Paul Garnes

Paul Goodwin Garnes is an American film and television producer. He is best known for his work on the 2014 film Selma, which was nominated for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Original Song and won a 2015 Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

In 2012, his film Middle of Nowhere, directed by Ava DuVernay, won the 2013 Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award.

Early life Garnes was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and soon after adopted by Marjorie Goodwin Garnes and Paul Garnes. Garnes grew up in Harvey, Illinois

Garnes attended Thornton Township High School in Harvey, Illinois, where he graduated in 1989. He is a 1994 graduate of Chicago's Columbia College

He is the grandson of the late Bishop Bennie E. Goodwin, former bishop of the Fifth Jurisdiction Of Illinois Churches of God in Christ and founder of Portland Street Church of God in Christ in Chicago Heights, Illinois.

Career Paul Garnes has served as producer, line producer and/or production manager on films and television series for Disney, DreamWorks, HBO, ABC, NBC, BET, Sony/Screen Gems, Magnolia Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.

In 2006, Garnes was recruited by Tyler Perry and Reuben Cannon to join the Tyler Perry Company where he served as Vice President and Executive in Charge of Production until 2009, overseeing the creation of its multimillion-dollar studio and backlot. In addition to daily operations, Garnes supervised over 250 episodes of broadcast television while at the studio.

In 2014, Paul was executive producer of the film Selma, a biopic directed by Ava DuVernay and distributed by Paramount Pictures, which chronicles a series of the three Selma marches led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. supporting the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Selma is nominated for the 2015 Academy Award for Best Picture and Best Original Song,

In addition, Garnes continued his work as producer on the final season of BET's hit series The Game.

Filmography 14th (2026) - Producer Origin (2023) - Producer Selma (2014) - Executive Producer, Unit Production Manager Middle of Nowhere (2012) - Producer Woman Thou Art Loosed (2004) - Line Producer, Production Supervisor You Got Served (2004) - Production Supervisor Playas Ball (2003) - Unit Production Manager Biker Boyz (2003) - Unit Production Manager Get Up Stand Up Comedy (2001) (Video) - Editor, Line Producer Dancing in September (2000) - Associate Producer, Production Supervisor Woo (1998) - Art Department Coordinator (second unit) The Players Club (1998) - Assistant Accountant Shock Asylum (1997) (Short) - Line Producer

Television

Being Mary Jane (2013-2015) - Line Producer The Game (2012-2015) - Line Producer Diggy Simmons MOW (TV Movie) (2013) - Line Producer House of Payne (2006-2011) - Unit Production Manager Partners (2011) - Production Supervisor Russell Simmons Presents: Hip Hop Justice (2004) - Supervising Producer An Evening with Russell Simmons (TV Movie) (2004) - Editor Roots: Celebrating 25 Years (TV Movie) (2002) - Co-Producer My Wife and Kids (2001) - Production Coordinator Smart Guy (1998-1999) - Production Coordinator

Awards and nominations Year Recipient Category Award Result 2013 Middle of Nowhere John Cassavetes Award Independent Spirit Awards Won 2012 Middle of Nowhere Best Film Black Reel Awards Nominated 2013 Middle of Nowhere Best Film Gotham Awards Nominated