In Punitive Damages; Oscar Winner Says He Will Appeal & "Die Trying To Clear My Name" – Update". Deadline Hollywood. from the original on November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  38. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Turner Classic Movies staff (2009). . Turner Classic Movies. Time Warner. Archived from the original on October 19, 2010. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  39. ^ a b c d e f Allmovie staff (2009). "Paul Haggis - Awards". Allmovie. Macrovision Corporation. Retrieved October 28, 2009.
  40. ^ Bodey, Michael (March 24, 2010). "Indian extravaganza a juicy win for rival capitals of film". The Australian. www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  41. ^ Rooney, David (May 18, 2019). "'5B': Film Review | Cannes 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  42. ^ . July 3, 2007. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  43. ^ Kilday, Gregg (February 6, 2016). "2016 DGA Awards: The Complete Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 9, 2016.

External links edit

paul, haggis, paul, edward, haggis, born, march, 1953, canadian, screenwriter, film, producer, director, film, television, best, known, screenwriter, producer, consecutive, best, picture, oscar, winners, million, dollar, baby, 2004, crash, 2005, latter, which,. Paul Edward Haggis born March 10 1953 is a Canadian screenwriter film producer and director of film and television He is best known as screenwriter and producer for consecutive Best Picture Oscar winners Million Dollar Baby 2004 and Crash 2005 the latter of which he also directed Haggis also co wrote the war film Flags of Our Fathers 2006 and the James Bond films Casino Royale 2006 and Quantum of Solace 2008 He is the creator of the television series Due South 1994 1999 and co creator of Walker Texas Ranger 1993 2001 among others Haggis is a two time Academy Award winner two time Emmy Award winner and seven time Gemini Award winner He also assisted in the making of We Are the World 25 for Haiti In November 2022 he was found liable in a civil trial which alleged he raped publicist Haleigh Breest and he was required to pay 10 million in damages 2 Paul HaggisHaggis in November 2013BornPaul Edward Haggis 1953 03 10 March 10 1953 age 71 1 London Ontario Canada 1 OccupationsScreenwriterproducerdirectorYears active1975 presentSpousesDiane Christine Gettas m 1977 div 1994 wbr Deborah Rennard m 1997 div 2016 wbr Children4 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Personal life 3 1 Break from Scientology 3 2 Sexual misconduct allegations 4 Filmography 4 1 Film 4 2 Television 4 3 Video games 5 Awards and nominations 6 See also 7 Further reading 8 References 9 External linksEarly life editPaul Edward Haggis was born in London Ontario the son of Mary Yvonne nee Metcalf and Ted Haggis a World War II veteran and Olympic sprinter in the 1948 Summer Olympics 3 He was raised as a Catholic attending Catholic school and facing confrontations with children from Ontario s Protestant majority 4 5 His family had stopped going to Mass after finding their parish priest driving a Cadillac and he considered himself an atheist by early adulthood 4 5 The Gallery Theatre in London was owned by his parents and Haggis gained experience in the field through work at the theatre 6 Haggis attended St Thomas More Elementary School 7 He started secondary school at Ridley College in St Catharines but began getting into bad behavior by skipping his required Royal Canadian Army Cadets drills breaking into the prefect s office to erase his demerits and reading the radical magazine Ramparts After a year Haggis s parents transferred him to a more progressive preparatory school in Muskoka Lakes Haggis was taught by a producer of the CBC Radio One news program As It Happens who allowed him to sit with him as he edited John Dean s testimony to the Watergate hearings for broadcast 4 After being inspired by Alfred Hitchcock and Jean Luc Godard Haggis proceeded to study art at H B Beal Secondary School 1 He opened a theater in Toronto to screen films banned by the Ontario Board of Censors such as The Devils and Last Tango in Paris 4 After viewing Michelangelo Antonioni s 1966 film Blowup in 1974 he traveled to England with the intent