Paul Thomas AndersonPaul Thomas Anderson is one of today's most acclaimed and essential young filmmakers. He swept the film industry with a trio of powerful films that breathed life and exuberance into an industry too often loaded with films with huge flaws in originality and thought. PTA's true love for cinema sets him apart from so many others. PTA tends to stay out of the spotlight. He will rarely pose for magazine covers or photo shoots. Details regarding his future plans and personal life are often kept secret. Information regarding his personal life and family history is rare. I researched his background and dug up a few brief facts that agree with many sources. Included is information obtained from Cigarettes and Coffee, PTA's unofficial website, to which he often praises and contributes.Paul Thomas Anderson was born in Studio City, California on January 1, 1970, to Bonnie and Ernie Anderson. His father was a well-known voice. actor who can be recognized for his work on America's Funniest Home Videos and The Love Boat. He also created a character, Ghoulardi, who was a popular entertainer in B-movies and horror films in the sixties. Sadly, Paul suffered a devastating blow when his father died in 1997 at the age of 73. Moreover, he has since named his production company after his late father's famous character, Ghoulardi. PTA also has two brothers and four sisters. He is reputed to be separated from his mother. Academics have never appealed to Paul. His expulsion from his elementary school for fighting and poor grades and his rapid departure from Emerson College after two semesters demonstrated this. He also attended New York University's film school for two days before dropping out.PTA then began his career working as a production assistant on various television films and game shows. After doing similar work for numerous independent and low-budget films, PTA then wrote and shot a short film called Cigarettes and Coffee. This 24-minute excursion into the world of short films premiered at the 1993 Sundance Film Festival. Thanks to the buzz generated by Cigarettes and Coffee, he was given the opportunity to develop his first feature film, Hard Eight..