Adam Savage: Blade Runner's VFX and How 2049 Holds Up

[@tested]

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[@EMC_CO86_0_Z]

How does blade runner compare with cyberpunk 2077?

[@xelsancho3fuku678]

You forgot the fifth element movie with staring Bruce Willis

[@xelsancho3fuku678]

Is Decker replica

[@zsigmondkara]

As Adam was explaining the way they shot the miniature sets, I started to wonder, if he is aware of the indie shortfilm "Slice of Life"? It's one of my favourite short movies I ever seen!

[@bedfordshiremodeller4491]

@@xelsancho3fuku678 Is the fifth element set inna similar universe to Blade Runner then? 🤨🤷‍♂️

[@MostlyPennyCat]

The matte painter for Blade Runner was Matthew Yuricich. He had the, frankly superhuman, ability to accurately paint in inverted (negative) colours straight from the top of his head. This saved the VFX team an entire step of process. So _compose, expose, develop_ as opposed to _compose, expose, develop, expose, develop_ Reducing detail lost through this analogue process Absolutely astonishing skill

[@Cotygeek]

For me the original Blade Runner has the best effects, atmosphere, and music. It is, as the kids say, a whole mood. While 2049 is a visual feast in its own right, I feel it has the better overall story. The original Blade Runner has a very simplistic story (to its benefit), and 2049 beautifully takes that story and then creates what I consider to be the better detective story of the two.

[@Trainy2]

Denis Villeneuve is a genius. Can't wait for his version of Dune

[@bothellkenmore]

That cast is amazing.

[@GREGALBU]

I liked all his past movies, altough i have full confidence on him i don't know what to expect of Dune

[@bothellkenmore]

​@@evensgrey Zendaya is amazing too. I hope in the delay they could fix in editing they let go but not fuck up anything that was great.

[@PhileasLiebmann]

@@GREGALBU Agreed. As stories and worldbuilding goes Dune is a completely different animal from basically everything that came before or since. I'm sure it'll be good, but I'm doubtful whether it'll really be Dune as Herbert intended it.

[@bothellkenmore]

@@PhileasLiebmann Well, it's a movie. The original movie came out shortly after I read the 1st book and with nothing to compare it to, became my baseline before the SyFy mini series.

[@epremeaux]

Id love to hear Adam's thoughts on Altered Carbon

[@bazillite]

Or cyberpunk 2077

[@alechall7082]

@@bazillite+

[@FappinSteve]

6:49 I respect that Adam knows when to use “and I” versus “me” He literally has knowledge about everything.

[@saims.2402]

Wait, I’m dumb, can you educate me on when to use “and I” and “me”?

[@denvermiller5091]

@@saims.2402 It's basically just down to whether you would say "I" or "me" in the sentence if it didn't have a list of other names. "I went to the store." "Mom and I went to the store." "They invited me." "The invited my brother and me."

[@IkmelAAA]

@@saims.2402 "You and I are best friends" I being a subject pronoun "My parents will give you and me a ride to school today" Me being an object pronoun

[@nagualdesign]

@@IkmelAAA A simpler way to think about it is 'grammatical equivalence'. "Adam and I love movies" is grammatically equivalent to saying "Adam loves movies and I love movies". No problem there. "They invited Adam and I to see the movie" is grammatically equivalent to saying "They invited Adam to see the movie and invited I to see the movie", which is nonsense. "They invited me and Adam to see the movie" is grammatically equivalent to saying "They invited me to see the movie and invited Adam to see the movie". Much better.

[@RogerioCosta1.0]

@@saims.2402 I think is like in Portuguese. The I pronoun is used if you are the subject and me if you are the object. It is like the use of his, her. "I received a gift form my mother" "My mother gave me a gift" "He received a gift from her" "She gave him a gift" "I received a gift from her" "She gave me a gift" "Joy and I made this plan" "This plan was made by me and Joy"

[@chris-hayes]

There's some kind validation in the fact a younger generation me included that never saw the original BladeRunner on release but consider it the best movie we've ever watched in an age with CGI masterpieces. I'm not a practical effects purist, I'm not going to say that movie did what modern CGI cannot. But, it was done so well that it continues to hold up today.

