30 Interesting Facs You Probably Didnt Know About Director and Producer: Ridley Scott

Known to have used the Artificial Intelligence throughout his film career, Ridley Scott is one of the few British directors that Actors love to work with. Here are some very interesting facts about Ridley Scott, the film director and producer.

1. Scott was one of the promising directors of late 70s with his stylistic flair and remarkable storytelling ability, who suffered repeated blows throughout 1980s and 90s.
2. He was born on November 30, 1937 in South Shields, County Durham, England. His father Colonel Francis Percy Scott was an officer in Royal Engineers and his mother Elizabeth Jean Scott, his first feminist role model.
3. He is the second of three children to his parents. His elder brother Frank Scott was in British Merchant Navy and his younger brother Tony Scott was also into film direction.His childhood was spent in England, Wales and Germany finally settling in Hartburn, County Durham.
4. He completed his schooling from the Grangefield Grammar School and graduated with a diploma in design from West Hartlepool College of Art in 1958. Later he did hid Post Graduation at the ‘Royal College of Arts,’ London.
5. As a photography student at the Royal College of Arts, he helped in establishing the college film department where he made his black and white short film ’Boy and Bicycle’ with his father and brother Tony featuring in it.
6. In 1963 he joined BBC as its trainee set designer during making of popular television police series, ‘Z-Cars and science fiction series ‘Out of the Unknown.’ Earlier he had to his credit as a designer for the television series “Tonight” which is about severe winter of 1963.
7. In 1968, Scott along with his brother Tony Scott founded ‘Ridley Scott Associates’ where he made many commercials including the iconic 1973, ‘Boy on Bike’ for Hovis Ltd. The ad featured the slow movement of Antonin Dvorak’s Symphony No.9 rearranged for brass. It was voted UK’s all-time favorite commercial in 2006.
8. In 1995, he and his brother Tony Scott, purchased Shepperton Studio, Surrey, London, and renovated the studio as well as the expansion and improvement of its ground. They became its shareholder after it was combined with Pinewood Studio.
9. In 1977, Scott made his feature film directional debut with ‘The Duellists.’ The film won the Best Debut Film award at the 1977 Cannes Film Festival.
10. His 1979 science fiction horror film ‘Alien’ won him critical acclaims and was sixth highest grossing film of 1979. The film won the ‘Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.’
    
11. In 2002, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry. The film was ranked seventh best and most influential film in the science fictiongenre.
12. The 1982 film ‘Blade Runner’ is Scott’s first American film and described as his most complete and personal film. The eminent scientists have voted as the best science fiction film of all time in August 2004, with its portrayal of future cityscape.
13. His Apple advertisement in 1984 to launch ‘Apple’s Macintosh’ was a path breaker and hailed as a masterpiece to be placed on the top of the 50 greatest commercials. It was aired on January 22, 1984 during ‘Super Bowl XVIII’ and in theatres.
14. The 1985 fantasy film ‘Legend’ a cult classic is unique in more than one way. The film was filmed entirely inside the studio and two different background score and with two ending according to American and European market. The film failed to recover its budget.
15. Scott’s 1989, police drama film ‘Black Rain’ was partially filmed in Japan. The Japanese star Yusaku Matsuda and Ken Takakura are cast in the role which is contrary to their portrayal in other Japanese films. Matsuda died of bladder cancer few weeks before the premier.
16. His 1991 American road film ‘Thelma & Louise’ which launched Brad Pitt’s career was critical and commercial success. It received Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
17. The ending of the film, where two embrace each other before driving off the cliff, has become iconic but it also received significant criticism for its depiction of men was unfairly negative and anti-male.
18. The ‘White Squall’ directed in 1996, produced under his Scott Free Production, is based on the fate of the brigantine ‘Albatross’ which sank on May 02, 1961, allegedly because of a white squall.
19. He directed a fictional story of the first women to undergo in U.S Navy Special Warfare Group in 1997 ‘G.I. Jane.’ In reality it took 19 more years before women were allowed in Navy SEAL. From March 2016, women were inducted into Navy SEAL training program.
20. The epic historical drama film “Gladiator” directed in 2000 brought Scott his recognition in term of Academy Awards. The film won five Oscars out of the twelve nominations and was a commercial success.
    
21. The 2007 film ‘American Gangster’ which was produced and directed by Scott is fictionally based on criminal career Frank Lucas. Both Lucas and real detective Richie Roberts were on-set as consultants to Scott.
22. On January 27, 2011, a documentary film ‘Life in a Day’ arranged series of video clips sourced via You Tube from 192 countries was produced by Scott and premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
23. In 2015 he directed the science fiction film ‘The Martian’ which is his highest grossing film to date. The film was shot in 72 days.
24. He also produced number of TV serials including ‘Numbers’ for CBS, the crime drama about genius mathematician, who help the FBI solves crimes.
25. He married Felicity Heywood in 1964 and they have two sons Jake and Luke. He divorced her in 1975 and married Sandy Watson, an advertising executive in 1979, with whom he has a daughter, Jordan Scott. They separated in 1989.
26. His cast his longtime partner Giannina Facio, in nearly all of his film since 2000. They finally married in June 2015.
27. He lost his elder brother Frank in 1980, due to skin cancer. In August 2012, he had another disaster, when his younger brother and business partner Tony Scott committed suicide jumping from Vincent Thomas Bridge, also due to cancer.
28. Scott was made a ‘Knight Bachelor’ in the 2003 New Year Honors for his contribution to British film industry. He received his accolade from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace on July 08, 2003. He was totally stunned and humbled.
29. As a science fiction practitioner, Scott was inducted into The ‘Science Fiction Hall of Fame’ in 2007. He also received star on the ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame’ at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard since November 05, 2015.
30. Although he has Academy Award winner actor and actress in the cast in at least 15 movies of his, he is yet to win the coveted award. He was nominated as Best Director for three of his films ‘Thelma & Louise,’ ‘Gladiator’ and ‘Black Hawk Down.’
    
31. Ridley Scott’s net worth: $ 200 million.