My First Time: Five Questions with Paul Haggis

0 comments Claudias Diary

Jun 11

Thandie Newton and Matt Dillon in "Crash"

 

In preparation for directing my first feature film, “After the Wedding,” I’ve asked some of Hollywood’s most prolific directors about their experience directing their first  feature film, and what advice they can share. First up, director Paul Haggis. Paul Haggis wrote “Million Dollar Baby” and “Crash,” both Oscar winners. “Crash” was his feature film directorial debut, and won Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Here, he shares his experience directing his first feature film, and advice to first-time filmmakers…

 

What was the first feature film you directed and how did it come about? Were you approached with the opportunity or was it something you created on your own? 

 ”Crash.”  I had directed television before that, mostly i would just hire myself.  And there was a film I directed called “Red Hot,” but it never got a theatrical release and was a terrible experience – awful producers who were constantly working against me and pulling outrageous stunts – not paying the crew, taking away my director’s cut, things like that. As a result it is unwatchable.  I wrote “Crash” and “Million Dollar Baby” after being fired from my own TV show.  I wrote them on spec.  When done, no one wanted either.  It took me four years of fighting to get a little bit of money to produce “Crash”, and I got all the actors to do it out of love and for scale.

 

As a director, what are some of the things you learned directing your first film that you were able to improve upon on your second feature? Did you interact with the actors differently after your first feature? What about with the crew? If so, how?

I learned to trust my colleagues more — the crew, the actors, my producers.  That’s a hard one to learn – a control freak learning to give up control in order to really get what you want.

Paul Haggis directing Don Cheadle

What is some advice you can offer to first time directors? Anything you would have liked to have known your first time directing a feature film?

Be open to input, but trust your instincts.  A lot of people will try and help you — but if you listen to everyone the film won’t have a point of view.  Be humble and grateful for the experience, but be the leader — that is what they are truly looking for – to be lead.

 

What is your advice to filmmakers coping with failure? (E.g. Having trouble getting funding or troubleshooting on set.) What are some words that you live by?

 We all cope with failure.  It is always hard to finance films.  Know that for guys like me it honestly isn’t much easier.  I know that sounds ridiculous, but it is true — passion pieces are always hard to finance, because by definition they won’t fit a comfortable mold.  If they did, they would be studio pictures.

 

Lastly, what is one of your favorite films that you would like to recommend to first time filmmakers? What is it about the film, in particular, that we should pay attention to?

There are way way too many, sorry.  Watch all of them. 

Paul Haggis directs Ryan Philippe and Matt Dillon on the set of "Crash"

Thank you, Paul, for sharing your story and this great advice! 

You may visit our Kickstarter at: www.aftertheweddingkickstarter.com

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