Ridley Scott has never been one to shy away from a fight, and his latest battle is with a former collaborator who dared to question his methods. The legendary director, now 89, is firing back at cinematographer John Mathieson, who worked on both Gladiator films and recently called Scott's multi-camera shooting style "lazy."
Mathieson made waves on The DocFix Documentary Storytelling Podcast when he described Scott's approach as "a bit rush, rush, rush," adding, "That's changed in him. But that's the way he wants to do it, and I don't like it, and I don't think many people do, but people love his films, and he's Ridley Scott and can do what he wants."
Now, while promoting his upcoming sci-fi survival drama The Dog Stars, Scott has responded with characteristic bluntness. In an interview with Discussing Film, he called Mathieson's criticism "the stupidest thing" the cinematographer could have said. Scott defended his multi-camera setup, which he's used since 2014's Exodus: Gods and Kings, as a more efficient and precise way to work.
"With multi-camera, if there's ever an error, it's all captured simultaneously. It's easier, for a very experienced editor. Actually, it's better all around," Scott explained. "By having a multi-camera, I do two or three takes, not 15. Some people do 40 takes, and if you're doing 40 takes, you don't really know what you want."
He then turned the accusation on its head: "I'm lazy? You've got to know where to put (the cameras). I'm blessed with a very good eye." Scott also noted that he creates elaborate storyboards before shooting, which cuts down on-set time even further.
The director's approach has been a point of contention for some actors too. Josh Brolin, who stars in The Dog Stars, was so taken aback by the multi-cam chaos that he nearly quit after the first day. But Scott, speaking to Film Stories, says most actors end up loving it. "I always use 11 cameras. Four to 11 cameras. So you schedule for the day, but you're done by 11 o'clock. And the actors say, 'Goddamn, we did 40 set-ups this morning.' And they're thrilled to bits with themselves," he said.
Scott's method has drawn both praise and criticism throughout his career, but he remains unapologetic. He's already planning a Treasure Island adaptation for November, and fans are eagerly awaiting The Dog Stars, which hits theaters this Friday. For more on the film's early buzz, check out its Rotten Tomatoes score and what the cast says about working with Scott.
Whether you agree with Mathieson or Scott, one thing's for sure: Ridley Scott isn't slowing down, and he's not about to let a little criticism—or a near-90th birthday—get in his way.
