Scott Free Productions
{{Short description|Production company}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Scott Free Productions
| former_name = {{unbulleted list|Scott Free Enterprises|(1970–1980)|Percy Main Productions|(1980–1995)|Tony Scott Productions |(1980–1995)|Ridley Scott Productions|(1980–1995)}}
| logo = Scott Free Productions logo.jpg
| logo_caption = Logo used since 1998, drawn by Italian artist and animator Gianluigi Toccafondo
| type = Private
| foundation = 1995
| founders = Ridley Scott
Tony Scott
| location = London, England
Los Angeles, US
| key_people = {{ubil|Kevin J. Walsh (co-president)|Michael Schaefer (co-president)|Michael Pruss (vice president)|Justin Alvarado Brown (COO)|David W. Zucker (CCO)|Jack Arbuthnott (head of film)|Kate Crowe (head of television)|Carlo Dusi (head of business)}}
| owner = Ridley Scott
| industry = {{hlist|Film|television}}
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| num_employees =
| parent = RSA Films
| homepage = {{URL|scottfree.com}}
}}
Scott Free Productions is a film and television production company founded by English filmmakers and brothers Ridley and Tony Scott in 1995.{{cite web|url=https://scottfree.com/about|title=About|website=Scott Free}} The result of multiple mergers between companies established by the Scott brothers since 1971, it currently has offices in London and Los Angeles.
The company has produced films such as G.I. Jane (1997), Enemy of the State (1998), Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), Hannibal (2001), Matchstick Men (2003), Man on Fire (2004), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), American Gangster (2007), Prometheus (2012), Blade Runner 2049 (2017), House of Gucci (2021), Alien: Romulus (2024), and Gladiator II (2024), as well as television series such as The Good Wife (2009–2016).
History
The Scott brothers formed the production company Scott Free Enterprises in 1970 and the film development company Percy Main Productions in 1980,{{cite book | last1=Knapp | first1=Laurence F. | last2=Kulas | first2=Andrea F. | year=2005 | title=Ridley Scott: Interviews | publisher=University Press of Mississippi | isbn=978-1-57806-726-8 | page=xviii }} naming the latter after the village where their father grew up.{{cite journal | last=Galloway | first=Stephen | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/ridley-scott-media-empire-324984/ | title=Did You Know Ridley Scott's Empire Contains 'The Good Wife'? | journal=The Hollywood Reporter | date=16 May 2012 }} On July 1, 1992, Percy Main Productions signed a production deal with Paramount Pictures to produce its feature films.{{Cite news|last=Berman|first=Marc|date=1 July 1992|title=Par, Scott in 1st-look feature deal|work=Variety|url=https://varietyultimate.com/archive/issue/DV-07-01-1992-1|url-access=subscription}} In 1993, the Scott brothers' companies were all merged into a single entity, later renamed Scott Free Productions in 1995, and signed distribution agreements with American studio 20th Century Fox, Italian studio RCS Video, and British studio Majestic Films International.{{Cite web|last=O'Steen|first=Kathleen|date=1993-12-06|title=Scott brothers finalize financing, distrib deal|url=https://variety.com/1993/film/news/scott-brothers-finalize-financing-distrib-deal-116609/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}}
On September 25, 1995, the Scotts moved to Disney, and Largo Entertainment took over international distribution of its product.{{Cite web|date=1995-09-25|title=IN HUNT FOR BIG GAME, SOME INDIES THRIVING|url=https://variety.com/1995/film/features/in-hunt-for-big-game-some-indies-thriving-99129064/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}} In 1996, the Scotts signed a secondary agreement with Intermedia to finance some of its films.{{Cite web|last1=Weiner|first1=Rex|last2=Hindes|first2=Andrew|date=1997-01-10|title=Indies' lesson in '96: more may mean less|url=https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/indies-lesson-in-96-more-may-mean-less-1117433841/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}}
In November 1997, the Scotts moved full-time to PolyGram Filmed Entertainment,{{cite book | last=Parrill | first=William B. | year=2011 | title=Ridley Scott: A Critical Filmography | url=https://archive.org/details/ridleyscottcriti00parr | url-access=limited | publisher=McFarland | isbn=978-0-7864-5866-0 | page=[https://archive.org/details/ridleyscottcriti00parr/page/n102 94] }} where they produced feature films for the studio, terminating its contracts with Disney and Intermedia.{{Cite web|date=1998-01-12|title=Studio Report Card: PolyGram/Gramercy|url=https://variety.com/1998/film/news/studio-report-card-polygram-gramercy-1117435368/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}}
On October 12, 1999, Scott Free Productions entered a two-year production deal with The Walt Disney Studios and Jerry Bruckheimer Films, after its original deal with Universal, which was inherited from PolyGram Filmed Entertainment ended.{{Cite web|last=Lyons|first=Charles|date=1999-10-12|title=Scott brothers back to Disney, via Bruckheimer|url=https://variety.com/1999/film/news/scott-brothers-back-to-disney-via-bruckheimer-1117756552/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}} There, the company produced Black Hawk Down for Bruckheimer.
