What’s the real difference between an experienced and a newbie filmmaker? The former knows that it’s always good to keep your expectations really low when it comes to money or resources, and be ready to find a way around it. Whether you’re an indie filmmaker or Ridley Scott filming Blade Runner, a movie that would go on to change the sci-fi landscape forever, money will always be limited, and therefore, if you aren’t creatively quick on your feet…well, you should be; that’s all I want to say. Interestingly, most of the time, these tweaks in the visual language have evidently added to the story, rather than taking away from it. (Not that I support stingy film budgets or am unaware of unnecessary budget cuts.) In this article, we look back at how Scott visually designed a dystopian LA in Blade Runner, adhering to budget constraints and still ending up with a movie that is critically acclaimed for its visual world-building. Story and Themes Blade Runner follows Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) in 2019 dystopian LA, who is tasked with the assassination of four replicants, bioengineered robots who look just like humans, who have sneaked their way back to Earth with the hopes of extending their lifespan, after being banished from the planet for raising a mutiny against humans. The narrative explores complex themes including memory vs reality, capitalistic greed and control, ethical boundaries of science, and what it means to be human. Despite being sci-fi, Blade Runner is a morally complex...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today