Ruben Scott | Filmmaker

New commercial work for Nudie Jeans! 👖🎥 The Challenge: The brief from Swedish Nudie Jeans was to convey their unique positioning as an antidote to fast fashion. Nudie not only makes jeans of durable quality, but they also offer to repair and refurbish their garments so customers don’t have to replace them. The challenge was to communicate this in an industry awash with fast cuts and twirling models. The Solution: Just as Nudie chooses to go long when others go short, we decided to go slow, thoughtful, and reflective to contrast with the disposable, momentary imagery of the industry. We wrote a narration to carefully convey what we thought must be the point of view that underpins the typical Nudie shopper. The film was shot in the brutalist environment of London’s Barbican. The final frame sees her defiantly stare into the lens, the Nudie customer is confident, clear…and convinced of her opinion. Thank you to the amazing team! Client: @nudiejeans Prod Co: Beyond Belief Brand Rep: Anna Högberg Rånnfelt Brand Rep: Bettina Krohn EP: Javier Mendes Producer: Elara Vienne Actor: Chiara Alexandra Nicolodi @ncldi Director: 🙋 DOP: Ariel Plischuk @ariel_plischuk 1st AC: Zenya Lark Hair & Makeup: Vinca Vanessa @vincasartistry PA: Shruti Dharamkar @shrutee_af Editor: Ruben Scott Colorist: Theodore Swaddling @theodoreswaddling Sound Designer: Tomás Varga VO: Jenna Blake Music: Jupiter Sands #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmmaker #filmmaking #cinematic

Hey everyone! I'm Ruben, and it's great to meet fellow filmmakers! I wanted to take a second to write a personal message! I’ve learned so much about the industry since falling in love with film as a kid. Growing up in a small English village, surrounded by sheep, the mind often drifts... to filmmaking in my case! My ultimate goal is to help as many people as I can...whether it’s through filmmaking and working with brands that are doing good in the world or anything else. I started sharing content for the younger version of me, who would’ve loved some guidance and a few tips & tricks along the way. We all have dreams, and my hope is that the content I post helps you take one step closer to reaching yours! If any of my advice brings you even a little closer to whatever your goal is, whether that's becoming the next Steven Spielberg, starting the next Warner Bros, or anything else, then my mission is complete! Keep creating! :) (And feel free to reach out anytime if you need anything or just want to chat!) Ruben 😊🌊

New commercial work for WWF! 🐼🕯 The Challenge: After WWF Belgium briefed us for a film to promote their annual Earth Hour event, we set ourselves a number of questions: How to present the reason to participate without sounding over-virtuous? How to look relatable on a topic that can be so remote (deforestation, biodiversity, GHG emissions, etc.)? How to make a connection with the young audience that is most willing to advocate for WWF? And, with WWF's argument that the sixty minutes should be used to DO something, not just switch off the lights, how do we provide some inspiration? The Solution: We constructed a very accessible narrative to show young people what they could practically do when the lights are switched off at 8:30 p.m. on March 22, 2025. We chose not to lecture but to offer something lovely: Use Earth Hour as a moment to reconnect with one another, take the time to engage in simple crafts, and meditate on the wonder of nature. Both the color palette and music were selected to harmonize with the Earth. Thank you to the amazing team! You guys made it unreal 😁 Client: @wwf Prod Co: Beyond Belief Brand Rep: Catherine Renard Brand Rep: Nicky Cremers Brand Rep: Katrien Wuyts EP: Javier Mendes Producer: Ariel Plischuk @ariel_plischuk Director: 🙋 1st AD: Ben Lyons @ben_a_lyons DOP: Alister Malcolm @alistermalcolm Production Designer: Elaine Chiang @elieyibic 1st AC: Ashé Sabongui @ashes.sabo Gaffer: Krish Pinto @krishmarkpinto HMU Artist: Vinca Vanessa @vincasartistry PA: Joel Gonzáles Prades @joelgonzalezfilm BTS Photographer: Nalin Narang @nalinnarang Cast: Georgia Indiana @georgiaprangnell Enyu Hu @luckygoldengun Antonio Luca Sehgal @luca_sehgal Lucy Sylva @_lusy__ Grace Kingston @gracekingston Editor: Ruben Scott Colorist: Theodore Swaddling @theodoreswaddling Sound Designer: Zac Chung @db__ch Music: Louis Island BIG shout out to @dzofilm for lending us your Arles lenses. It looked amazing!! 👏 #filmdirector #filmmaking #filmmaker #cinematic #earthhour