[@exoticcarfactsofficialchan7050]

Ridley Scott's Blade Runner is the quintessential sci-fi city scape of the future. Every frame is a visual feast for the eyes, immersing the viewer in one of the most compelling film noire detective stories ever told. Easily one of my top 10 favorite science fiction movies of all time. 😎👍 great review Adam

[@wierdalien1]

I hate it.

[@futureSydney]

Wow a video of Adam talking about my favourite director? Love it! Sicario is a must see.

[@SaturnCanuck]

First, there is NOTHING better than an in-camera FX shot. Second, Douglas Trumball is a genius.

[@fourthplanet]

I was captivated with your description of how Blade Runner cityscape shots were accomplished. That is epic film craft that i had never known about. Amazing!

[@kylesmorgabord5592]

So glad to see someone else singing Sicario’s praises

[@thecookie8163]

Adam's laugh is so contagious 1:05

[@lajoyous1568]

So glad I'm not the only one eager for the new Dune 😁

[@TheMijman]

Or course you aren't

[@SyntheticFuture]

It will at least look amazing 😃 Hope they don't mess up the story 😶

[@chadwicklovell2412]

There has been a long history of Dune being made, not being made and by whom. I look forward to seeing it and what they have done.

[@lajoyous1568]

@@chadwicklovell2412 yes, some of the Dune versions have been more successful and some more painful.... Having seen a trailer, I'm cautiously optimistic.

[@Krovven]

I have the same problem with 2049 as I do the original Blade Runner...they are so visually and musically relaxing, I tend to fall asleep watching them.

[@ericchill864]

2 of my favorites are alien and last Starfighter for cutting edge realism and visuals for their time, although last Starfighter was pretty archaic by today's standards it was so cool to go see it at the movie theaters. another movie I remember being so cool for it day and age was Firefox with Clint Eastwood. Again or can't compared to nowadays, but I can still remember going to the theater with a 12 or 13-year-old buddy of mine and how amazed we were...

[@sschmidtevalue]

Last Starfighter was a helluva lot of fun too. I've heard that the CGI FX were initially more realistic, but someone on high demanded they be made to look a bit more cartoonish.

[@Rowebot15]

My love of Dykstraflex knows no bounds!😍🤩

[@robbokeys]

Hey Adam, you forgot to mention Roger Deakins (he also shot Sacario). His cinematography is one of the reasons why 2049 looks so awesome, Deni & Rogers collaboration is such an awesome recipe. I know a film is whole team effort but Rogers lighting and cinematic approach is first class.

[@Zero6BravoZ6B]

I think 2049 is up there with the original, I mean I put it off for years to watch (2049 that is) !, then when it came on Netflix, I watched it 4 times to date!! Great film.

[@mickeypye2593]

I ACTUALLY PREFER IT ... THE ORIGINAL FOR ALL ITS BRILLIANTLY REALISED COMPONENT PARTS ? BORES ME TO TEARS 😂😂😂

[@Jimorian]

I waited until just recently as well. With the original being my favorite movie, I needed to let my expectations of the new one be as neutral as possible, and I'm glad I waited so that I wasn't carrying baggage from either my own feelings or "buzz" at the time of release.

[@christalbert722]

I was in high school when Blade Runner was released... I was amazed, captivated by it. I remember being absorbed by it, the theater and the world around me disappeared, I was just in the story. The visuals, the sound track... as a young scifi lover I had never experienced anything like it. (The Directors cut and then the Final cut were better still- it's sad that it all didn't start with the directors cut.) Years later when DVDs came to market, when I bought my first player (to me it was a big deal, it also meant building out an appropriate sound system) I felt that the first movie I bought was important, a statement of sorts. For me Blade Runner was the obvious choice, It had to be the first thing I watched on my new system. The opening sequence on a big screen with a good sound system is breath taking. Over the years as I've upgraded (a series of projectors, better audio, finally a giant 4k flatscreen) the first thing I queue up is always BR. I don't really understand why some people were disappointed by 2049- to me it was the continuation of the story, and it just looked and felt right. It wasn't deficient in any way. It didn't stand out like BR did in '82 though.... it really changed things.

