T. J. Scott

{{Infobox person

| name = TJ Scott

| image = Tjscott2015.png

| image_size =

| caption = Scott in 2015

| birth_name =

| birth_place = Canada

| nationality =

| alma_mater = York University

| occupation = Film director, television director, screenwriter, producer

| years_active = 1972–present

| spouse = {{marriage|Victoria Pratt|2000|2016|reason=divorced}}

}}

T. J. Scott is a Canadian film and television director, screenwriter, producer, and former stuntman and actor. He is primarily known for his work directing popular television series such as Orphan Black, Xena: Warrior Princess, Gotham, Star Trek: Discovery, Longmire, 12 Monkeys, The Strain, and Spartacus.

Scott has won accolades for his directing work. In 2010, he received a Gemini Award nomination for directing the Discovery Channel made-for-television film Deadliest Sea.{{Cite web |date=2010-08-31 |title=Flashpoint leads with 15 Gemini nominations |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2010/08/31/flashpoint_leads_with_15_gemini_nominations.html |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=thestar.com |language=en}} In 2015, for his work on Orphan Black, he won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series. In 2019, he was nominated for another Canadian Screen Award, this time for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series, for directing the CBC miniseries Caught.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=7 February 2019|title=T. J. Scott |url=https://www.academy.ca/2019/tj-scott/|access-date=2020-09-03|website=www.academy.ca}} In 2022, as one of the executive producers of the Global TV/Peacock series Departure, Scott received a nomination for the Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series.{{Cite web |last=Furdyk |first=Brent |date=2021-03-30 |title=Television Nominees Announced For 2021 Canadian Screen Awards, 'Schitt's Creek' Leads The Pack With 21 Nominations |url=https://etcanada.com/news/762146/television-nominees-announced-for-2021-canadian-screen-awards-schitts-creek-leads-the-pack-with-21-nominations/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330100408/https://etcanada.com/news/762146/television-nominees-announced-for-2021-canadian-screen-awards-schitts-creek-leads-the-pack-with-21-nominations/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 March 2021 |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=ET Canada |language=en-US}}

Career

= 1990s–2000s: Early feature film and television work =

Scott began directing feature films in the early 1990s, with the action-science fiction martial arts film TC 2000 (1993). 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.{{Cite web|title = Interview: T.J. Scott, director of Death Valley|url = http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/10/interview-t-j-scott-director-of-death-valley.html|website = Flickering Myth| date=15 October 2015 |accessdate = 2015-12-08}}

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.{{Cite web|title = Gotham Talk Podcast #27 – Special Guest Director TJ Scott – #DeathValley|url = http://www.blogtalkradio.com/gothamtalk/2015/10/21/gotham-talk-podcast-27--special-guest-director-tj-scott--deathvalley|website = BlogTalkRadio| date=21 October 2015 |accessdate = 2015-12-08}}

The following year, Scott wrote, directed, and produced the HBO film Blacktop (2000), starring Kristen Davis.{{Cite web |last=Feldbloom-Wood |first=Rachel |title=TJ Scott – bravoFACT – Director Bio Biography |url=http://www.bravofact.com/2013/05/15/tj-scott/ |accessdate=2015-10-23}} 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).{{Cite web|title = Xena – Warrior Princess – Series 03 – Part 01 {{!}} Civic|url = http://www.civicvideo.com.au/movies-and-tv/genre/action-adventure/xena-warrior-princess-series-03-part-01/|website = www.civicvideo.com.au|accessdate = 2015-10-23}}

After working on Xena, Scott directed several episodes of the series Cleopatra 2525 (2000–2001) before its cancellation.{{Cite web|url=http://www.xenaville.com/cast/scott.html|title=TJ Scott|website=www.xenaville.com|accessdate=2015-12-08}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.revolutionsf.com/article.php?id=2348|title=RevolutionSF – Canceled Sci-Fi Showcase: Jack of All Trades & Cleopatra 2525 : Review|website=www.revolutionsf.com|accessdate=2015-12-08}} He then moved onto other shows, including the controversial ESPN series Playmakers (2003).{{Cite web|url=https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/playmakers-the-show-the-nfl-killed-for-being-too-real|title=Playmakers, the Show the NFL Killed for Being Too Real {{!}} VICE Sports|website=VICE Sports|accessdate=2015-12-08}} Scott's episode of Playmakers was named by the American Film Institute as one of the top 10 television episodes of 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://insidepulse.com/2004/06/14/6454/|title=Playmakers: The Complete Series DVD Review {{!}} Inside Pulse|date=15 June 2004 |accessdate=2015-12-08}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.afi.com/afiawards/AFIAwards03.aspx|title=American Film Institute|website=www.afi.com|accessdate=2015-12-08}} Around this time, Scott also directed several episodes of Mutant X (2001–2002).