Here are just 5 things I do... 1. I watch the 1st take then Adjust. I see way too many people telling actors this, that, and the other, and the actors get all flustered before they’ve even performed. Great actors come prepared with ideas, so see what they have in mind and what the first take looks like before giving notes. You might love it! 2. I give them Situations. Telling someone to "look happy" is the fastest way to get a fake smile. Instead, I give them a situation. I'll say, "Imagine you just found £20 in your pocket that you forgot about." Giving them a specific scenario gives a real physical reaction that is brought into a performance. Play around with this! 3. I use Specific Verbs. I use active verbs to guide the scene. Instead of saying "be authoritative," I'll say "to command." Instead of "be shy," I'll say "to hide." Verbs give an actor a job to do, and when they focus on the job, the acting just happens naturally. 4. I ask Questions. Instead of telling an actor what to do, I ask them how their character feels. "Why are you in this room?" or "What just happened before you walked in?" By making them answer, you force them to build a backstory in their head which motivates the performance. 5. I Start with a Laugh. Before we even talk about the script, I make sure to get to know who I'm working with. Share a joke and just talk like regular people. We’re all humans! If an actor is relaxed and likes you, they’ll be more open. In my experience, a happy set always produces better performance.  This is a great book for directing: Actions: The Actors' Thesaurus What have you guys found works best when directing actors? Comment below.  Also, if you want a direct link to some great directing resources, comment "FILM" below.  #filmmaking #filmdirector #filmmakingtips #filmdirecting

I really think if filmmakers can master framing and visual balance, it really does make a huge difference to the work. Here’s a look at powerful composition techniques you could use. Comment "FILM" for some free filmmaking resources #filmmakingtips #filmcomposition #cinematography #filmmaking

Here are 5 things I’d tell New Filmmakers 🎥 1. Use Facebook groups Yes, I did just say Facebook. Funnily enough, filmmaking groups on Facebook are one of the best places to plug yourself in. Search for your city, find a group, and connect with local filmmakers. 2. Shoot in Raw For me, shooting RAW is all about having a safety net because it lets me tweak things like white balance and exposure long after the cameras have stopped rolling. It basically gives me the freedom to pull detail out of shadows or highlights that a standard video file would have just thrown away. 3. Make weird things There are so many films and commercials being made nowadays that it all becomes a blur. What are you going to do to stand out? Why would someone choose you? There are so many talented filmmakers, so one point of differentiation is giving your projects a unique twist, doing something different. What will people remember about your work? 4. Post on Social Media Posting on social media is a very underrated thing in the film industry. Yes, post your work, but also post your point of view. We want to give our work a place to live and a place for people to see it any time, day or night. If someone doesn’t know about you, why would they want to work with you? 5. Have hobbies I’m not going to be one of those people who preaches about having a perfectly balanced lifestyle… sometimes life just happens, right? But I will say that I find it really useful to take time away from filmmaking. For me, I play golf, and it helps me come back to my work with a fresh perspective. Filmmaking comes in waves of enthusiasm! Comment 'FILM' for my free filmmaking resources :) #filmmakingtips #filmmaker #cinematography #filmmaking

A few B&W frames from London 🇬🇧 I love black and white, there’s something about it that forces your eyes to focus on the subject so much more. Anyone else a fan? #filmmaking #cinematic #cinematography

