Director Paul Haggis is photographed during an interview in Toronto on Nov. 18, 2010.Fred Lum/The Globe and Mail
Acclaimed film director Paul Haggis sounded a little stunned when asked about his new position as chair of film programs at the prestigious Canadian Film Centre in Toronto.
Is it just a titular position given to Oscar-winning filmmakers, with few actual duties? "Well, I certainly hope it is, because I want to do as little as possible," Haggis joked.
No, he said, quickly correcting himself, the job will likely bring the U.S.-based, Canadian-born director to Toronto repeatedly to teach a master class at the CFC, possibly annually. As well, Haggis will have a hand in overseeing the institute's advanced filmmaking programs.
Situated in the north end of the city, on a tract of bucolic land, the CFC was founded by celebrated film director Norman Jewison as a centre for refining the talents of already promising filmmakers. Sarah Polley and Don McKellar are among its more illustrious alumni.
"Norman asked me to do this, and you can never say no to Norman. Not only is he a cultural icon, he's a brilliant filmmaker and a very persuasive human being," Haggis said. "He's been an idol of mine for years and been very kind to me, and given me advice over time."
He added that the CFC is "a wonderful institution, and they are turning out terrific candidates, from what I've seen. I've met some of them this year at the Toronto film festival, and over the last two years. I've been really impressed."
In fact, the director himself got to know Jewison at the Toronto International Film Festival back when Haggis was promoting his 2004 film Crash. "He was very kind to me at the time and said some lovely things about the film," Haggis said, noting that Jewison's best career advice was simply setting an example for Haggis to follow.
Among the first initiatives Haggis said he would like to help implement for the CFC is a partnership with a film school located in Haiti, the Ciné Institute in the town of Jacmel, which just graduated its first 40 students, according to Haggis. The director has been heavily involved in fundraising for the earthquake-ravaged country.
Now living in New York after years in Los Angeles, Haggis said it will be relatively easier now for him to fly up to Toronto whenever he can. Still, his schedule is busy, with a new film, Third Person, in the casting and financing stage and likely to start shooting in May. (Haggis would only say that it revolves around multiple characters and multiple storylines.) He is also working on a couple of other scripts.
"It's hard when you're trying to make movies at the same time. You never know what your schedule's going to be."