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Ridley Scott
Sir Ridley Scott (born 30 November 1937) is an English film director and producer known for his stylish visuals and an obsession for detail. His films include Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise, Gladiator, Hannibal, Black Hawk Down, Matchstick Men, Kingdom of Heaven, American Gangster and Body of Lies. His younger brother is a fellow film director Tony Scott.
Born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, Scott grew up in an Army family, meaning that for most of his early life his father — an officer in the Royal Engineers — was absent. Ridley’s older brother, Frank, joined the Merchant Navy when he was still young and the pair had little contact. During this time the family moved around, living in (amongst other areas) Cumbria, Wales and Germany. After the Second World War the Scott family moved back to their native north-east England, eventually settling in Teesside (whose industrial landscape would later inspire similar scenes in Blade Runner). He enjoyed watching films, and his favourites include Lawrence of Arabia, Citizen Kane and Seven Samurai. Scott studied in Teesside from 1954 to 1958, at Grangefield Grammar School, Stockton and later in West Hartlepool College of Art, graduating with a Diploma in Design. He progressed to an M.A. in graphic design at the Royal College of Art from 1960 to 1962.
At the RCA he contributed to the college magazine, ‘ARK’ and helped to establish its film department. For his final show he made a black and white short film, ‘Boy and Bicycle’, starring his younger brother, Tony Scott, and his father. The film’s main visual elements would become features of Scott’s later work; it was issued on the ‘Extras’ section of ‘The Duellists’ DVD. After graduation in 1963 he secured a job as a trainee set designer with the BBC, leading to work on the popular television police series ‘Z-Cars’ and the science fiction series ‘Out of the Unknown’. Scott was an admirer of Stanley Kubrick early in his development as a director. For his entry to the BBC traineeship Scott remade ‘Paths of Glory’ as a short film.
He was assigned to design the second Doctor Who serial, The Daleks, which would have entailed realising the famous alien creatures. However, shortly before he was due to start work a schedule conflict meant that he was replaced on the serial by Raymond Cusick. At the BBC, Scott was placed into a director training programme and, before he left the corporation, had directed episodes of Z-Cars, its spin-off, Softly, Softly, and adventure series Adam Adamant Lives!.
Five members of the Scott family are directors, all working for Ridley Scott Associates (RSA). Brother Tony has been a successful film director for more than two decades; sons, Jake and Luke are both acclaimed commercials directors as is his daughter, Jordan. Jake and Jordan both work from Los Angeles and Luke is based in London.
In 1995, Shepperton Studios was purchased by a consortium headed by Ridley and Tony Scott, which extensively renovated the studios while also expanding and improving its grounds.
Ridley Scott box office
Movie
Untitled Alien Prequel
Robin Hood
Body of Lies
American Gangster
A Good Year
Kingdom of Heaven
Matchstick Men
Black Hawk Down
Hannibal
Gladiator
G.I. Jane
White Squall
1492: Conquest of Paradise
Thelma & Louise
Black Rain
Someone to Watch Over Me
Legend
Blade Runner
Alien
The Duellists
Filmography
Film
The Duellists
Alien
Blade Runner
Legend
Someone to Watch Over Me
Black Rain
Thelma & Louise
1492: Conquest of Paradise
White Squall
G.I. Jane
Gladiator
Hannibal
Black Hawk Down
Matchstick Men
Kingdom of Heaven
A Good Year
American Gangster
Body of Lies
Robin Hood
Untitled Alien Prequel
Photo Gallery:
Topics: Actor, Celebrities
Tags: Alien, American Gangster, Black Hawk Down, Blade Runner, English film director, Gladiator, Hannibal, Kingdom of Heaven, Louise, Matchstick Men, Thelma
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