Scott directed the made-for-television film Deadliest Sea (2009), which aired on the Discovery Channel and was nominated for five Gemini Awards in 2010 including Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/television/2010/08/31/flashpoint_leads_with_15_gemini_nominations.html|title=CTV cop drama Flashpoint once again snared the most Gemini Award attention as nominations for the best in Canadian TV were announced Tuesday.|last=Oliveira|first=Michael|date=2010-08-31|newspaper=The Toronto Star|access-date=2015-12-08|issn=0319-0781}}

= 2010s–2020s: Breakthrough as a television director and producer =

Throughout 2010s, Scott directed dozens of television episodes for series such as Spartacus (2012–2013), Bitten (2014–2015), Longmire (2014–present), Gotham (2014–2019), The Strain (2015–present) Dark Matter (2015–2018).{{Cite web|url=http://www.horrortalk.com/reviews/tv-reviews/5734-the-strain-season-2-episode-2-by-any-means-tv-recap-review.html|title=The Strain – Season 2 Episode 2: "By Any Means" – HorrorTalk|website=www.horrortalk.com|accessdate=2015-10-23}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.geeksofdoom.com/2015/07/20/tv-review-strain-2-2-means|title=TV Review: The Strain 2.2 "By Any Means" {{!}} FX|website=Geeks of Doom|date=20 July 2015 |accessdate=2015-10-23}}{{cite web|url=http://www.enstarz.com/articles/79515/20150411/longmire-season-4-photos-tj-scott-reveals-artsy-black-and-white-pics-from-set-fun-shooting.htm|title='Longmire' Season 4 Photos: TJ Scott Reveals Artsy Black-And-White Pics From Set, 'Fun Shooting'|date=11 April 2015|website=ENSTARZ|accessdate=2015-10-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://emertainmentmonthly.org/2014/11/01/t-j-scott-talks-directing-gotham-working-tatiana-maslany/|title=T.J. Scott Talks Directing 'Gotham' and Working With Tatiana Maslany|website=Emertainment Monthly|date=November 2014 |accessdate=2015-10-23}}

In 2015, Scott directed episodes of the BBC America-Space television series Orphan Black, which, upon release, garnered a cult following,{{Cite web|title = Ranking All the Clones on 'Orphan Black'|url = http://www.hollywood.com/tv/orphan-black-ranking-all-the-clones-57374831/|website = Hollywood.com| date=7 May 2014 |accessdate = 2015-12-08}}{{Cite web|title = The Cult of Orphan Black|url = https://time.com/70179/orphan-black-fan-following-reception/|website = Time|access-date = 2015-12-08|first = Graeme|last = McMillan| date=21 April 2014 }} and significant critical acclaim.{{Cite web|title = Orphan Black|url = https://www.metacritic.com/tv/orphan-black|website = Metacritic|accessdate = 2015-12-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/orphan-black/|title=Orphan Black (2013–)|work=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=2016-10-25}} In January 2015, it was announced that Scott was nominated by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television, Canada's equivalent to the Emmys, for his work on the show.{{Cite web|title = Who's Up For A Canadian Screen Award This Year?|url = http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2015/01/13/canadian-screen-awards-2015-nominees_n_6458262.html|website = The Huffington Post| date=13 January 2015 |accessdate = 2015-12-08}} In February 2015, Scott won the award for Best Direction in a Dramatic Series at the 3rd annual Canadian Screen Awards for his work on Orphan Black.{{Cite news| url=http://playbackonline.ca/2015/02/25/canadian-screen-awards-15-orphan-black-degrassi-clone-winning-ways/ | title = Canadian Screen Awards '15: Orphan Black, Degrassi clone winning ways | work=Playback |date=25 February 2015 | accessdate = 23 September 2017 |first = Julianna | last=Cummins }} Following Orphan Black, Scott continued to direct high-profile television series, such as Star Trek: Discovery and Taken.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dgc.ca/en/national/memberView?m=12285|title=T.J. Scott » Directors Guild of Canada|website=www.dgc.ca|access-date=2019-08-27}}

In 2018, his work on the Canadian miniseries Caught garnered him a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series.{{Cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/435306/the-winners-canadian-screen-awards-presented-for-creative-fiction-storytelling/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328130224/https://etcanada.com/news/435306/the-winners-canadian-screen-awards-presented-for-creative-fiction-storytelling/|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 March 2019|title=The Winners: Canadian Screen Awards Presented For Creative Fiction Storytelling|last=Furdyk|first=Brent|date=2019-03-27|website=ET Canada|access-date=2019-08-27}}

