Today we’d like to introduce you to Darryll C. Scott.
Hi Darryll C., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am originally from the Bay Area, and once I graduated from high school, I was told from a fellow entrepreneur who gave me some great advice he said everyone that works in the entertainment business is on 10 in LA. You are starting at 0 if you go to school out of town build yourself up to at least a 6 before you come to take over LA. So I saw Will Smith’s video welcome to Miami and said let’s go to college in Miami. While in college intern at WPBT South Florida PBS, then I graduated with a bachelor’s in communications and public relations and started to work at Cox radio – 99 jams (DJ Khalid started), Hot 105, 97.3, and 93.1 doing promotions for them. From this job, I learned how important networking and promoting to connect with your audience. I would do promotions for all the concerts, shows and movie premieres. Then I got my first shot as a PA on the first MTV music awards. That I was assigned to help set up and take care of this up-and-coming artist Rihanna (who amounted to something lol).
As well on that job I learned that you just have to figure things out. I was asked to drive an 18-wheeler back to set that happen to be the same truck from Jackass the movie. (rollerblade sketch)… Mind you I barely have driven a car with a stick. From there worked on countless sets while writing, producing, and acting in shorts, sketches, and commercials to lead to feature films. One day was hired to work in the art department on a project called Sex Drive (starting James Marsden & Seth Green) and I walked up to the director Sean Anders (Hot tub Time Machine, Daddy’s Home) and said I think you should audition me for a part, he said kid you have some balls on you. But I got casted as a cop who had one line “shit the bed”. That ended up getting cut but I still got paid and still receive residuals to this day, but more importantly, Sean made sure I was Taft Hartley so I was able to get my SAG card. Now with 6 shorts completed, a hand full of connections, a part of the Screen actors guild, and confidence I was ready for LA I was on 6 in a town of 10s.
From the start in LA, it was the same hustle shorts, commercials features and in my off time, I would go to the library and read about distribution because it was the thing I noticed no one ever talked about (I have a million notebooks of distribution notes). Then I went from doing every job on set from catering, wardrobe, camera, G&E because I knew as a producer if I know what each department needs and wants then I will be better to serve them on set. Then it went from producing music videos to commercials to PSA’s to shorts with oscar winners like JK Simmons to new features and being an entrepreneur by owning my own company.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I look at the industry as a beautiful struggle. One day your on red carpets drinking champagne and the next day your like where is the next check coming. That’s life though like the book Winning (Tim Grover) says the bus that takes you to the parade is the same bus to take you back to hell to do it all over again.
But I come from playing basketball as a kid up to college, and I am firm believer of taking the shots. Like every shot that you seen me make as a win is after missing 100 of them. But I feel like my transparency in my failures is what keeps me humbled and grounded. There are no Losses just learning experiences.
Like one of my favorite quotes from the last dance (Michael Jordan Doc) “winning and leadership has a price”. That price is not the smooth road it’s the road that is really bumpy going up on the side of a mountain and do you want it enough to put your next foot forward to keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
One of the hardest questions is what does a producer do? Everything is too general but it’s true. I am not one of the producers who just show up with the latte in hand hanging with the actors.
From beginning to end I pick the projects starting with the script or either create the project as a concept or idea then hire a writer to execute it. From there I am picking the elements that make it make sense for the business. Like if I was selling a house, it’s hard to sell you what the house will look like with just that plot of land. So I have to build it, with cast, directors, so that an independent financiers or working with a studio will want to make it. Then from there I go into production and make sure the director, writer cast and crew are being taken care of. ie, payroll, budgets, down to food. Once the project has completed filming, I have to get it to the post-production house and still while maintaining a budget making sure the creative from sound, color, VFX and pictures are all in unison. Then from there, I sell, market and PR the film to make sure the audience sees it. Then do it all over again.
What are you most proud of?
I am currently most proud of the project Bosco it’s been a labor of love but it’s for a bigger purpose. My goal as a producer is to launch new POC talent and also give back as much as we can to the communities… With this project we not only have been able to help “ Quawntay “Bosco” Adams” sentence from 15 years to 0 and he was able to be on set with us while filming his story. As well as launching Nicholas Manuel Pino who is a Chilean-American writer & director. I am not just talking about the work; I am actually pushing it forward.
As well as producing a handful of other projects with major studios that I can’t wait to tell you about. Guess we will have to do another interview.
What sets you apart?
What sets me apart is how bad I want it and I am willing to put all the work in. I am from the Bay I am going to figure out, But I also like the work/hustle it’s just in me. He who is willing he will, if you really want it you will figure it out.
I also have been blessed to have both my left and right brain that work together. So I understand the creative but also the business. As a producer, I think it’s great to have both but if you don’t have both then you find out which one your good at and hire the other side that you are not.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
The people that have played a big role in my success and in the success of business are too many to even name. So I hope they know I only have a certain amount of characters but those know. Know the deal.
My wife – Glenda L. Richardson gets the most praise, The most important person in my life. She is not only the biggest advocate of my success. But also the most supportive. My son Chise, who said to me the other day “God can do anything daddy just ask.” And to Kakes your laughter is the biggest inspiration.
My family are always in full support from the smallest things to the bigger. My learning experiences to my wins. You know who you are blood and nonblood.
The Cedar Park family for teaching me the ways of this industry firsthand, For the love and support that continues to keep me pushing forward. Teaching me to take the good with the bad. It’s all a learning experience.
Will Smith who told me on the set of Bright to always bet on yourself, even when the odds are against you because you always know what you can do, so if you can make miracles happen then your playing with ace.
Ms. Euzhan Palcy’ from our brief meeting you have truly inspired me to continue to push forward and know even at your wonderful age of 64 that we are still fighting the same fight for equality and as you said you need people like myself to continue to push the agenda once I am in the door don’t just open up but kick it down. “You paved the way, but with your blood”. I’m coming to get that blood back and charge interest.
There are tons more but I will save that for Oscar night.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @darryllcscott
- Twitter: @darryllcscott
Image Credits
Luc-Richard Elie
Cobby Banks
