Jake Scott (director)

Jake Scott (director)
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Name	Jake Scott
Occupation	Film director, music video director, commercial director
Birth date	1965
Birth place	London, England, United Kingdom
Parents	Ridley Scott (father), Felicity Heywood (mother)
Relatives	Tony Scott (uncle), Luke Scott (brother), Jordan Scott (sister)
Alma mater	Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
Years active	1991–present

Jake Scott (director) is a British film, music video, and commercial director known for his visually striking and often atmospheric work. The son of acclaimed filmmaker Ridley Scott, he has carved a distinct path, directing notable feature films and seminal music videos for major artists. His career spans the influential 1990s music video era and extends into independent cinema and high-profile advertising.

Early life and family

Born in London in 1965, Jake Scott is the eldest son of director Ridley Scott and advertising executive Felicity Heywood. He is part of a prominent filmmaking family; his uncle was the director Tony Scott, and his siblings include director Luke Scott and filmmaker Jordan Scott. He studied at the Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication, initially pursuing a path in fine art and photography before gravitating towards moving images. This artistic background, combined with the cinematic influence of his family, profoundly shaped his visual sensibility.

Career

Scott began his career in the early 1990s directing music videos, quickly gaining recognition for his innovative style. His success in that medium led to opportunities in commercial direction, where he created acclaimed advertisements for brands like Nike, Coca-Cola, and Apple. He made his feature film directorial debut with the 1999 comedy-drama Plunkett & Macleane, starring Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller. His subsequent film, The Last Days of American Crime, a Netflix-released crime thriller, premiered in 2020. Throughout his career, Scott has maintained a strong presence in advertising, co-founding the production company Black Dog Films with his father.

Filmography

Scott's feature film work demonstrates a range across genres, from period pieces to contemporary thrillers. * Plunkett & Macleane (1999) – A period heist comedy set in 18th-century England. * The Last Days of American Crime (2020) – A dystopian crime thriller based on the graphic novel by Rick Remender. He has also directed the short film The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle and episodes for television series.

Music videos

Jake Scott is celebrated for his iconic music video direction during the 1990s and 2000s, often collaborating with major artists on visually narrative and conceptually ambitious projects. Notable works include: * R.E.M. – "Everybody Hurts", "Man on the Moon", "What's the Frequency, Kenneth?" * The Smashing Pumpkins – "1979" * Madonna – "Ray of Light" * U2 – "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" * Oasis – "Stand by Me" * Tori Amos – "Spark" * Soundgarden – "Black Hole Sun" His video for R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction in 1994.

Awards and nominations

Scott's work has been recognized by major industry awards, particularly for his contributions to music video direction and commercial advertising. * MTV Video Music Awards: Won Best Direction for R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" (1994). Received nominations for Best Direction for The Smashing Pumpkins' "1979" (1996) and Madonna's "Ray of Light" (1998). * Grammy Award: Nominated for Best Music Video, Long Form for R.E.M.'s Parallel (1996). * British Academy Television Craft Awards: Nominated for Best Director (Factual) for The Great British School Swap (2020). * Advertising Awards: His commercials have been honored at festivals such as the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and the D&AD Awards.

Category:British film directors Category:English music video directors Category:1965 births Category:Living people