From 2019 to 2021, Scott executive produced and directed three seasons of Departure.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/11/archie-panjabi-christopher-plummer-cast-departure-canada-uk-event-series-global-shaftesbury-1202500896/|title=Archie Panjabi, Christopher Plummer Embark For 'Departure' Event Series|last=Tartaglione|first=Nancy|date=2018-11-13|website=Deadline|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}} The series, commissioned by Global Television Network as a British-Canadian co-production, stars Archie Panjabi, Christopher Plummer, Claire Forlani, Kris Holden-Ried, Rebecca Liddiard, and Shazad Latif, among others.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/archie-panjabi-christopher-plummer-drama-departure-bought-nbcuniversal-1203101109/|title=NBCUniversal Lands Archie Panjabi, Christopher Plummer Drama 'Departure'|last=Clarke|first=Stewart|date=2019-01-07|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2019-08-27}} The series was later picked up by NBCUniversal's streaming service, Peacock, for a September 2020 release.{{Cite web|last=Countryman|first=Eli|date=2020-08-17|title=TV News Roundup: Netflix Announces 'Sneakerheads' Premiere Date|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/tv-news-roundup-sneakerheads-first-look-1234737225/|access-date=2020-09-03|website=Variety|language=en}} During the first season's release in Canada and the UK, the series averaged more than one million viewers per episode.{{Cite web |date=November 9, 2020 |first=Kelly |last=Townsend |title=Departure soars in the ratings for Global |url=https://playbackonline.ca/2020/11/09/departure-soars-in-the-ratings-for-global/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=Playback}} Notably, Plummer's work in the second season of Departure was his final on-screen performance before his death on February 5, 2021.{{cite news |author=Victoria Ahearn |date=9 October 2002 |title=Christopher Plummer set to film season 2 of 'Departure' from his home due to pandemic |publisher=City News |agency=The Canadian Press |location=Toronto |url=https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/10/09/christopher-plummer-set-to-film-season-2-of-departure-from-his-home-due-to-pandemic/}}{{cite news |last=Iorfida |first=Chris |date=5 February 2021 |title=Christopher Plummer, Sound of Music star and oldest actor to win an Oscar, dead at 91 |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/christopher-plummer-obituary-1.5902845}} Scott made a post on Instagram commemorating Plummer's death, writing "I was lucky enough to be the last person to ever direct Christopher Plummer on screen ... I will never forget what a beautiful person he was ... A true pro till the very end who knew what matters."{{Cite web |title=@tjscottpictures on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CK7Q89oFHuD/ |access-date=2022-06-08 |website=www.instagram.com}}

In 2022, as one of the executive producers of the Global TV/Peacock series Departure, Scott received a nomination for the Canadian Screen Award for Best Dramatic Series.

= Other work =

In addition to directing, Scott is also a well-known photographer.{{Cite web|url=http://ataglancemag.com/in-the-tub-with-tj-scott/|title=In the Tub with TJ Scott|website=At a Glance...|date=14 August 2013 |accessdate=2015-10-23}} He also works as a freelance writer in Hollywood, co-writing the story for the film Tracers (2015), starring Taylor Lautner.{{Cite news|title = 'Tracers' review: Movie shows Taylor Lautner's post-'Twilight' career in trouble|url = http://www.torontosun.com/2015/03/19/tracers-review-movie-shows-taylor-lautners-post-twilight-career-in-trouble|newspaper = Toronto Sun|accessdate = 2015-12-08}} 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.{{Cite web|title = Chris Columbus to Direct 'The Secret Life of Road Crews'? – /Film|url = https://www.slashfilm.com/chris-columbus-direct-the-secret-life-road-crews/|website = Slashfilm| date=23 September 2011 |accessdate = 2015-12-08}}{{Cite web|title = Chris Columbus Joins Paramount's 'The Secret Lives Of Road Crews'|url = https://deadline.com/2011/09/chris-columbus-joins-paramounts-the-secret-lives-of-road-crews-175423/|website = Deadline| date=23 September 2011 |accessdate = 2015-12-08}}

From 2015 to 2017, Scott served as an executive producer on the popular web series Teenagers.{{Cite news|url=http://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-tuesday-december-20-2016-1.3902909/m-h-murray-doesn-t-gloss-over-the-gritty-details-of-being-a-teenager-in-his-web-series-1.3902938|title=M. H. Murray doesn't gloss over the gritty details of being a teenager in his web series|newspaper=CBC Radio|access-date=2017-01-02}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.mississauga.com/whatson-story/6521190-mississauga-director-s-web-series-a-raw-take-on-teenage-life/|title=Mississauga director's web series a raw take on teenage life|website=mississauga.com|date=29 April 2016 |access-date=2017-01-02}}

Personal life

Scott married Canadian actress and model Victoria Pratt in 2000; they subsequently divorced in 2016.{{cn|date=December 2024}}

Awards and nominations

class="wikitable sortable"
Year ! Association ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result
2010 \| Gemini Awards \| Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series \| Deadliest Sea \| {{Nominated}}
2015 \| Canadian Screen Awards \| Best Direction in a Drama Series \| Orphan Black \| {{Won}}
2019 \| Canadian Screen Awards \| Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Limited Series \| Caught \| {{Nominated}}
2022 \| Canadian Screen Awards \| Best Dramatic Series \| Departure \| {{Nominated}}

class="wikitable sortable"

Year

! Association

! Category

! Nominated work

! Result

2010

| Gemini Awards

| Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series

| Deadliest Sea

| {{Nominated}}

2015