[@kurtdewittphoto]

I could listen to Adam talk about Bladerunner all day

[@shaneofcanada7042]

Physical effects are a lost art wish we saw them more often...

[@threesonsworkshop6626]

If you like miniatures and blade runner, check out the short film Slice of Life. Just a few guys made something awesome. Their KZbin channel has a lot of behind the scenes as well.

[@SATORI0320]

I was just telling my wife, after hearing about the upcoming DnD movie, that I hope they implement more practical effects rather than cg.

[@HardwareLust]

Adam, I wish you would talk about films and filmmaking more often. You are clearly very passionate (and knowledgeable!) about it.

[@davidabarak]

About the in-camera process using motion control and multiple exposures on the film, unless I'm missing something the process Adam described is incorrect. If you were to photograph Subject A, rewind the film and then expose Subject B, you'd see through B to A - it would be a standard multiple exposure. The way this typically works, at least the cases I know of and when overlapping exposures would be a problem, is that Subject A is photographed on a roll of film. Subject B, with the exact same moves programmed into the motion control rig, is exposed on a different roll of film. There would need to be a different roll of film for each pass. Once in the lab, "traveling mattes" are created on another roll of film, one roll for each element except for the very background, so that when the elements are composited the matte for Subject B is blocking its area across Subject A. To simplify, using the spinner example, and only two elements... 1. The motion control camera and rig photograph the skyline of Los Angeles. (Motion control isn't necessary if the view of the skyline isn't moving.) 2. The motion control camera and rig photograph the spinner model against a very black backdrop. The model itself may even be mounted on its own motion control rig. 3. Once the film is processed, the lab makes a high contrast negative print of the spinner model. The model in this print would be pure black and the background would be transparent. This piece of film is called a matte, and because it's got motion it's called a traveling matte. 4. The film of the background is sandwiched with the traveling matte and printed onto another roll of film. The traveling matte keeps that part of the background film from being printed on this new piece of film. The result is film of the background with pure black (unexposed) shape of the spinner moving across it. 5. This new piece of film is rewound. When it's run through the printer a second time, the film of the actual spinner is printed onto it, right where the black unexposed space is waiting for it. That's the basic principle. Other passes would print things like flare or smoke, and because those things are semi-transparent in the real world there would be no need for traveling mattes. I should point out that there are other methods to accomplish some of this. If you want to get a good education in the complexities, read "The Making of Kubrick's 2001," edited by Jerome Agel. It was published in 1970 so only used copies are available.

[@tazmon122]

my first thought is Spike Jonze and his film Where The Wild Things Are. Spike wanted to have the Wild Things all be 100% practical puppetry. he honestly thought that film would die with the use of CG, but between time, budget, and quality he eventually gave in to certain aspects being CG. it really feels like Maurice Sendak's drawings come to life, even Sendak himself was proud of the film. i mean, you know you've achieved peak visual aesthetics where the ONLY complaints are about the emotional weight of the film being too mature for little kids who love the book, but no one has a lick of criticism for the visual aesthetics.

[@brianvu3705]

The whole VFX scene behind Blade Runner is actually quite amazing. Like the amount of pure dedication, alone, for cultivating such visual effects just emphasizes how great the movie was.

[@barneymiller7894]

Yes! The Total Recall reboot was beautiful! The story was about as interesting as dry toast, but it looked good 👍🤣

[@spiritofthetime]

'I'd like to visit this world for a while'. This is why I enjoy both of the Blade Runner films, and Sicario - Ridley Scott and Denis Villeneuve are masters of immersion. I didn't enjoy the small font at the start of 2049 though - I couldn't read the bloody exposition! 😆

[@Eremon1]

I'm some what embarrassed as a nerd to not have seen Blade Runner until recently. For what ever reason it never entered my radar. Great movie which holds up every bit today as it did when it was new. I'm just about to watch the sequel, 2049. Fingers crossed I will enjoy it.

[@mintyerb]

was just watching blade runner the other night. such a dense world to absorb. so bleak yet flashing.

