Ridley Scott calls himself an influencer rather than a filmmaker, a distinction that may surprise anyone who has spent the past five decades watching his films. The three-time Oscar nominee told The Times of London that his refusal to repeat himself, combined with a habit of arriving early to major cinematic trends, had earned him the more modern label.
“Every time, you are vulnerable,” Scott said when asked what connects his work. “Also, I never want to repeat myself and all my films have been on the money. I’ve been ahead of the game frequently and, if you’re ahead of the game, you’re an influencer. So I’m not a filmmaker, I’m an influencer.”
It is a confident assessment, but modesty has rarely been the most visible feature of the Ridley Scott experience.
Why does Scott consider himself influential?
Scott has a reasonable body of evidence. His directing career includes Alien, Blade Runner, Thelma & Louise and Gladiator, films that shaped science fiction, horror, road movies and historical epics long after their original releases.
He has also received three Academy Award nominations for directing, though he has never won the competitive prize. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will address that omission, at least ceremonially, by presenting him with an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards in November.
