Tony Scott on Directing: Artistic Style, Concept, Casting Choices, and Story Decisions

Joe Marine

08.20.12 @ 9:39AM Tags : filmmaking, ridleyscott, tonyscott

As many of you have might have heard already, Tony Scott, British director and brother of Ridley Scott, passed away yesterday. His mark on cinema is unquestionable, and he was one of the hardest working people I’ve ever had the pleasure of being around. I worked for him and his company back in the fall of 2010, and even though I never had a conversation with him, I spent more hours doing work directly for him than anyone else. If you’re wondering how someone stays prolific at such a high level, it’s not really a secret: work ethic and passion. In the interviews below, Tony opens up about his stylistic and directorial choices as well his passion for filmmaking.

There’s absolutely no question that Tony Scott loved what he did with every fiber in his body, and he communicated with the exuberance of someone half his age. While working at RSA, besides helping to update the website, I spent hours upon hours putting together and burning actor clip reels for Tony to watch on his DVD player. Since, like his brother Ridley, he was always juggling multiple projects, there was never a shortage of these reels that Tony used to get a sense of specific actors. Even though he expected a lot from the people around him, his work ethic was contagious.

His movies may not always have been a critical or box office success, but his unique artistic style had a profound impact on Hollywood. Through his films he has touched more people than he would ever know, and he will be deeply missed.

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9 COMMENTS

Randolph Sellars on 08.20.12 @ 10:12AM

A real shame and tragically sad for his wife and kids. Nice tribute interviews.

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thadon calico on 08.20.12 @ 10:52AM

nice one! but dam joe marine! r u based in the u.k.? how do you get the chance to work with guys like him

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- Joe Marine on 08.20.12 @ 10:56AM
  
  The main office for both Tony and Ridley is in West Hollywood in California, and both of them spent a lot of their time there – so that’s where I worked out of.
  
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moebius22 on 08.20.12 @ 10:57AM

People still talk about the effect Top Gun had on the industry – nuff said

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Marcus on 08.20.12 @ 11:42AM

That sucks, he was one of my favourite directors, honestly. RIP

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Hummer on 08.20.12 @ 9:17PM

So says a guy who has never had one.

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andrej on 08.20.12 @ 9:18PM

in time, you’ll get yours too.

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Harry Kemball on 08.23.12 @ 6:33PM

Excellent intereview.
Sad nobody read his signs of distress.

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