[@spellxthief]

A.I. haunted me for so long! i saw it as a kid and didn't find the name of it until much later. also when 2049 was announced, with Denis Villeneuve at the helm and Ryan Gosling i was so stoked. a sequel to my favorite movie, with my new favorite director (after prisoners, sicario, arrival) and my favorite cinematographer Roger Deakins - i was just ecstatic. and i still am tbh!

[@Dr_Do-Little]

Warm my heart to hear such nice words about "our local director" Denis Villeneuve. The internet crowd is blurring everything in negative comments and I feel he deserve better box office results. In this $$ driven world that can hurt in the long run. I quite low expectations for Dune until I heard he was directing it. Now it's the same scary feeling as pre 2049 release. He' surely more courageous than I am to take on these iconic titles. Arrival is my favorite sci-fi movie.

[@reddcube]

I wish more rereleased movies were True HDR and True 4K. There's so many upscaled 4K and recolor graded HDR

[@TheMaster375]

Hey Adam! You should guest star on VFX Artists React by Corridor Digital and 'react' with them to some practical vfx in movies and tv shows!

[@cswoody879]

When you saw the skeleton prop and later found out it was Rachel what was your reaction? Also if you haven't seen his film Incendies I recommend finding it. Thank you

[@Dr_Do-Little]

I'm not a "real" movie fan and loved Incendie. One of the few I'll put on a "everybody must watch at least once" list.

[@c.j.1089]

Bladerunner 2049 was a masterpiece. As a HUGE Bladerunner fan, I came to the realization that 2049 is a better movie. The rooftop rain scene in the original is insurmountable, but the movie as a whole is second to the sequel. How crazy that I said that.

[@chadwicklovell2412]

There is a movie called Mute, written and directed by Duncan Jones, starring Alexander Skarsgard. Similar styling as Bladerunner .. kinda, on Netflix. I reccomend it highly..

[@roysebastien4598]

the decor of the series Altered Carbon is very inspired of Bade Runner

[@maan7715]

oh , odd to hear someone pronounce Budapest the right way! It's amazing you've got invited to the early screenings and some of the sets! You get to see a lot of amazing stuff, Geek heaven haha

[@frollard]

Of note, in Canada at least, Sicario is on Prime Video until the end of the month. In case you're in the mood to feel the feels in context.

[@tetsubo57]

Fifth Element is another film that has profound visual depth.

[@tahoemike5828]

Adam, are you aware that Ben Crowe, from the Crimson Guitars channel, is trying to invite you to take part in this years "Great Guitar Build Off?"

[@chuxmix65]

He made a guitar case for Eric Idle. Making a cigar box guitar/uke/mandolin seems like the next logical step. The time is ripe for a Mark Frauenfelder collab. Jack White could show them how a plank, a pickup, and an amp = guitar.

[@chuxmix65]

We'd have to suffer through Adam learning his first three chords but it would be worth it!

[@kazoosc]

@@chuxmix65 Adam built the KiwiCo ukelele kzbin.info/www/bejne/j6K9eHRvbreiiqs

[@chuxmix65]

@@kazoosc Thank you for reminding me!!!

[@UAPJedi]

All of your favourite films seem to be my favourite films.

[@lewismassie]

I love watching old scifi stuff and you know what? Every single one that used models hold up today. They all look fantastic. Could I make something that simple in Blender in like 2 days? Sure, but no way in hell would it look that good

[@fredbrooks1386]

Look how far fly overs have advanced since the fly overs in the early days of the beginning of HBO.

[@stevenplaskett7728]

When avatar came out I had to watch it twice. Once for the movie and a second time just to watch all the background details

[@isaiahpadilla3588]

You should watch a bladerunner fan film here on KZbin called Slice of Life! It was made the same way they did the original in the 80's. Models and minitures, cityscape shot in passes, matte paintings ect. No CGI. It is fantastic.

[@karlkastor]

They did the original Blade Runner VFX just with multiple exposure? That's insane. One single mistake and you have to redo everything.

[@henryescat1104]

Where is your Blade Runner "EYE SCANNER Machine" build video???

[@bkebradley]

Enemy doesn't seem to be as popular and it's much more divisive than most of Villeneuve's work, but it's my favorite of his films, especially because of the performances by Jake Gyllenhaal.