On September 21, 2001, Scott Free was moved to 20th Century Fox, and Fox produced its feature films, after its previous agreement with producer Jerry Bruckheimer ended.{{Cite web|last=Swanson|first=Tim|date=2001-09-21|title=Scotts cast lot with Fox|url=https://variety.com/2001/film/news/scotts-cast-lot-with-fox-1117852958/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}} After Disney's acquisition of 21st Century Fox on March 20, 2019 and Disney dropped the “Fox” name from the studio's 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight Pictures branding and the two studios were renamed 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures, respectively on January 17, 2020, Scott Free returned to Disney.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-drops-fox-20th-century-searchlight-logos-1270685 |title=Disney Drops "Fox" From 20th Century, Searchlight Logos |last=Galuppo |first=Mia |date=17 January 2020 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=17 January 2020}}
On November 6, 2002, Scott Free signed a television contract with CBS to produce its television shows, airing on the network.{{Cite web|last=Adalian|first=Josef|date=2002-11-06|title=Bigscreen duo turns to TV|url=https://variety.com/2002/scene/news/bigscreen-duo-turns-to-tv-1117875578/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=Variety|language=en}}
On January 23, 2005, Numbers became Scott Free's first hit series for television.{{Cite web|title=Breaking News - These 'Numb3rs' Are Multiplying {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2005/02/15/these-numb3rs-are-multiplying-17837/20050215cbs01/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=www.thefutoncritic.com}} The strategy repeated on September 22, 2009 when Scott Free produced its second hit series The Good Wife.{{Cite web|title=Ratings - CBS Wins Premiere Week in Viewers and Adults 25-54 {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2009/09/29/cbs-wins-premiere-week-in-viewers-and-adults-25-54-32861/20090929cbs01/|access-date=2020-06-26|website=www.thefutoncritic.com}}
On August 21, 2012, company co-founder Tony Scott committed suicide by jumping from the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles.{{Cite web|last=Chelsea J. Carter and JD Cargill|title=Official: Director Tony Scott left notes in car, office before his apparent suicide|url=https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/20/showbiz/obit-tony-scott/index.html|access-date=2020-06-26|website=CNN|date=20 August 2012 }}
In August 2022, Scott Free signed on to create an Apple TV+ eight-part crime drama Sinking Spring Additionally the show marked Ridley Scott's second TV directorial role.{{Cite web |last1=televisual.com |last2=Creamer |first2=Jon |date=2022-08-12 |title=Scott Free preps Sinking Spring for Apple TV+ |url=https://www.televisual.com/news/scott-free-preps-sinking-spring-for-apple-tv/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Televisual}}
During January 2023, Scott Free signed COO Justin Alvarado Brown in a 2 year deal.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2023-01-24 |title=Ridley Scott's Scott Free Productions Re-Ups President And Chief Operating Officer Justin Alvarado Brown |url=https://deadline.com/2023/01/ridley-scott-scott-free-productions-president-chief-operating-officer-justin-alvarado-brown-1235239953/ |access-date=2023-03-28 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
During February 2023, ABC News studios announced they have signed with Scott Free to produce a four part true-crime docuseries for Hulu. {{Cite web |title=Ridley Scott producing Hulu true-crime series with ABC News Studios |url=https://realscreen.com/2023/02/10/ridley-scott-producing-hulu-true-crime-series-with-abc-news-studios/ |access-date=2023-03-02}}
In April 2023, Scott Free announced that they would be working in conjunction with Apple Studios and Sony Pictures to produce Napoleon, a historical action directed by Ridley Scott that stars Joaquin Phoenix as the French conqueror Napoleon Bonaparte.{{Cite web |title=Ridley Scott-Helmed 'Napoleon' Set By Apple Original Films For November Sony Theatrical Release; Let The Fall Fest Jockeying Begin! |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/ridley-scott-helmed-napoleon-set-180000240.html |access-date=2023-04-06 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |date=3 April 2023 |language=en-US}}
Scott Free has offices in London and Los Angeles. It works with Ridley Scott's larger company RSA Films by assisting directors in film and television.{{cite web | url=https://rsafilms.com/page/scott-free | title=Scott Free | work=rsafilms.com | publisher=RSA Films | access-date=1 June 2013 }}
In February 2024, it was announced that Scott Free Productions would be working with GK Films and Paramount Pictures on a Bee Gees biopic titled You Should Be Dancing, directed by Ridley Scott and written by John Logan. The film is set to begin production in October 2025 in London and Miami.{{Cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=2024-02-16 |title=Ridley Scott To Direct Paramount's Bee Gees Movie From GK Films |url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/ridley-scott-bee-gees-movie-1235827580/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Couch |first=James Hibberd,Aaron |date=2024-09-20 |title=Ridley Scott Planning a 'Gladiator 3': "There's Already an Idea" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/gladiator-iii-ridley-scott-1236008160/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2024-10-28 |title=You Should Be Dancing |url=https://productionlist.com/production/you-should-be-dancing/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=Production List {{!}} Film & Television Industry Alliance |language=en-US}}
Production logo
Since 1998, the company's production logo has been a watercolour-style traditional animation of a crudely-drawn monk with a white haze surrounding him, walking and smoking a cigarette before running and transforming into a bird. The company name appears underneath the bird as the colours change to turquoise on a black background. The logo was created by Italian artist and animator Gianluigi Toccafondo.{{Cite web |last=Bhooshan |date=2019-11-22 |title=Scott Free Productions' Animated Intro - |url=https://www.bhooshan.com/2019/11/21/scott-free-productions-animated-intro/ |access-date=2023-03-02 |language=en-US}}
Filmography
{{main|List of Scott Free productions}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://scottfree.com/}}
{{Ridley Scott}}
{{Tony Scott}}
{{Film studios}}
{{Cinema of the United Kingdom}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:American independent film studios
Category:Entertainment companies based in California
Category:Film production companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Film production companies of the United States
Category:Companies based in Los Angeles
Category:Companies based in West Hollywood, California
Category:Mass media companies based in London
Category:Scott family (show business)
Category:Television production companies of the United Kingdom
Category:Television production companies of the United States