Paul McGuigan (filmmaker)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards.
Please improve this article if you can. (December 2007)

Paul McGuigan (born September 19, 1963 in Bellshill, Scotland) is a filmmaker.

Contents

[edit] Directing Style

Paul McGuigan described his own directing style in the following manner:

I'm very easy to get along with. For the first couple of movies I played the part of the director, which meant occasionally I would have these screaming fits because I must have saw it in a movie or something, like Sunset Boulevard, these stereotypical directors. I realized that if you are tense and are shouting and are horrible, basically, it's because you have an insecurity in what you do. It's not until you kind of get comfortable in what you do that you can be open and laid back. My shooting style is like that. I'll shoot - the wide shot, the close up, the reverse - each time I'll shoot the whole scene, just to get the rhythm, and I think the actors like that. Also, being a documentary filmmaker, I don't like the camera to move the actors, I like the actors to move the camera. So, the camera's always a little bit of a beat behind. Not self-consciously, but I like surprises and I like using the actor for more than just saying the lines. I like actors that have a presence and use their bodies. I like actors to make their choices and trust that their choices are as right as mine. [1]

[edit] Trivia

  • Rumors have spread that he will be directing Deathlok, but McGuigan has denied it stating "I don't think I want to do a $120 million movie. It's a great script. It's David Self, who's brilliant, but that one's a monster" [2].
  • He is currently working on the upcoming film The Equalizer, preferring a "real man" like "Eric Bana or Paul Bettany" to play the title role[2].
  • He has been writing a film project entitled Dog Tooth Violet[2][3].
  • His main source of inspiration is director Wong Kar Wai, stating that "he just blows me away. For me, Wong Kar Wai is like good porn, to be celebrated and looked at over and over again" [1].
  • Gangster No. 1 was actually the key factor in deciding McGuigan was the man to direct Lucky Number Slevin after one of Film Engine’s producers Tyler Mitchell watched the film and quickly sent it to writer Jason Smilovic who stated “This is the guy! This guy is out of this world!” [4]
  • McGuigan said directing in television is "so quick" and that there was an instance where he said to the actors, "I'm really sorry. I don't mean to be ignoring you but I'm just trying to get the job done"[5].
  • McGuigan, when asked if he would direct another episode of Thief, responded, "Never, never, never, never, never"[5].

[edit] Awards

1998 - Royal Television Society - Won, Best Newcomer Award, The Granton Star Cause

1998 - Stockholm Film Festival -

  • Won, FIPRESCI Prize, The Acid House (For its originality in presenting a crass Scottish everyday world in a surreal, almost hallocigenic light, very true to its author and its adventurous visual style.)
  • Nominated, Bronze Horse, The Acid House

1999 - Fantasporto

  • Won, AMC Audience Award and Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Silver, The Acid House
  • Nominated, International Fantasy Film Award, The Acid House

1999 - Catalonian International Film Festival - Nominated, Grand Prize of European Fantasy Film in Gold, The Acid House

1999 - New York Underground Film Festival - Nominated, Best film, The Acid House

2000 - AFI Fest - Nominated, Grand Jury Prize, Gangster No. 1

2000 - Dinard British Film Festival - Nominated, Golden Hitchcock, Gangster No. 1

2000 - European Film Awards - Nominated, European Discovery of the Year, Gangster No. 1

2004 - Montréal World Film Festival - Nominated, Grand Prix des Amériques, Wicker Park

[edit] Filmography

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Brian Tallerico, Paul McGuigan of Lucky Number Slevin, UGO.com.
  2. ^ a b c Brian Tallerico, Paul McGuigan of Lucky Number Slevin (page 2), UGO.com.
  3. ^ James Mottram,Paying attention?, Living. Scotsman.com.
  4. ^ Jonathan W Hickman, Talking SLEVIN! Director Paul McGuigan delivers the EI Interview in streaming video, einsiders.com.
  5. ^ a b Brian Tallerico, Paul McGuigan of Thief (FX), UGO.com.
Languages