[@shaggycan]

I agree completely, the remake of Total recall was more of a bladerunner film than total recall. They should have just let the film maker do a BR film, probably would have made more money.

[@viniciuscaparroz4444]

I think Adam should watch the short film Slice of Life It's fully made with miniatures and the aesthetic is perfect

[@chuxmix65]

Neil B. wouldn't have made that movie if Blade Runner hadn't been filmed. I love when filmmakers stand on the shoulders of giants!!!

[@Ungrievable]

Ditto. 😉

[@Ungrievable]

Scriptwriters.

[@HunterRodrigez]

"WE SAW ALL THE SETS FROM BLADRUNNER... oh and Ryan Gosling was also there... I guess"

[@geraldgrenier8132]

Given Total Recall like Bladerunner is based on stories by P.K. Dick it make sense to draw on the style.

[@AlanFlint777]

Would love to hear Adams opinion on the star wars sequel trilogy.

[@f1matt]

He has on his podcast The Adam Savage Project.

[@DaveLennonCopeland]

Do lowly subscribers get to ask questions, or is it just Patreon people and members?

[@GordonWrigley]

What lego model is that?

[@jelmhoud]

I haven't seen him build it so I may be wrong, but the colours remind me of a Jurassic Park Jeep.

[@GordonWrigley]

@@jelmhoud Good call, that does seem like something Adam would get and I looked at the model online and it all looks right.

[@ADG-Design]

@@GordonWrigley Yes, color scheme does seem to lend itself to being appropriate to a LEGO version of the Ford Explorer from Jurassic Park. However, correct me if I'm wrong, but there doesn't appear to be any official set. It also looks larger (perhaps Minifig scale) and a little different from the various MOC's I've seen online. If you look a little closer at the video you will notice that the mudguards and the wheel rims are lime green. Pretty much all of the MOC's I've seen are City scale and have yellow rims and mudguards. If in fact it's someone's custom MOC, my curiosity is definitely peaked. Certainly, "inquiring minds want to know." Let's hope that Adam can weigh in and provide the clarity we seek.

[@GordonWrigley]

@@ADG-Design I just noticed he's holding the instructions in the first couple of seconds.

[@ADG-Design]

@@GordonWrigley Great catch. I never noticed that until I watched it again. Upon my re-review, I was able to get a fairly decent screen grab of the first page and rotated it. I couldn't make out the complete title, but it reads in part: "Park Explorer V2," along with a clearly visible picture of a LEGO style Jurassic Park Explorer MOC. Through a little sleuthing, I was able to find a LEGO Ideas submission back in 2015, that's a dead ringer for the MOC in the video. That submission never reached full support. I then found a designer going by MKIBS BRICKS that is selling PDF instructions on both Rebrickable and eBay that appear to be the same MOC. Interestingly enough, I also discovered that LEPIN is selling a set that is identical (which they attribute to the designer). Let's hope that he authorized it and is getting a cut. I've emailed the designer to see if he can shed any light on the subject and confirm that the MOC is his. I'm just waiting to hear back from him. If/when I hear back from him, I'll post an update.

[@EMC_CO86_0_Z]

❤️

[@jzakary1]

While it's no Bladerunner, AI is a vastly underrated film.

[@alansmith4734]

If you are into Blade Runner, Google 'Blade Runner Easter Eggs' to read about hidden treats in the movie.

[@TJRohyans]

Hmm... I've NEVER watched Blade Runner. I guess I need to locate it and give it a watch. Funny thing. I don't really watch a lot of movies without paying attention to how it was made. I've always been a fan of FX and VFX and the BTS process of movie making. And as a semi-pro photographer, I see and notice things in scenes differently than an untrained eye might see them. To be honest, I've probably watched more KZbin BTS videos of how movies were made than I have watched the actual movies after they've been released. I think deep down inside I've always wanted to be a movie FX creator. I just never knew how to get there.

[@affinityforanime]

I didn't watch Bladerunner 2049 because I didn't like the original Bladerunner. Is it worth it to watch 2049 or is it unlikely to change my opinion of the IP?

