T.J. Scott

T.J. Scott

Scott in 2015
Born Canada
Alma mater York University
Occupation Film director, television director, screenwriter, producer
Years active 1972–present
Spouse(s) Victoria Pratt
(m. 2000; div. 2016)

T.J. Scott is a Canadian film and television director, screenwriter, producer, and former stuntman, second unit director and actor. He has worked in show business for more than 30 years.[1] As a director, Scott earned a Canadian Screen Award in 2015 for his work on the BBC America-Space television series Orphan Black.[2] Scott is also a photographer.[3]

Early life

Scott grew up in Canada working as a child actor and stuntman, before making the move to Los Angeles to pursue a career behind the camera in Hollywood.[4] Scott studied film and TV production at York University in Toronto.

Career

1970s–1980s: Career beginnings

Scott began acting in the early 1970s, playing uncredited bit parts or small supporting roles in several short films, feature films and TV shows, including the Canadian film My American Cousin (1985). After working as an actor and stuntman for over a decade, Scott eventually transitioned into working as a second unit director, before moving into directing and writing.

1990s: Early feature film and TV work

Scott began directing feature films in the early 1990s, with the action-science fiction martial arts film TC 2000 (1993) starring Bolo Yeung, Billy Blanks, Bobbie Phillips, Matthias Hues and other martial arts stars. Of the experience as a first-time director, Scott said: "You know, I was very young... I took the first feature that was offered to me... I think we all learned a lot while we were making it."[5] Later that decade, Scott directed Legacy (1998), starring David Hasselhoff and his future wife, Victoria Pratt. Legacy screened as the opening night film for the Las Vegas Film Festival in 1999.[6]

The following year, Scott wrote, directed, and produced the HBO film Blacktop (2000), starring Kristen Davis from Sex and the City, which was released on October 20, 2000.[7] Around this time, Scott's career as a television director began to take off. He first worked in New Zealand with filmmakers Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995–1999) and subsequently directed several episodes of the spin-off TV series Xena: Warrior Princess (1996–2001).[8]

2000s–2010s: TV success, Orphan Black

After working on Xena, Scott directed several episodes of the series Cleopatra 2525 (2000–2001) before its cancellation.[9][10] He then moved onto other shows, including the controversial ESPN series Playmakers (2003).[11] Scott's episode of Playmakers was named by the American Film Institute as one of the Top 10 television episodes of 2003.[12][13]

Scott has since directed dozens of TV series, including Mutant X (2001–2002), Spartacus (2012–2013), Bitten (2014–2015), Longmire (2014–present),[14] Gotham (2014–present),[15] The Strain (2015–present)[16][17] Dark Matter (2015–present) and most notably, Orphan Black (2013–2014).[15]

Orphan Black

Upon release, Orphan Black garnered a cult following,[18][19] and the first season scored a 73 out of 100 on Metacritic[20] and a 92% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, whose average score was 8 out of 10 based on 26 reviews.[21] In January 2015, it was announced that Scott was nominated by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television for his work on the show.[22]

In February 2015, Scott won the award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series at the Canadian Screen Awards for his work on Orphan Black.[23][24]

Other work

Scott's most recent feature film work includes the made-for-TV film Deadliest Sea (2009), which aired on the Discovery Channel and was nominated for 5 Gemini Awards in 2010 including Best Director,[25] and the action film Death Valley (2015), which premiered at the prestigious Chinese Grauman's Theatre in Hollywood.

Scott is also a photographer[3] and works as a freelance writer in Hollywood, co-writing the story for the film Tracers (2015), starring Taylor Lautner.[26]

In September 2011, it was announced that filmmaker Chris Columbus signed on to direct Scott's screenplay titled The Secret Lives of Road Crews for Paramount Pictures.[27][28] As of 2016, the film has not been produced.

