Ridley Scott

This, the first biography of film director Ridley Scott, investigates the life and moving-image work of a major cinema artist. Ridley Scott is a supreme visualist who applies artistry to telling motion picture narratives. The influence of his early work in commercials, television projects, short films, and music videos is explored. The arc of his life experience is examined to provide a total picture of the man, with emphasis on the look and content of his films. Each Ridley Scott film is presented from a series of views: conception, production, postproduction, critical and social reactions, box office results, and impact on his long and continuing career. Scott’s ability to make and release feature films on a regular timetable and run a multifaceted production company at the same time reveals his stamina and work ethic. Thematic patterns in Ridley Scott’s filmography give further insight into his artistic personality; he repeatedly examines subjects such as war, the nature of the male of the species, and the strength of women. Scott deals with these themes through hands-on collaboration with screenwriters and film craft artists such as the director of photography, production designer, and editor. The book embraces the concept that Ridley Scott is a complex artist driven to apply his art in a constant flow of projects. This biography will fill in many gaps of the life and films of this British-born director, who is known and respected by audiences, film critics, and scholars all over the globe.