[@1pcfred]

If you thought the original was bad you'll really hate the sequel.

[@clawrence034]

Sicario is an HP Lovecraft movie showing the existential horror of the American State.

[@jedifyfe]

I started watching AI 20 years ago and watch 1 hour per year...I’m half way done....BTW, it’s Dubly.

[@GuanoLad]

Nostalgia and an obsessive affection for something blurs objectivity.

[@refusist]

first time I saw 2049 I had chosen a local cinema with excellent sound and image and invited my uncle who also loves movies and his wife and daughter. He insisted on easier parking so we went to Cinemaxx instead. This was when the movie had been showing for some time so we saw it on their smallest screen with the worst sound. Worst cinema experience in my life. and with such and awesome movie that deserves the best! I'm still a bit mad at my uncle for this. btw my uncles wife and daughter left the movie half way cuz it was "boring" lol

[@flamshiz]

that's not a humble brag; that's just a brag

[@juicemanjuice4289]

Love you

[@stevenplaskett7728]

That's why the best movies are done real from the matrix highway scenes to abyss and titanic and water world. The most epic movies u remember use real sets and no CGI.

[@gl4989]

Denis Villeneuve is a great Québécois:)

[@chrism6904]

Cool!

[@carsonskidmore3108]

Norm in the room confirmed

[@dylan1867]

Say what you will about the plot but, Ghost in the Shell (2017)... I watch it on mute every now and again just for the cityscapes

[@Tony-dh7mz]

Total Recall 2012 is a great film, (ignore the critics, some of whom were criticising the movie before it was even finished, agenda much?) The themes are about "What is reality?" and "False Flag Attacks" Question more,

[@1pcfred]

We just had a false flag attack on the 6th.

[@Jesiahjesiah]

TIL Adam may be many, many things, and great at most of them, but he is not an audiophile ;-P

[@darkwinter6028]

I’m going to have to disagree ever so slightly... the best way is not to expose a single piece of film; but to capture it on a digital camera and composite it digitally. That allows you to tweak the image compositing settings for each layer; and you can get true 100% transparency and opacity. Film, by its nature, can’t ever reach 100%. If you look at the original theatrical release of Star Wars 4 and 5; you can see the borders of the film segments for the starfighters in the composite shots... this is something that just doesn’t happen with digital composites. As much as I like the new physically based renderers; there’s still a certain quality about a well built model that the CGI just doesn’t match yet. However, digital compositing has long since eclipsed the film-based compositing stands of old...

[@Faustogimeneztattoo]

Subtitulo en español

[@NineInchNailer]

When friends ask me what my favorite movie is... 5:54min

[@Dilly958]

Nice (;

[@ОстрыйТесак-ь5ш]

ciao bambina😜

[@impotatochippppppppp4639]

Hi

[@leschaps2387]

The sound design of the prequels was great. I mean, ignoring dialogue.

[@wierdalien1]

Extremely

[@TomPraytor]

Jeez never thought I would hear Adam be so bias and deluded.

[@davidstang526]

1st lols

[@TheIndyspace]

😂

[@marcl4000]

BR 2049 didn't work for me visually; i didn't believe the future I was seeing. It goes from the poor patina on decors to the so-so extras in street scenes to the poor use of typography. Oh well I guess Helvetica type is there to stay for ever... even in 2049! Too bad for the work of designers and miniature makers whose work was hidden by so many dark shots.

[@1pcfred]

2049 is only 28 years off. Which is 12 years less time than has passed since the original Blade Runner came out.

[@wyches7592]

4

[@joeyspaintings5420]

Anyone who has watched Mythbusters knows who Jamie Hyneman is, so anyone who, like me, wants Adam to go meat up with Jamie and make a really cool build with him needs to leave a thumbs up so Adam will see this comment and hopefully respond.

[@sschmidtevalue]

You need to give up on that. I loved Mythbusters too and have a large set on DVD, but that ship has sailed. Jamie's done. I got the distinct impression that he wanted his normal life back.

[@1pcfred]

@@sschmidtevalue Jamie's normal life is pretty strange.

[@JanTuts]

I really hope I'll be able to watch Dune in cinema for full effect.