In the 'about' section on Scott Pickett's website, he says: "I direct. And write. And take photos. I also like Mexican food. But mostly I direct."

For the purposes of this Essential List, we're most interested in the Mexican food he speaks fondly of. It turns out that his favourite tacos are stuffed to the rafters with shrimp - or 'prawn' in his native Australian-style English. 

He's born and raised in the "middle of nowhere", way out into the Australian desert, where the Mad Max films were legitimately filmed. And when it comes to getting away, he likes things equally remote and rustic. As long it has air con. And wi-fi. And coffee. Cocktails. Etc. 

Get to know Scott better below!

Lifestyle

o Place of birth: Middle of nowhere, desert, Australia. The place where they filmed Mad Max. For real.

o Hometown: Tough question early. I just wander the wastelands (like Mad Max).

o Staycation: Doesn’t happen.

o Vacation: A remote, very rustic, hidden beach in a country that nobody has heard of yet and has only just got running water (but also has air con, good wi-fi, great coffee, fancy cocktails etc.).

o Pet: Currently acting as the father figure to a giant adolescent brown Doberman lady dog… I guess that counts. I am also about to film a dog in a beer ad… I guess that also counts. Also, I just did an ad with a raccoon. I guess that doesn’t count (because it was done in 3D).

o Place of work: Cafés. Australian style.

o Place of workout: I sometimes go to strange yoga or fitness camps in remote places for a week then never follow it up with any kind of routine.

o Mode of transport: Plane unfortunately.

o Bonus Travel Essential: Expandable carry-on bag and expandable suitcase. Ultimate flexibility. Oh, and that special pill that immediately eradicates jet lag. 

Culture

o Artist: Bacon, Munch.

o Musician: Nick Cave.

o Commercials / music video director: Jonathan Glazer.

o Film director: Michael Haneke.

o Photographer: Bill Henson.

o Film: Fargo.

o Series: Fargo.

o Music Video: Chemical Brothers. Most of them. But – Hey Boy, Hey Girl.

o Book: Blood Meridian (I am aware I have bleak tastes for a so-called comedy guy).

o Graphic Novel: Akira? Does that count?

o Podcast: I used to like them but then they became fashionable.

o Newspaper (off or online): Betoota Advocate (Satirical Aussie ‘Newspaper’).

o Magazine: Directors Guild of America - Magazine.

o Bonus Culture Essential: I get my strange, avant-garde music kick at Unsound  Festival in Krakow once a year.

Food and Drink

o Breakfast: Aussie style fancy eggs and avo and spinach and whatever super food is in fashion that week.

o Restaurant: Nomad, Surry Hills, Sydney

o Cheap bite: Five Leaves, Green Point, NY (although not so cheap).

o Working lunch: Takumi Ramen, Berlin. (It’s downstairs from Soup Film.).

o Dish: Shrimp (known as prawn in Australian) tacos.

o Snack: Those wasabi seaweed snacks.

o Guilty Pleasure: Salt and vinegar chips and Peanut M&M’s at the movies.

o Bar: Cricketers Arms, Hotel, Sydney. Jones on Hollywood, LA, for decent Pizza and better dirty martinis.

o Booze: Strong, spicy, savoury cocktails.

o Not Booze: Drinking water from the shower head.

o Bonus Food: Ali’s Balinese fried rice, O Café, Sydney.

o Bonus Beverage: Double espresso or iced americano in the summertime.

Kit

o Phone: A couple of iPhone Xs. Have a Dutch, US and Australian SIM.

o Computer: A very unkempt MacBook Pro from a couple of years ago with an Unsound music sticker covering the apple logo.

o TV: See above. (And those little ones on planes.)

o Headphones: Some uncool looking Japanese brand that I haven’t managed to lose yet.

o Camera: Transition period between the Canon 5D mark II and the Sony A7R III

o Soundsystem: See first two questions from this section.

o Pen / pencil: Hotel pen.

o Where you document an idea: Notes.

o Casual Clothing: Mostly Scandinavian stuff (works for the taller dude). But I’d definitely buy Japanese clothes if they fit. And my friend’s sunglasses brand – Carla Colour.

o Smart Clothing: Rarely.

o Footwear: Black sneakers and Blundstones. Standard.

o Watch: See first two questions from this section.

o Collection: Suitcases scattered around people’s garages. Polish film posters in my parent’s garage. International power adaptors.

o App: Tripit. Synchronize.

o Website: LBB of course.

o Blog: No thanks. But I started one for about five minutes… but writing about myself feels awkward. Yes, I feel awkward right now.

o Work program: Word. Mail. Final Draft. 

o Digital work tool: Dropbox.

o Analogue work tool: A bunch of expensive lenses to try and make my location pictures look good. 

o Morning grooming / makeup essential: Funny I was just thinking I should do more of that. There should be barbers in airports. Or on planes. Yes, I am writing this on a plane.

o Bonus Kit Essential: No other kit essentials, though I should say I don’t really have a special pill that immediately eradicates jet lag. But it would be cool if someone invented it. Please. Thanks.

Scott is repped by Soup Film in Germany. 

He's also repped around the world by Scoundrel in Australia / NZ, Sanctuary in the US, Superette in France, Wilfred Park in Canada and Pumpkin Film in Switzerland.