of becoming a fashion photographer 1 Haggis later returned to Canada to pursue studies in cinematography at Fanshawe College 1 While in London Ontario Haggis was converted to the Church of Scientology In 1975 Haggis moved to Los Angeles California to begin a career in writing in the entertainment industry 1 6 Career editHaggis began to work as a writer for television programs including Dingbat and the Creeps Richie Rich Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo The Love Boat One Day at a Time Diff rent Strokes and The Facts of Life 4 6 8 With The Facts of Life Haggis also gained his first credit as producer 6 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 6 He helped to create the television series Walker Texas Ranger Family Law and Due South 6 Haggis served as executive producer of the series Michael Hayes and Family Law 6 In 1999 he signed a first look deal with Columbia TriStar Television 9 nbsp Haggis at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival 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 6 Haggis had read two stories written by Jerry Boyd a boxing trainer who wrote under the name of F X Toole 6 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 6 Eastwood also directed the film and used the screenplay written by Haggis 6 Million Dollar Baby received four Academy Awards including the Academy Award for Best Picture 6 After Million Dollar Baby Haggis worked on the 2004 film Crash 6 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 6 Crash was his first experience as director of a major feature film 6 Highly positive upon release critical reception of Crash has since polarized although Roger Ebert called it the best film of 2005 6 Crash received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Director in addition to four other Academy Award nominations 6 Haggis received two Academy Awards for the film Best Picture as its producer and Best Writing for his work on the screenplay 6 With Million Dollar Baby and then Crash Haggis became the first individual to have written Best Picture Oscar winners in two consecutive years 10 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 11 He has been a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in the Writer s Branch since 2005 This allows him to vote on the Academy Awards 12 In 2008 Haggis founded production company Hwy61 Films with producer Michael Nozik and signed a deal to produce films for United Artists 13 The company is named after the title track of Bob Dylan s 1965 album Highway 61 Revisited 14 Personal life editHaggis lives in Santa Monica California 15 He has three daughters from his first marriage to Diana Gettas and one son from his second marriage to Deborah Rennard 16 His younger sister Jo Francis is a film editor they have worked together on several projects 16 17 In 2009 Haggis founded the non profit organization Artists for Peace and Justice to assist impoverished youth in Haiti 18 19 In an interview with Dan Rather Haggis mentioned that he is an atheist 20 Break from Scientology edit After maintaining active membership in the Church of Scientology for 35 years Haggis left the organization in October 2009 21 22 23 24 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 same sex marriage in California 23 Haggis wrote to Tommy 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 23 24 25 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 23 24 The Observer comments that The decision of Jason 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 26 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 27 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 16 Haggis was interviewed as part of a group of ex Scientologists for the 2015 movie Going Clear Scientology and the Prison of Belief 28 Sexual misconduct allegations edit In 2017 Haleigh Breest filed a lawsuit against Paul Haggis regarding an alleged rape in 2013 Haggis denied all allegations and filed a countersuit claiming Breest intended to bankrupt him by extracting a 9 million settlement His suit was dismissed 29 In 2021 Haggis asked a judge to expedite his civil trial He said he cannot continue to pay his legal bills Haggis requested the judge set a trial at the earliest practical date His lawyer Seth Zuckerman wrote in the motion that