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Blade Runner 2049 Talks About Secrecy And Watching Films Without Knowing Anything


Though initial reactions to Ridley Scott's 1982 Blade Runner were mixed during its release, the neo-noir science fiction film attracted a cult following in the years to follow, influencing many other movies and books in the genre.

Now, decades after the original Blade Runner's release, fans are finally getting a sequel from Denis Villeneuve titled Blade Runner 2049.

There's a lot of excitement building up over the Blade Runner follow-up as the film moves closer to its release date, however it seems like Blade Runner 2049's story remains largely under wraps and in an interview with Screen Rant, Villenueve decides to talk about the secrecy of the movie.

"It is insane. At one point I was talking to someone in my crew and I said, "Oh, you didn't read the screenplay?" It's like one of those movies that is designed in total secrecy. Like Star Wars movies or James Bond. The level, because of the pressure of the internet, if there is a little spoiler it goes viral. There's like an appetite to spoil the movies that…"

When asked by the publication whether he enjoys working under all the careful confidentiality, the director goes on and recalls a time in his life when he went to watch a series of films without knowing anything about them.

"I think it is very powerful when you don't know a thing about a movie. One of my best, as far as a cinephile experience, once I was on a jury of a film festival, a long while ago, and I watched every movie not knowing a thing about a movie. Not knowing from where it was. You sat in a dark room and the movie started and you don't know if it was a horror movie or a comedy or if it was from Kazakhstan or the United States, you don't know nothing. And the impact of that, watching a movie this way, is so powerful. To experience 20 movies in a row. And I was like, ‘Oh, boy. I wish we were in that stage.' Because right now we see tons of images. "

"Two days ago, Joe Walker, my editor, saw the trailer and was watching like (does something non-verbal). And I was like "It's ok Joe, it's ok, it's ok. Because there are things you work hard to try to keep secret, or create tension, or two characters try in a room to create surprise in the movie. Then you look and the marketing department just shows it all. For me, I don't like it. I wish one day I will have control. I understand the importance of marketing. I understand competition. I understand the needs. But I wish we would be able to sell movies without showing too much of it. In a perfect world…"

Going in and watching a film without knowing anything about it sounds like a really interesting way to enjoy a movie, but in times like these productions need trailers and a lot of other promotional material to get viewers interested in the show. While Blade Runner 2049 is also enjoying the legacy of the following built over the original Blade Runner, Villenueve can't be complacent and withhold trailers from the public.

Come to think of it, editing a trailer is an art in itself – videographers have to find the right balance between creating suspense and giving too much away. Look at what Sony did with its slew of videos for Spider-Man: Homecoming.

Blade Runner 2049 hits cinemas October 6, 2017.

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