Legendary film director Ridley Scott spoke to GQ and reflected on his career. With his signature sharp wit and charming anecdotes, Scott offers a glimpse into the creative process behind some of cinema’s most enduring works, from the gritty landscapes of Gladiator to the haunting visuals of Alien. You can.
For Blade Runner, Scott recalls casting Harrison Ford, who was still on the rise after Star Wars. “Harrison Ford wasn’t a star yet,” Scott recalls. “I remember my investor saying, ‘Who is Harrison Ford?'” I said, “You know.”
Speaking about Alien, Scott reveals how his artistic background helped shape the film’s aesthetic. “I have an art background so…I’m very good at drawing and I can draw comics very well,” he says. This talent allowed him to create storyboards. This allowed the producers to double the film’s budget. “It’s all about the value of vision.”
In Gladiator, Scott recalls the technical challenges of filming the epic opening battle. “I think we stepped up to eight cameras… We did all the established shots in two takes. Instead of shooting all day, we did it within a day.” He also worked with Russell Crowe. Recounting his near encounter with a real tiger, he said: “It was a real tiger, an 11-foot Bengal…The trainer said ‘thank you’ and fed it.” It means “Please stay away from me.” ”
For Thelma & Louise, Scott initially joined the project as a producer, but recalls receiving negative reactions from those he approached to get the project off the ground. “So I recommended it to five people and they said, ‘No, no, no, it’s not for me, it’s not for me.'” Problems arose with women. ‘That’s the point. Trouble with women should not be a problem. you should receive it. ” Of course, he decided to tackle this project himself. Casting in this film also further elevated Brad Pitt’s name, and Scott said that Geena Davis defended the young actor, saying, “This guy is Brad Pitt.” Scott added, “She thinks she cast him. She didn’t. I already cast him.”
See the full breakdown below. Scott has starred in Gladiator II (2024), The Martian (2015), Black Hawk Down (2001), the 1984 Apple commercial famous for the launch of the Macintosh, The Counselor (2013), The Duelist (1977), Legend (1985).