How do I prep for a shoot? 🎥 Location scouting is on of the most essential and fun parts! These are some frames from a location scout for a project for Nudie Jeans. 👖 I'm a super visual person, so this really helps me get things straight in my head :) Artemis Pro and Cadrage are awesome apps to help work out the right lens lengths, framing, etc. Hope this helps. Remember... location, location, location. (little joke there for any British people!) Rokinon Fisheye Lens 35mm Vintage Lomo OKC Super Speed (rehoused) Comment FILM for free filmmaking resources #filmmaking #cinematography #cinematic

Here are 7 things I try to do on Location Scouts as a Director AND 3 apps I use for them... 1. I track the sun to see exactly how it hits the room during the scene. 2. I’m checking for "dead" spots in the room that have no visual interest. 3. I check to that there’s physical space to pull the actors away from the walls for a better look. 4. I’m walking the beats of the script myself to make sure the actors' movements feel motivated. 5. I’m checking that the entrances and exits work with the script and scene. 6. I’m seeing which furniture can be rearranged to create better foreground and background. 7. I record a quick video walkthrough while saying my intended camera moves. Helps storyboarding later. What do you do? #filmmakingtips #filmmaking #filmdirector

What you missed watching Interstellar Nolan didn’t just film a drive away from a farm, he filmed a rocket launch. Notice the countdown sound playing over the truck? The side mounted cameras? The dust trails mimicking smoke? This isn’t just him leaving in a truck, it’s a visual metaphor for Cooper leaving his atmosphere. When the camera stays tight on his face with the corn whizzing by, he’s already in the cockpit. He isn’t just leaving his kids he’s literally leaving his world behind. Did you catch this one? Comment ‘FILM’ for more breakdowns. #filmmaking #filmmaker #video #interstellar

Here are 7 things I learned over the years about directing :) 1. Directing is making people feel: It’s not just about what the shot is, it’s about producing emotions. Whether you want them to feel sad, scared, anxious or fear, your job is to make someone watching feel something. 2. Give actors reassurance: Stepping in front of a camera can make you feel quite vulnerable. A compliment or a thumbs up after a take goes a long way. The whole goal is to make everyone feel like the set is a safe place to offer ideas and play! This often gets the best performance too. 3. You don't need all the answers: You’re part of a team of specialists, who have ideas too! The Director is the Chef in my opinion; you don't grow every vegetable, you just pick the right ingredients and combine them. 4. Watch the 1st take then Adjust: I see way too many people telling actors this, that, and the other, and the actors get all flustered before they’ve even performed. Great actors come prepared with ideas, so see what they have in mind and what the first take looks like before giving notes. You might love it! 5. Go to the actors right after a take: After every take, speak to your actors before you get into technical talks with the DOP or AD. Explain why you’re doing another take, what the adjustment is so they don't feel left in the dark. 6. Ask Questions: Instead of telling an actor what to do, I ask them how their character feels. "Why are you in this room?" or "What just happened before you walked in?" By making them answer, you force them to build a backstory in their head which motivates the performance. 7. Start with a Laugh: Before we even talk about the script, I make sure to get to know who I’m working with. Share a joke and just talk like regular people. We’re all humans! In my experience, a happy set always produces better work. How do you guys approach working with cast and crew? Lmk down below :) Comment FILM for some free resources. #filmmaking #filmmaker #filmmakingtips #directing #director

As filmmakers I think one of our goals is to consume as much media as possible...looking, watching, listening!! This applies to any medium, paintings, photography, film, and music. These are four pieces of inspiration I had for a scene from an older project: Schindler’s List's red jacket, Banksy's Balloon Girl, Forrest Gump's bench, and The Little Prince's charm. I use an app called Google Keep to keep track of things I see and hear. Hope this helps! Comment 'FILM' for free resources. #filmmaking #filmmakingtips #filmdirector