Legendary auteur Ridley Scott talks career paths and north-east roots, en route to Gladiator II.
Ridley Scott, one of the world’s foremost filmmakers is edging his way towards 90, yet the notion of retirement is still nowhere close nearby. This is a man who almost defines the term ‘auteur’, and someone responsible for a collection of the most incredible movies in cinematic history, including those produced under Ridley Scott Associates.
![Thelma & Louise [Blu-ray] [1991]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815OoLTvQ-L._AC_SL1500_._SL160_.jpg)
- PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Somebody said get a life
- So they did
- Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis turn in Oscar®-nominated performances as best friends on a desperate flight across the American Southwest after a tragic incident at a roadside bar
- With a determined detective (Harvey Keitel) on their trail, a sweet-talking hitchhiker (Brad Pitt) in their path and a string of crimes in their wake, their journey alternates between a hilarious, high-octane joy ride and an empowering personal odyssey
- even as the law closes in
North-East Beginnings
Ridley was born in South Shields, and he credits the area for providing him with the foundations of success. “I am so proud of where I’m from,” he begins, still pushing out that familiar north-east accent, a testament to his roots that shaped Ridley Scott’s storytelling.
He says: “My dad was a shipping worker and then brigadier in the army. We moved about but finally settled in the north-east, in Hartburn, County Durham.
“When I was young I discovered that my great uncle, Dixon Scott, was a filmmaker and something of a driving force behind Tyneside Cinema, which was a purpose-built newsreel venue in Newcastle – and it’s still there today.”
A Different Career Path?
Yet had Ridley gone with his first love and intended profession, we may never have got to see those astounding pieces of art.
“When I came out of the Royal Academy of Arts in the early 1960s, I wanted to be a fashion photographer. David Hockney went there, Francis Bacon lectured there – I was really inspired.
“I got a travelling scholarship and went to New York, showed a whole load of agencies my portfolio and they loved it.”
![Martian, The Extended Edition 4k Ultra-HD [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/815AYh8Q9pL._AC_SL1500_._SL160_.jpg)
- Blast off to the Red Planet—and beyond—with The Martian 2-Disc Extended Edition, featuring an All new extended cut ith over 10 minutes of action-packed footage not shown in theatres, plus hours of never-before-seen extras that take you deeper into the making of the film and the science behind it! Nominated for 7 ACADEMY AWARDS, including Best Picture and Best Actor (Matt Damon), The Martian is a breathtaking sci-fi adventure directed by Ridley Scott (Alien, Prometheus) and based on the #1 New York Times best-selling novel
- When an American astronaut (Damon) is left behind during a mission to Mars, he must find a way to survive on the barren planet until a team of scientists can devise a rescue plan to bring him home!
The Turning Point: Filmmaking Begins
However, despite crossing paths with legendary photographer Bert Stone, the offer of immediate work wasn’t there, delaying his rise to becoming an executive producer. “He said ‘come back in a month and I’ll give you a job as my assistant’.
“I couldn’t wait that long, so I doorstepped the great documentarians Donn Pennebaker and Richard Leacock in the lift. By the time it arrived at the third floor, they’d employed me!”
Ridley began working on the police series Z Cars and Softly, Softly. His first feature film was The Duellists in 1977 and, in 1995, he and his late brother Tony founded Scott Free Productions. The duo also acquired Shepperton Studios and the revitalisation of the British film industry was underway.
- Forced into slavery by the corrupt, incestuous heir to the throne, Roman general Maximus (Russell Crowe) becomes a gladiator
- His prowess in the arena will eventually lead him to Rome, the Colosseum and a vengeful showdown with the new emperor
- An Academy Award winning masterpiece, Gladiator is epic movie story-telling brought thrillingly into the 21st century by master director Ridley Scott (Blade Runner, Alien)
- Bonus Features * Theatrical Version – (149 Mins) With Audio Commentary * Extended Version – (164 Mins) With Introduction By Ridley Scott & Audio Commentary * The Scrolls Of Knowledge: U-Control Trivia Track & Interactive Featurettes * Visions From Elysium: U-Control * Strength And Honour: Creating The World Of Gladiator With Over 2 Hours Of New Content * Image & Design * Abandoned Sequences & Deleted Scenes
A Legacy of Iconic Films and Commercials
From Blade Runner to Alien, Black Hawk Down to Thelma & Louise, The Last Duel to The Martian, Ridley’s influence has been profound. In addition, he also directed over a slew of brilliant commercials, including the iconic Hovis cobbled street ad featuring a boy on a bike.
These days the 86-year-old divides between London, Los Angeles and France. And the next project? “The small matter of Gladiator II”, he says, with a rumoured £300m budget and anticipated November release.
“It feels like we’re coming back to an old friend, and it’s very exciting.”
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