Scott serves as an executive producer on the popular web series Teenagers (2014–present).[29][30]

Personal life

Scott married Canadian actress and model Victoria Pratt in 2000; they subsequently divorced in 2016.[31]

Awards

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2015 Canadian Screen Awards Best Direction in a Drama Series Orphan Black Won [32]
2010 Gemini Awards Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series Deadliest Sea Nominated

References

  1. "Showcase: TJ Scott". Fluster Magazine. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  2. 25, Julianna Cummins February; 2015. "Canadian Screen Awards ’15: Orphan Black, Degrassi clone winning ways". Retrieved 2016-06-18.
  3. 1 2 "In the Tub with TJ Scott". At a Glance... Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  4. Feldbloom-Wood, Rachel. "TJ Scott – bravoFACT – Director Bio Biography | Watch Drama, Documentary Movies Online". Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  5. "Interview: T.J. Scott, director of Death Valley". Flickering Myth. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  6. "Gotham Talk Podcast #27 - Special Guest Director TJ Scott - #DeathValley". BlogTalkRadio. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  7. Feldbloom-Wood, Rachel. "TJ Scott - bravoFACT – Director Bio Biography | Watch Drama, Documentary Movies Online". Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  8. "Xena – Warrior Princess – Series 03 – Part 01 | Civic". www.civicvideo.com.au. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  9. "TJ Scott". www.xenaville.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  10. ": RevolutionSF - Canceled Sci-Fi Showcase: Jack of All Trades & Cleopatra 2525 : Review". www.revolutionsf.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  11. "Playmakers, the Show the NFL Killed for Being Too Real | VICE Sports". VICE Sports. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  12. "Playmakers: The Complete Series DVD Review | Inside Pulse". Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  13. "American Film Institute". www.afi.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  14. "'Longmire' Season 4 Photos: TJ Scott Reveals Artsy Black-And-White Pics From Set, 'Fun Shooting'". ENSTARZ. 11 April 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  15. 1 2 "T.J. Scott Talks Directing 'Gotham' and Working With Tatiana Maslany". Emertainment Monthly. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  16. "TV Review: The Strain 2.2 "By Any Means" | FX". Geeks of Doom. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  17. "The Strain – Season 2 Episode 2: "By Any Means" – HorrorTalk". www.horrortalk.com. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  18. "Ranking All the Clones on 'Orphan Black'". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  19. McMillan, Graeme. "The Cult of Orphan Black". TIME.com. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  20. "Orphan Black". Metacritic. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  21. "Orphan Black (2013–)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2016-10-25.
  22. "Who's Up For A Canadian Screen Award This Year?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  23. M, Adnan. "2015 Canadian Screen Awards: Industry Gala 2 Photos". The Arts Guild. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  24. 25, Julianna Cummins February. "Canadian Screen Awards '15: Orphan Black, Degrassi clone winning ways". Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  25. Oliveira, Michael (2010-08-31). "CTV cop drama Flashpoint once again snared the most Gemini Award attention as nominations for the best in Canadian TV were announced Tuesday.". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  26. "'Tracers' review: Movie shows Taylor Lautner's post-'Twilight' career in trouble". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  27. "Chris Columbus to Direct 'The Secret Life of Road Crews'? - /Film". Slashfilm. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  28. "Chris Columbus Joins Paramount's 'The Secret Lives Of Road Crews'". Deadline. Retrieved 2015-12-08.
  29. "M. H. Murray doesn't gloss over the gritty details of being a teenager in his web series". CBC Radio. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  30. News, Mississauga. "Mississauga director's web series a raw take on teenage life". www.mississauga.com. Retrieved 2017-01-02.
  31. "Victoria Pratt – Trace Adkins' Mistress and she is also married to T.J Scott (bio, wiki, photos)". DailyEntertainmentNews.com. Retrieved 2015-10-23.
  32. http://www.theartsguild.com/2015/02/26/2015-canadian-screen-awards-industry-gala-2-photos/
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