“He’s the author”: Ridley Scott on why he became a director
As far as British directors go, there are few names in the long history of the cinematic medium who have enjoyed success in their careers, quite like Ridley Scott. A true master of the science fiction and historical film genres, Scott is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats and has carved out a remarkable legacy for himself since the 1970s.
The list of Scott’s works of high quality is seemingly endless, from his iconic science fiction horror film Alien to perhaps the greatest historical epic of the 21st century in the shape of Gladiator, not to forget the likes of Black Hawk Down, Kingdom of Heaven, The Martian and Napoleon.
As one of the most acclaimed directors in the history of modern cinema, one might wonder how and why Scott made the decision to become a filmmaker in the first place. In an interview with the BBC, he once pointed out the fortune that smiled down upon him in getting such an excellent opportunity to make films.
“It’s hard for me to say because it’s the best job in the world,” Scott admitted. “The much longer question is, how did I become a director?” As he notes, the journey one makes into their creative profession is often inextricably tied to their success, and as the old adage goes, it’s the journey that’s important, not the destination.
“‘Why’ is because I was fascinated by the title on the screen when I was a child,” Scott added. “I was an avid filmgoer and I always used to look at this credit saying ‘directed by…’ and thought that somehow he’s the author. Because I loved cinema so much I wanted to be that author.”
Scott’s contributions to the science fiction genre of cinema are well known, and as a child, it was watching the likes of It! The Terror from Beyond Space, The Day the Earth Stood Still and Them! that introduced him to worlds beyond his wildest imagination, and after seeing Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, he “knew what [he] could do”.
After studying design at West Hartlepool College of Art, Scott made his way to the Royal College of Art in London and helped create the college’s film department, so strong was his interest in cinema. During this time, he made a short film called Boy and Bicycle that would later be released on an extra of The Duellists DVD.
Before long, Scott found his way into directing, beginning with a stint making commercials. But after the success of his debut feature, The Duellists, which won the ‘Best Debut Film Award’ at the Cannes Film Festival, Scott’s belief in the power of large-scale films with intensive special effects took root, and he started to deliver some of the greatest works of cinema, most notably, 1979’s Alien, which was remarkably only his second directorial feature.
The rest, as they say, is history, and Scott’s filmography – though it indeed possesses missteps, tends to speak for itself. It all comes down to that early fascination with the medium of cinema, though, and the deep desire to establish himself as an artist and as an “author”. If Scott’s best works are anything to go by, then it’s clear to see that he has more than accomplished those juvenile dreams he once set himself.
