Taylor Hackford

Infobox actor
name = Taylor Hackford


birthdate = birth date and age|1944|12|31
birthname = Taylor Edwin Hackford
birthplace = Santa Barbara, California
academyawards = Best Live Action Short Film
1978 "Teenage Father"
grammyawards = Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
2006 "Ray"
spouse = Georgie Lowres
Lynne Littman
Helen Mirren (1997 to present)

Taylor Edwin Hackford (born December 31, 1944) is an Academy Award-winning American film director.

Biography

Early life

Hackford was born in Santa Barbara, California, the son of Mary (née Taylor), a waitress, and Joseph Hackford. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/84/Taylor-Hackford.html Taylor Hackford Biography (1944?-) ] ] He graduated from the University of Southern California in 1968, where he was a pre-law major focusing on international relations and economics. After graduating, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bolivia, where he started using Super 8 film in his spare time. He decided that he did not want to pursue a career in law, and instead got a mailroom position at KCET-TV. [http://www.dga.org/news/pr_expand.php3?484 Special Award Winners for 59th Annual DGA Awards (December 19, 2006)] , Directors Guild of America] [ [http://cinema.usc.edu/alumni/alumni-history/ Notable Alumni, USC School of Cinematic Arts] .]

Career

Hackford received an Oscar in 1979 for the short film "Teenage Father". He received two Oscar nominations in 2004 for the Ray Charles biopic "Ray". He was awarded the "2005 Film Society Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing".

Richard Gere balked at shooting the ending of Hackford's movie "An Officer and a Gentleman" where his character arrives at his lover's factory wearing his naval dress whites and carries her off from the factory floor. Gere thought the ending wouldn't work because it was too sentimental. Hackford was initially inclined to agree with Gere until during a rehearsal the extras playing the workers began to cheer and cry. When Gere saw the scene later with the music underneath it at the right tempo, he said it sent chills up the back of his neck. Gere is now convinced Hackford made the right decision. [ [http://www.pr-inside.com/gere-begged-director-not-to-shoot-r108124.htm NEWS GERE BEGGED DIRECTOR NOT TO SHOOT ROMANTIC SCENE Music, movie & Entertainment News ] ] Hackford kept Lou Gossett Jr. in separate living quarters from the other actors during "An Officer and a Gentleman" so he could intimidate them more during his scenes as a drill instructor. [ [http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/07/03/entertainment/television/030307124750.txt Geniuses Spielberg and Paul and a town full of them : North County Times - Californian ] ]

About his film, "The Idolmaker", Hackford stated: "I make films about working-class people; show business is one of those things through which people can get themselves out of the lower rung of society. To me, the compelling story in "The Idolmaker" is the guy with a wonderful talent and a fairly strong ego has [that] to make it happen through puppets." [ [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2031326.html Peace Corps Online | April 26, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Bolivia: Movies: Hollywood: San Francisco Examiner: Taylor Hackford speaks up ] ] Hackford stated about his movie "Ray": "My proudest moments in "Ray" were in those 'chitlin' clubs. Ray Charles ended his life in concert halls, where people would go in tuxedos and quietly listen to a genius perform. But in these clubs, he had to get people up dancing. What I tried to create was a little of that energy and exuberance. The great thing about music is when you can get people on their feet." [ [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2031326.html Peace Corps Online | April 26, 2005: Headlines: Figures: COS - Bolivia: Movies: Hollywood: San Francisco Examiner: Taylor Hackford speaks up ] ]

In a recent interview, he confirmed that he never watched his own films, "When I finish a film, I put it away and I never look at it again. Occasionally I do now because of the DVDs and the commentary tracks. I usually put it aside and go onto the next. I never went to film school. I worked for the KCET public television station in L.A. I worked in concerts. I have done a lot of music. I feel very comfortable shooting music, and I think you can see that." [ [http://www.combustiblecelluloid.com/interviews/hackford.shtml Combustible Celluloid interview - Taylor Hackford ] ]

On April 11, 2006, Hackford announced that he would be making his directorial debut on Broadway by bringing the 1992 Steve Martin film "Leap of Faith" to the stage as a Broadway musical. The score was written by Alan Menkin with lyrics by Glenn Slater, and is aiming for a 2007-2008 season debut. Hackford chose "Leap of Faith" even though he had previously been offered the opportunity to bring his film "Ray" to the stage. "What got me here was Alan Menken's score and how it so beautifully fit the book," Hackford said. [ [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2049962.html Peace Corps Online | 2006.04.12: April 12, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Bolivia: Movies: Hollywood: Musicals: Broadway: UPI: Taylor Hackford plans to make his Broadway debut in the 2007-8 season as the director of "Leap of Faith," a new musical ] ]

Personal life

Hackford has been married to Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren since 1997. Hackford met Mirren when he was directing her in White Nights and their first meeting did not go well. He kept her waiting to audition for White Nights, and she was icy. “It was a strange way to meet Helen, because she is a lovely person,” says Hackford, “but she didn’t hold back her fury.” [ [http://www.aarpmagazine.org/entertainment/helen_mirren.html Mirren, Mirren on the Wall ] ] Hackford and Mirren wed in 1997 after 12 years together. As a young woman Mirren had vowed never to marry. [ [http://www.aarpmagazine.org/entertainment/helen_mirren.html Mirren, Mirren on the Wall ] ]

Hackford has two grown children from his two previous marriages.

Filmography

Director and producer

*"Bukowski"—1973
*"Against All Odds"—1984
*"White Nights"—1985
*"Everybody's All-American"—1988
*"Dolores Claiborne"—1995
*"Devil's Advocate"—1997 (executive producer)
*"Proof of Life"—2000
*"Ray"—2004

Director

*"Teenage Father"—1978
*"The Idolmaker" —1980
*"An Officer and a Gentleman"—1982
*"Roll Chuck Berry Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll—1987
*"Blood In Blood Out"—1993
*""—2007

Producer

*"La Bamba"—1987
*"The Long Walk Home"—1990 (executive producer)
*"When We Were Kings"—1996
*""—1999

Actor

*""—Himself (2003)

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0000431|name=Taylor Hackford
* [http://peacecorpsonline.org/messages/messages/467/2028018.html Peace Corps biography of Taylor Hackford] news clips
* " [http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatispc.notable.artsandlit Notable Former Volunteers / Arts and Literature] ". Peace Corps official site. Accessed 5 January 2007.

Persondata
NAME= Hackford, Taylor
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Hackford, Taylor Edwin
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Film director
DATE OF BIRTH= 1944-12-31
PLACE OF BIRTH= Santa Barbara, California
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=