Based on Ridley Scott’s films, they make series and write books. This name is known to both lovers of fiction and fans of the historical epic. The director managed to find his middle ground between his own style and Hollywood standards, during his life he became a legend in cinema.
Let's try to find out better the producer, director Ridley Scott, a family man and just a person. His life path can not be called ordinary, so there is something to tell here.
Childhood
Ridley Scott was born on November 30, 1937 in the family of a colonel in the British army. His father, Francis Percy, lived with his wife Elizabeth in the port city of South Shields, in the northeast of Misty Albion.
Due to the specific profession of the father as such, the family did not have a permanent place of residence. As a child, the future director managed to live in Germany, Cumbria, Wales and other places. In addition to Ridley Scott, there were 2 more sons in the family. The younger - Tony, was also fond of cinema, and the eldest, Frank, followed in the footsteps of his father.
From the age of nine, Ridley spent almost all his time with canvas and paints, carried away with his head in fine art. Scott's father did not want another son to become a soldier and, seeing his hobby, he sent him to an art school. Thanks to sensible teachers, he learned to structure his thoughts and transfer all the images that appear in his head to the canvas.
Ridley Scott's works won first places at various art competitions, and subsequently settled in galleries. It is also worth noting that the drawings of the future director more than once became a stumbling block for art critics, giving rise to heated debate.
Youth
Upon graduation, Ridley Scott applied to the design department of West Harpole College. After a couple of years of studying the intricacies of painting (1960-1962), he entered the cinema class of the Royal Academy of Arts.
And already here he began to develop that very individual style. The first work of the director was the short film "The Guy and the Bicycle." After graduating from the academy, a young and ambitious Scott began to work closely with the local air force broadcasting company.
Career
The company offered him the position of decorator. Ridley began to create entourage, elaborate costumes and bring to mind the details. Scott went headlong to work, and his titanic work was noted by his superiors.
In 1964, the young director was entrusted with the production of the famous television series Doctor Who. But it was enough only for the second season. He refused to participate in the project due to a catastrophic lack of time.
In 1968, with like-minded people, Hugh Hudson, Alan Parker and Tony Scott (younger brother) Ridley organized his own company. At first, they took orders only for advertising, released more than 2000 videos. A little later, the director decided to abandon this format, he wanted to devote himself only to films. The list of films by Ridley Scott has exceeded the mark of a hundred films and continues to this day.
Significant work
In 1977, the first film of the director “Duelists” was released. The picture of the Napoleonic era received the Cannes Film Festival award as the best debut. Then the director, inspired by the epic of "Star Wars", began work on a cult film, which would later be called Ridley Scott's best film. In 1979, the film “Alien”, released on the big screens, brought fame to the director, and also made the previously unknown actress Sigourney Weaver recognizable.
The Fox company initially laid the budget for the painting at $ 4 million, but after the producers saw the preliminary storyboard, they decided to take a chance and allocated twice as much money. In the first weeks of the rental box office not only covered the costs, but also brought a very good profit.
In 1982, a new picture of the director appeared on the screen - "Blade Runner", which starred the already famous "Indiana Jones" in the person of Harrison Ford. But the picture did not receive a wide calling and with a stretch covered production costs: 28 million of the budget to 32 million at the box office.
In 1991, the melodrama Thelma and Louise was released, taking Oscar for the best script. Then, in 1997, “Soldier Jane” and “White Flurry” appeared. For three years, Ridley Scott was in thought and search for the muse, and finally ripened by the beginning of the 21st century.
Having met closely with Russell Crowe, in collaboration with him, the director literally year after year gives out cinematic masterpieces: Gladiator, Gangster, The Set of Lies, Robin Hood and Good Year.
Many also know Ridley Scott from the rather heavy film “Hannibal,” which was released in 2001. Critics' comments about the picture were far from the most flattering, but the audience took the tape, as they say, “with a bang”, and consider it a cult, putting it on a par with “Alien”.
Late work
In 2012, one of the interpretations of “Alien” - “Prometheus” - was released. Fans of this universe were perceived ambiguously, but still had success. The same can be said about the last film about xenomorphs, continuing the narrative begun in Prometheus, Alien: Testament.
Another significant Ridley Scott film is The Martian. The picture was very warmly received by critics, grabbed a large number of awards. The director has been working successfully to this day and is already working on the next film based on Alien.
Personal life
The famous director prefers not to talk about his personal life. It is reliably known that Ridley Scott was officially married twice, and the rest of his ins and outs of journalists are collected bit by bit, since she is practically not available in the public domain.
The first time Ridley married in 1964, a very attractive girl named Felicita. The director’s wife had nothing to do with the media or show business, she devoted herself entirely to raising the sons of Luke and Jake. And Scott at that time conquered the cinematic Olympus, spent little time with his family. That is why in 1975 the marriage broke up.
In 1979, the heart of the great director was conquered by actress Sandy Watson (photo above). From this marriage, Scott has a daughter, Jordan. The marriage lasted 10 years, but the relationship came to naught for the same reason as last time. Sandy dreamed of a whole family and wanted to see her husband for at least a couple of hours in the evening, but Ridley dreamed of fame, worldwide recognition and worked hard, disappearing on the set.
Our days
Currently, the director lives in a civil marriage with Janina Fazio (photo below). He met the actress on the set of Hannibal and says that it was love at first sight. The beauty won the heart of Ridley Scott not only with her remarkable external data, but also with a non-trivial mind, as well as a wonderful sense of humor.
Janina did not step on the same rake as the director’s past companions. Therefore, I decided to do otherwise. Instead of waiting for the forever disappearing husband at home, she became his faithful companion and assistant on the set. Yes, they never had children, but they still got a happy marriage.