JACK BANKS
THE ESPER MACHINE IN BLADE RUNNER
“Blade Runner” has always been a favorite of my mine. It was released in June, 1982, at just the time that I began to work on this project. One sequence in particular really caught my attention. Decker (Harrison Ford) searches a photograph looking for clues. Remember I was watching this at a time before digital photos and home computers. The intense photographic zooming into, not just one, but two mirrors made a spectacular impression on me! I was also very taken with the idea that replicants might have photographs of a “false” pasts as means of mentally promoting useful myths about themselves. What was I essentially doing, after all, but promoting certain mental myths about myself.

looking at the suspect's photo

getting up to examine it (note his own collection of photos/memories)

The Esper machine (why does a private detective/"Blade Runner" have paint brushes?

the grid following Decker's voice commands. Why does the suspect have paint brushes.

zooming into the mirror. Northern Renaissance painting, anyone? Perhaps, this is what these paint brushes are about.

zooming in again

a close up of the new suspect

"print me a hard copy, right there"
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