Scott Weintrob is a dynamic director known for his blend of storytelling and street culture. He recently directed Paradox Effect, an action thriller starring Olga Kurylenko and Harvey Keitel, released everywhere on Apple TV+ today (Sept. 24) after premiering at The Rome Film Festival. 

Weintrob has worked with top brands and celebrities like Apple, Netflix, Rihanna, Cardi B, and Offset, and directed the Emmy-winning Savage x Fenty show for Amazon. He also created Fastest Car for Netflix, SKRRT for Roku, and directed To the Edge for Orlando Bloom and Peacock. Weintrob’s award-winning commercial and documentary work includes projects with Audi, Pepsi, and David LaChapelle.

In our exclusive conversation with Weintrob, the acclaimed director opens up about his journey in film, the creative process, and his latest project, Paradox Effect. Weintrob, known for his powerful storytelling across multiple mediums, reflects on his passion for filmmaking and what keeps his excitement alive after years in the industry.

Keep Reading For The Full Q&A With Scott Weintrob

Fandom Daily: Diving into your early career, what led you to pursue directing? I know your love for film started as a kid, but as you continued your journey, how has that passion evolved?

Scott Weintrob: "That’s a good question. It was always easy for me because I knew from a young age what I wanted to do. Growing up in London wasn’t the most obvious path for me. My dad was a local accountant – pretty far from the film world. But I was a chatty kid, and it drove my mom crazy! The one place where I’d finally be quiet was the cinema. She’d take me there for some peace, and I was exposed to all these films.

I became obsessed with the big screen, the grand scale of movies, and this otherworldly feeling you get in a theater. I wasn’t a huge reader, but movies were my thing. I just knew I wanted to be part of that world. I started making music videos in college, working for free because I loved it. When others were working regular jobs, I was out there shooting videos. Eventually, those small projects led to real budgets and real clients, and before I knew it, I was working on global campaigns, traveling, and now, here I am, making movies."

Fandom Daily: What keeps that excitement alive for you as you move from one project to the next?

Scott Weintrob: "It’s the storytelling. I love how cinema, whether it’s documentary or scripted, can make people feel something. That’s what fuels me. I’ve never lost the passion – I still get the same rush when I see a scene come together today as I did when I first started. It’s like someone landing a big fish – that’s my adrenaline rush."

Fandom Daily: Let’s talk about your latest film, Paradox Effect. What drew you to this project?

Scott Weintrob: "Paradox Effect came to me through producers I had been in touch with over the years. They’d seen my recent Ford commercial, which had a personal, heartfelt touch, and they loved it. They reached out and asked if I’d read the script. The producers gave me the freedom to rewrite it and make it my own. The original script was set in America, but they told me, “We’re shooting this in Italy. Go for it.” That gave me the space to really bring an Italian authenticity to the story, which I loved."

Fandom Daily: I noticed you had just 18 days to shoot the entire film! How did you manage that tight timeline?

Scott Weintrob: "Yeah, 18 days is really short, especially for a movie with big stars. When you’re working with Hollywood talent in an Italian environment, there’s a lot of prep involved. You have to make the most of the time you have with the talent because they often arrive just for their shooting window. There’s little time for rehearsals, so I try to build rapport with them in advance—through phone calls, Zoom, whatever their schedules allow.

For example, I spent a lot of time talking to Olga [Kurylenko], who’s the lead. We discussed her character in-depth and even adapted parts of the script based on real experiences she shared. That created a shared vision, and once we were on the same page, everything flowed smoothly."

Fandom Daily: That sounds like an intense but rewarding process. How did you manage the technical side with such a limited timeframe?

Scott Weintrob: "It was all about being efficient. I worked with a director of photography (DP) and an operator, which is more common in Europe, and that allowed us to move faster. While one would be setting up the lighting, the other would be preparing the shot. That was the only way we could get through the movie on time. If we’d done everything all together, we wouldn’t have finished."