GREGORY POIRIER
Screenplay

GREGORY POIRIER grew up in Hawaii, where he was raised on a hippie commune in the late 1960’s and 70’s. He moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to be an actor. He attended the California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) as an acting student for one year, at the end of which they informed him in a forceful manner that he ought to try another line of work. This led to screen writing.

After putting in his requisite years driving a taxi (by now he had earned a BFA in theater from USC and an MFA in screen writing from UCLA, so was well qualified to drive a cab), Poirier sold his first script, The Iron Horseman, in 1994.

His first produced picture was Rosewood, directed by John Singleton, for which he won the 1997 Writers’ Guild of America Paul Selvin Award, given each year to the script that best embodies the values of freedom of speech and civil rights.

Poirier’s additional credits include Gossip, See Spot Run, Tomcats (which he also directed), and The Lion King II: Simba’s Pride. His has recently completed writing the remake of The Swiss Family Robinson, to be directed by Jonathan Mostow. He is currently penning National Treasure 2 for Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer, to be directed by Jon Turtletaub.

Poirier lives in Santa Monica with his two sons, William and Joseph. He still receives a financial appeal every year from Cal Arts.