the defendant is no longer in a position to finance his defence with this matter lingering in advance of trial 30 Following the initial accusation three additional women came forward with various accusations of sexual assault and misconduct 31 Fellow former Scientology members Leah Remini and Mike Rinder have defended him suggesting that the Church of Scientology may be involved an assertion both the accusers and the Church itself deny 32 On June 19 2022 Haggis was arrested in Ostuni in southern Italy over allegations of sexual assault 33 34 Local law enforcement charged him with aggravated sexual violence and aggravated personal injuries 34 A judge of the local court of Brindisi overturned Haggis house arrest on July 4 On July 29 a three judge panel of the District Court of Lecce unanimously dismissed the charges against Haggis 35 On November 10 2022 a New York jury found Haggis liable for the rape of Breest in a civil suit and ordered him to pay her at least 7 5 million 36 On November 14 the jury ordered Haggis to pay an additional 2 5 million in punitive damages 37 Filmography editFilm edit Year Title Director Writer Producer Ref 1993 Red Hot Yes Yes No 38 2004 Million Dollar Baby No Yes Yes 38 39 Crash Yes Yes Yes 38 39 2006 The Last Kiss No Yes No 38 Flags of Our Fathers No Yes No 38 Casino Royale No Yes No 38 39 Letters from Iwo Jima No Story Executive 2007 In the Valley of Elah Yes Yes Yes 38 2008 Quantum of Solace No Yes No 38 2010 The Next Three Days Yes Yes No 40 2013 Third Person Yes Yes No 2016 Gold No No Executive 2018 5B Yes No Yes Documentary filmCo directed with Dan Krauss 41 Television edit Year Title Director Writer Executiveproducer Creator Notes Ref 1987 The Return of the Shaggy Dog No Yes No No 38 1987 1988 thirtysomething No Yes No No Also supervising producer 1990 City No No Yes Yes 1990 1991 You Take the Kids Yes Yes Yes Yes 1993 2001 Walker Texas Ranger No No No Yes 1994 1999 Due South Yes Yes Yes Yes Also unit director 38 1996 1997 EZ Streets Yes Yes Yes Yes 1997 1998 Michael Hayes No Yes Yes No Also developer 1999 2002 Family Law Yes Yes Yes Yes 2006 Entourage No No No No Cameo as himself 2007 The Black Donnellys Yes Yes Yes Yes 2015 Show Me a Hero Yes No Yes No Miniseries Video games edit Year Title Role 2011 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Co writerAwards and nominations editYear Award Category Work Result 1985 Humanitas Prize Children s Animation Category CBS Storybreak Zucchini Nominated 1988 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Drama Series thirtysomething Won Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series Business as Usual Won Humanitas Prize 60 Minute Category Won 1989 Writers Guild of America Award Episodic Drama Nominated 1995 Gemini Award Best Dramatic Series Due South Won Best TV Movie Due South Pilot 1 0 Won Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Won Best Writing in a Dramatic Program or Mini Series Due South Pilot 1 0 Nominated 1996 Canada s Choice Award Due South Won Best Dramatic Series Won Best Writing in a Dramatic Series Due South Hawk and a Handsaw Won Due South The Gift of the Wheelman Won 1997 Viewers for Quality Television Award Founder s Award EZ Streets Won 2001 Writers Guild of America Award Valentine Davies Award Contributions to industry Won 2005 Writers Guild of America Award Best Adapted Screenplay Million Dollar Baby Nominated 39 American Screenwriters Association Discover Screenwriting Award Won Academy Awards Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated Black Movie Award Outstanding Motion Picture Crash Won Deauville American Film Festival Grand Special Prize Won European Film Award Screen International Award Nominated Hollywood Film Festival Directing work Breakthrough Directing Won Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award Best Screenplay Crash Won Online Film Critics Society Award Best Screenplay Adapted Million Dollar Baby Nominated San Diego Film Festival Discover Screenwriter Award Life s Work 42 Won San Francisco International Film Festival Kanbar Award Screenwriting work Won Satellite Award Best Screenplay Adapted Million Dollar Baby Won Outstanding Screenplay Original Crash Nominated Southeastern Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay Original Won