The biblical story of how Moses led the Hebrew people out of bondage in Egypt is retold in Ridley Scott’s new epic Exodus: Gods and Kings.

In Scott’s 3D film, Moses (Christian Bale) goes from an adopted son of the royal house of Egypt’s Pharaoh, to a defiant rebel tasked by God with freeing 600,000 slaves with the help of a terrifying series of deadly plagues.

Following the DGA membership screening in New York on December 7, Scott spoke about the making of the film in a conversation with Director Gary McKendry (Killer Elite).

In addition to Exodus: Gods and Kings, Scott’s filmography includes the feature films The Counselor, Prometheus, Robin Hood, Body of Lies, American Gangster, A Good Year, Kingdom of Heaven, Matchstick Men, Hannibal, G.I. Jane, White Squall, 1492: Conquest of Paradise, Black Rain, Someone to Watch Over Me, Legend, Blade Runner, Alien, and The Duellists; the movie for television The Vatican; and episodes of the television series Mogul, The Informer, Half Hour Story, Adam Adamant Lives!, and Thirty-Minute Theatre. He was also nominated for both DGA and Academy Awards for his features Black Hawk Down, Gladiator, and Thelma & Louise. Scott has been a member of the DGA since 1971.