I like taking genres and subverting them. I did that with In the Valley of Elah. I said, "Okay, this is just a murder mystery. Relax." And then, two thirds of the way through, I broke every convention of a murder mystery. Paul Haggis More Quotes by Paul Haggis More Quotes From Paul Haggis I don't think writers should write about answers. I think writers should write about questions. Paul Haggis answers writing thinking As a general rule, I don't plan to travel with my Oscars, but we may have to make an exception. Paul Haggis oscars may travel I was in a cult for thirty-four years. Everyone else could see it. I don’t know why I couldn’t. Paul Haggis thirty four years I've lived in America for many years. I mean, I love being a Canadian, but I truly identify with America. I love America so much. Paul Haggis love-is mean years I like to write about things about which I have no answers, questions that trouble me. These things trouble me. Paul Haggis trouble answers writing You have to be careful of the advice you take. Paul Haggis careful be-careful advice Now we really like to put people in boxes. As men, we do it because we don't understand characters that aren't ourselves and we aren't willing to put ourselves in the skin of those characters and women, I think, terrify us. We tend not to write women as human beings. It's cartoons we're making now. And that's a shame. Paul Haggis writing character men United States could be a great country. It needs to be a great country. It's our responsibility as citizens to make that happen, every single one of us. Paul Haggis united-states responsibility country Usually the characters are where I start. Then I continually ask myself, 'What's the worst thing that could happen to this character?' Paul Haggis worst happens character Always write from your gut, no matter what the project is. Paul Haggis projects matter writing What I love about writing is the contradictions we all embody as human beings. Paul Haggis contradiction humans writing If you change the right mind, then that person can perhaps change the world. Paul Haggis persons mind world I just want to thank people who take big risks in their daily lives when there aren't cameras rolling. I want to dedicate this award to people who stand up for peace and against injustice and intolerance. Paul Haggis awards risk people If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of fighting battles beyond endurance, beyond cracked ribs, ruptured kidneys and detached retinas. It's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you. Paul Haggis boxing fighting dream We give you characters we'd feel very comfortable judging, and then go: 'Oh yeah? Watch this'. Paul Haggis judging giving character You don't do pictures because the audience is ready for them. You do them because there's something gnawing at you, something inside. Paul Haggis audience ready I was trying to talk about where we are right now as a society, and talk about the fear we all live in, and certainly since 9-11, how it's affected us and the world. Paul Haggis right-now trying world I don't think it's the job of filmmakers to give anybody answers. I do think, though, that a good film makes you ask questions of yourself as you leave the theatre. Paul Haggis jobs giving thinking We crash into each other just so we can feel something. Paul Haggis crash feels The hope is what America represents to the world and has always represented - the hope for a better life and a better world. We have a duty to protect and support that hope with not just our words, but with our deeds. Paul Haggis our-words support america