USC Scripter Award USC Scripter Award Million Dollar Baby Won Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay Original Crash Won 2006 Writers Guild of America Award Best Original Screenplay Won 39 Academy Awards Best Picture Won Best Original Screenplay Won Best Director Nominated BAFTA Awards Best Original Screenplay Won Best Direction Nominated Golden Globe Awards Best Screenplay Nominated Directors Guild of America Award Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures Nominated 39 Austin Film Critics Award Best Director Won Broadcast Film Critics Association Award Best Writer Won Best Director Nominated Chicago Film Critics Association Award Best Screenplay Won David di Donatello Best Foreign Film Won Edgar Award Best Motion Picture Screenplay Nominated Humanitas Prize Feature Film Category Won Independent Spirit Award Best First Feature Won London Critics Circle Film Award Screenwriter of the Year Won Director of the Year Nominated Online Film Critics Society Award Best Breakthrough Filmmaker Won Best Screenplay Original Nominated Producers Guild of America Award Motion Picture Producer of the Year Award Nominated Robert Award Best American Film Nominated Satellite Award Best Screenplay Adapted Flags of Our Fathers Nominated 2007 Saturn Award Best Writing Casino Royale Nominated Edgar Award Best Motion Picture Screenplay Nominated BAFTA Awards Outstanding British Film Nominated Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated Venice Film Festival SIGNIS Award In the Valley of Elah Won Golden Lion Nominated Academy Awards Best Original Screenplay Letters from Iwo Jima Nominated 2008 David di Donatello Best Foreign Film In the Valley of Elah Nominated 2011 Zurich Film Festival A Tribute To Award Lifetime Achievement Won 2015 Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directing Miniseries or Television Film Show Me a Hero Nominated 43 See also editList of Canadian directors List of film and television directors List of film producers List of Big Five Academy Award winners and nominees List of people who have won multiple Academy Awards in a single year List of people from Santa Monica California List of people from London Ontario Scientology and celebrities Scientology controversiesFurther reading editWells Barry Paul Haggis wants to inspire London students Alt London www altlondon org Archived from the original on October 24 2007 Retrieved September 13 2006 Forsythe Coco January 27 2008 Down In The Valley FutureMovies www futuremovies co uk References edit a b c d e f Turner Classic Movies staff 2009 Biography for Paul Haggis Turner Classic Movies Time Warner Archived from the original on October 19 2010 Retrieved October 27 2009 Queen Jack November 14 2022 Oscar winner Paul Haggis must pay total of 10 million in civil rape case Reuters Retrieved December 1 2022 Riggs Thomas 2003 Contemporary Theatre Film amp Television Gale Cengage Learning p 181 ISBN 0787663638 a b c d e Wright Lawrence 2013 Going Clear Scientology Hollywood and the Prison of Belief Alfred A Knopf ISBN 9780307700667 OL 25424776M a b Clarke Cath January 6 2011 Paul Haggis You have to question your beliefs guardian co uk Retrieved April 27 2011 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 Retrieved October 28 2009 Rumelski Kathy September 12 2006 London fans toast Haggis Jam Showbiz Canoe Inc Archived from the original on January 1 2013 Retrieved October 28 2009 a href Template Cite news html title Template Cite news cite news a CS1 maint unfit URL link Brady Tara Paul Haggis I do feel quite guilty sometimes This is who we are We re vampires The Irish Times Retrieved July 6 2021 Hontz Jenny February 11 1999 Haggis inks three year first look deal with Col Variety Retrieved January 16 2021 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 Retrieved October 26 2009 Buxton Ryan June 16 2014 Paul Haggis I Wrote Crash To Bust Liberals Huffington Post Retrieved November 30 2014 Chang Justin June 27 2005 Acad extends invites to 112 Variety Retrieved November 12 2020 Siegel Tatiana January 30 2008 Haggis Nozik take Hwy61 to UA Variety Retrieved October 11 2022 Mayberry Carly January 30 2008 Haggis takes Hwy61 to United Artists Reuters Retrieved October 11 2022 Whipp Glenn May 8 2005 The Crash of 05 Paul Haggis