Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Rice.
Hi Scott, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 1982, I saw E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, and my heart exploded. At age 9, I instantly decided to become a film director. I made action comedies with my siblings on VHS tape in my teens. In college, I continued to hone my craft as a film and studio art major, studying under world-renowned film theorist David Bordwell. After working in games for Activision as a 3D animator and art director, I pursued graduate film school at the University of Texas at Austin. Before earning an MFA in 2003, my student films garnered distribution worldwide (Showtime, Slamdance, HBO’s Comedy Arts Festival, etc.), playing in 300 festivals and winning 100 awards. I became the first person in history nominated as a finalist for two student Academy Awards in two categories in the same year. After graduating, I founded a production company called Two Shot West in Austin. Today, I direct commercials and T.V. series that have won 38 Addy Awards and 3 Emmy Awards. For the past 20 years, I’ve also served as a film professor at the University of Texas. Matthew McConaughey and I co-teach an advanced producing class called Script to Screen. I am also a screenwriter with several feature films I want to make here in Texas. A new passion of mine is virtual production, a cutting-edge technique used on shows like The Mandalorian.
Please talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned. Looking back, has it been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Making my student films was particularly challenging. I had little money, which I had to make up for with enthusiasm. It’s a collaborative medium, so the main challenge is getting the best talent you can involve in your film. You must also be compelling and persuasive—which is hard when young and learning your craft. I empathize with my film students who try to be ambitious with little resources and experience. It is a difficult thing to pull off.
As you know, we’re big fans of your work. What can you tell our readers who might need to be more familiar with it?
I would describe my work as “comedy with heart.” I put a premium on making people laugh and feel joy. I also value positive messages about hope, redemption, and overcoming the odds. My feature work captures these themes, particularly a family adventure film I hope to make in the coming year. My television work is the same, particularly my work on mental health. And regarding commercials, my favorite jobs are PSAs that help improve the world. A recent project with Matthew McConaughey seeks to make our schools safer bipartisanly.
Before we let you go, we’ve had to ask if you have any advice for those just starting.
I tell students to take it one step at a time, day by day. Achieving your goals takes longer than you may anticipate, but that’s okay. It takes time. Time plus determination equals success. You can’t give up. You have to press on no matter what. Yes, it’s complicated and messy and discouraging. But it’s that way for all of us. You have to trust the process, which is inherently bumpy. Keep making stuff, do your best, and hold onto the dream. It’s also important to focus on what you love. Don’t take shortcuts in your career. Trust your gut. Make the kind of films you want, and someday someone will notice. When people veer off and compromise on their creative impulses to make money, they can get paid to create content that doesn’t bring them joy. They aren’t happy in their job. So stick to your creative passions and keep seeking your unique audience. That’s the path to a fulfilling career.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://twoshotwest.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scottricedirector
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottricedirector
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/scottricedirector
