Michael McGruther began his filmmaking career with the original screenplay Tigerland, directed by Joel Schumacher and co-written by Ross Klavan. The critically acclaimed screenplay was nominated by IFP/West for Best First Screenplay and by the Political Film Society for the PFS Award in 2001. It is widely known as Colin Farrell's breakthrough film, garnering Farrell the Boston Society of Film Critics Best Actor Award and the London Critics Circle Film Award for British Newcomer of the year.