explores intolerance and isolation in modern L A Los Angeles Daily News Retrieved October 28 2009 a b c Wright Lawrence February 12 2011 The Apostate The New Yorker Retrieved February 13 2011 Blake Lisa November 17 2010 From Ontario to Oscar AARP Retrieved October 11 2022 Tang Syl February 17 2014 Paul Haggis Receives Millions From Bovet Watches for Haiti Help The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved March 30 2015 Dekel Jon September 24 2012 Paul Haggis quest for Peace and Justice in Haiti Canada com Retrieved March 30 2015 Intimate interview with Paul Haggis YouTube Archived from the original on January 24 2016 Retrieved February 5 2016 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 p A1 a b c d Brooks Xan October 26 2009 Film maker Paul Haggis quits Scientology over gay rights stance The Guardian Retrieved October 26 2009 a b c Ortega Tony October 25 2009 Crash Director Paul Haggis Ditches Scientology Runnin Scared The Village Voice Archived from the original on October 27 2009 Retrieved October 25 2009 Moore Matthew October 26 2009 Crash director Paul Haggis quits Church of Scientology over gay marriage opposition The Daily Telegraph Archived from the original on January 12 2022 Retrieved October 26 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 Retrieved November 22 2009 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 Archived from the original on November 18 2010 Retrieved November 15 2010 Pritchard Tiffany February 4 2015 Alex Gibney Going Clear Scientology And The Prison Of Belief Screen Daily Vivarelli Nick June 19 2022 Paul Haggis Arrested in Italy on Sexual Assault Charges Variety Archived from the original on June 22 2022 Retrieved June 22 2022 Cullins Ashley January 5 2018 Four Women Accuse Paul Haggis of Sexual Misconduct Including Two Rapes The Hollywood Reporter Associated Press Retrieved January 6 2018 Maddaus Gene December 27 2019 Paul Haggis Loses Appeal as Court Finds Rape Is a Hate Crime Variety Retrieved March 9 2020 Nyren Erin January 18 2018 Leah Remini Defends Paul Haggis Suggests Scientology May Be Behind Misconduct Claims Variety Archived from the original on March 21 2022 Retrieved March 21 2022 Hellmore Edward June 19 2022 Film maker Paul Haggis arrested over sexual assault allegations in Italy The Guardian a b Bubola Emma Bahr Sarah June 19 2022 Paul Haggis Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges in Italy The New York Times Archived from the original on June 22 2022 Retrieved June 22 2022 Vivarelli Nick July 30 2022 Paul Haggis Sexual Assault Case Dismissed by Italian Court Variety Retrieved July 31 2022 Jacobs Julia November 10 2022 Jury Says Paul Haggis Raped Woman After Film Premiere The New York Times Retrieved November 10 2022 Piccoli Sean Pederson Erik November 14 2022 Paul Haggis Civil Trial Jury Awards 2 5M In Punitive Damages Oscar Winner Says He Will Appeal amp Die Trying To Clear My Name Update Deadline Hollywood Archived from the original on November 14 2022 Retrieved November 14 2022 a b c d e f g h i j Turner Classic Movies staff 2009 Filmography for Paul Haggis Turner Classic Movies Time Warner Archived from the original on October 19 2010 Retrieved October 28 2009 a b c d e f Allmovie staff 2009 Paul Haggis Awards Allmovie Macrovision Corporation Retrieved October 28 2009 Bodey Michael March 24 2010 Indian extravaganza a juicy win for rival capitals of film The Australian www theaustralian com au Retrieved March 23 2010 Rooney David May 18 2019 5B Film Review Cannes 2019 The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved December 27 2019 san diego film festival 2007 award winners July 3 2007 Archived from the original on July 3 2007 Retrieved September 23 2019 Kilday Gregg February 6 2016 2016 DGA Awards The Complete Winners List The Hollywood Reporter Retrieved February 9 2016 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul Haggis nbsp Wikinews has news related to Paul Haggis Paul Haggis at AllMovie Paul Haggis at IMDb Paul Haggis at the TCM Movie Database Portals nbsp Biography nbsp California nbsp Film nbsp Ontario Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Paul Haggis amp oldid 1221764526, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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