Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Scott Naar. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Scott, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

Learning the art of Directing a film is something that I thought, in my teens, I could learn through reading books on directing and watching a few films. The truth that I found is, and not to discredit anyone reading directing books, learning through reading to be a director should be an extra effort, not someone’s main method of honing, learning, and understanding the craft. Watching films I found to be a good method of course, but I realized it was important to be intentional with my viewing and more often than not, I found myself not paying attention to things directorally in a film that I perhaps should have been. Just blindly watching without the purpose of developing my director’s voice did next to nothing. Once I took the plunge into making short films by the age 0f 21, I realized that was the starting point. Actually doing the job, working with a team, and going through the hardships of pre-production, production, and post-production – that was the best schooling and learning I could have. What it did was put me through the wringer to truly understand what I was trying to say in my art. What that then led to was my understanding when watching films and reading books, of what I wanted to take from them to develop my own voice as a director. Among all of that, I learned to do what I do by understanding stories and how best to tell them visually, and to see the world as a canvas and the camera as a brush, but that came from inside of myself I think, it was more intrinsic.

I don’t think there was anything that could have sped up my learning, I think my learning throughout the years on how to tell stories visually came at the right pace. My directing journey started out with experimentation, then became focused on making competent semi-risk films and now it is a menagerie of things that speak to my soul and make me want to go out and direct stories revolving around them.

The skills that I have seen as the most vital while on my learning journey are attentiveness, open-mindedness, the need to tell stories, and most importantly, understanding what it means to direct and tell stories visually, and being cognizant of every element of filmmaking to engage in a mise-en-scene that can tell stories without even dialogue.

The main obstacle that stood in the way of learning more is, naturally, living the life of a semi-struggling or struggling artist. Worry and care about day-to-day things one has to consider when they enter adulthood, can be quite the distraction to the pursuit of knowledge with directing and filmmaking, it’s important to compartmentalize and constantly think about stories, your style and vision, art, culture, and all things that make an artists’ soul set aflame, even in the menial moments of everyday life.

Scott, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Scott Alexander Naar is a Jamaican-born screenwriter and director currently living in Los Angeles. Scott attended both The Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale as well as the University of Miami, where he received his MFA in filmmaking in 2018. Since, he’s directed commercials for companies such as Godiva, Dunkin Donuts, and DSW Shoes. He’s also written and directed fifteen short films, finding his niche in stories detailing family dysfunction, mental illness, and cult-like behavior. His films, including his short films “Benjamin,” “Nightscapes” and “Goldfish” have gotten into festivals such as Atlanta Sci-Fi Film Festival, Miami Shorts Film Festival, and LA Film Symposium. He’s also sold two short films to Shorts.TV, both of which are currently airing on DirectTV.

Scott has recently found focus and success in the elevated horror genre. His feature-length screenplay “Demon,” co-written with his wife and partner Sarah Naar, was a semi-finalist in the 2020 Screencraft Horror Competition, and they later optioned the script. He’s directed two short horror films since 2021, “Willow & Lydia,” and “Leaving,” both of which are currently on the festival circuit playing at festivals such as the Atlanta Horror film festival, Silicon Beach Film Festival, and Portland Film Festival. While he’s found joy and happiness in his short film endeavors over the years, Scott is currently alongside his wife and film partner Sarah Naar, developing a feature folk horror film that will act as Scott’s feature directorial debut.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the best thing to support artists is to end gatekeeping in the creative side of the entertainment industry. Administrative, logistical, and managerial jobs are more viable to obtain today but it is becoming more and more difficult for people wishing to make a living off of creative endeavors to obtain steady work. This is due to not enough people being let in the door and given chances, even certain grants, fellowships, and mentorship programs are few and far between and are exclusitory in their own right. The gate needs to be opened up more to allow for new and fresh voices to enter with their art, instead of rehashing the same individuals that are “safe bets” because they’re already in the door. There needs to be a huge increase in programs and opportunities for new artists all of the world.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Creating is the most rewarding part. Thinking of something in your mind and making it a reality through a camera, an instrument, or words on a page is the greatest reward an artist can have, doubly so if it is received well by others.

Contact Info:

• Website: scottanaar.com
• Instagram: @scottalexander_naar. @superastrafilms
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQp0tE9CMnnMfxNDadeYacA