Scott doesn’t get much screen time in the film, but his role as Hughes’ press agent Johnny Meyer is certainly notable. Meyer was a real-life publicist of the era who Hughes hired from Warner Bros during his work in Hollywood (via LongReads).
In Scott’s first scene in the film, Hughes and Meyer discuss the difficulties associated with the filmmaking industry, specifically in attempting to procure a new set of cameras for Hughes’ upcoming picture. In a later scene, Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio), actress Katharine Hepburn (Cate Blanchett), and Meyer are joined at dinner by actor Errol Flynn (Jude Law), during which the group discuss a variety Hollywood topics. As Hughes and Hepburn depart the restaurant, Meyer is seen laughing as Flynn engages in a fight with another restaurant patron.
Though Scott’s role in the film is minimal, it is also surely notable for him because of the film’s overall success. According to IMDb, “The Aviator” later soared to five Academy Award wins from a total of 11 nominations, the most of any film that year (via CBSNews).