The Gentle Power of "The Scout" (2025)

Keep following your footsteps - You never know where they’ll lead you.

The Scout is a 2025 indie film directed by Paula Gonzalez-Nasser. Sofia works as a location scout for a TV show in New York City. Her job takes her across neighborhoods, asking strangers if she can photograph their homes. Along the way, she shares countless conversations.

I saw The Scout at the New Hampshire Film Festival. The premise immediately caught my attention. Career-based stories are always relatable, especially in the early phases of adulthood. The Scout may appear to have a simple premise, but it’s a relatable film that speaks boldly beneath its layers.

The Scout is directed by Paula Gonzalez-Nasser, in her feature film debut. Growing up in Columbia, she enjoyed sports until a high school ACL injury changed everything. In recovery, she discovered a film class that heightened a passion in filmmaking. She went on to study film at Florida State University and has since directed and produced several short films.

Similar to the film’s premise, Gonzalez-Nasser worked for seven years as a location scout in New York City when working on different TV shows. She also scouted locations for this film, helping her understand Sofia’s mindset.

“I would have laughed if someone told me I’d make a movie about it,” she said. “The story made for compelling characters and interesting encounters.”

Sofia is a well-versed character, provided with remarkable depth by Mimi Davila. Gonzalez-Nasser worked with Davila in a past project, and wrote the part with Davila in mind. Initially, Davila almost passed believing that she she couldn’t pull off the character’s internal force.

Davila is the driving force of The Scout. Before you say that we don’t know a lot about Sofia, pay attention to all her interactions with each person she meets. Her subtle expressions and quiet observations reveal Sofia’s inner thoughts.

Throughout her travels, Sofia meets several people. Some credits include Rutanya Alda, Matt Barats, Sarah Herrman, Otmara Marrero, Max Rosen, and Ikechukwu Ufomadu.

Gonzalez-Nasser worked with most of the actors, who were excited to work on the project. To make the interactions more authentic, Davila didn’t meet the cast until the day of shooting.

Most of Sofia’s visits evolve into conversations. As a journalist myself, this part comes with the job. You get to know people and their stories, which amplify the experience. That’s one of my favorite parts. I like how Sofia met a baby who shared the same name as her. That happened to me once in my journalism rounds. I rarely meet anybody with my name; Marielle.

A total of 7 crew members helped on the film in the 10 day shooting schedule. The film’s style mirrors a day-in-the-life rhythm. The many observational shots added challenges to filmmaking, which took long for the film crew to set up.

Despite the tight schedule, Gonzalez-Nasser wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. “We learned so much. I came out of it less afraid of rehearsing and more open to preparing that style better next time,” Nasser said.

Audiences at the festival enjoyed The Scout. I related to this movie more than I expected to. To me, It’s a film about figuring out life. Gonzalez-Nasser said she didn’t setout to deliver a specific message, but she hopes that audiences reflect on their lives, jobs, and the people they’ve lost touch with.

“I just hope it makes people pause for a moment,” Nasser said. “I want them to think about whether they’re chasing something without leaving space for life to happen.”

The Scout is a quietly powerful film. Catch it once it’s streaming or plays in a theater near you.