1. Blade Runner was released in 1982 and set in 2019. Based on a 1968 novella by Philip K. Dick, the original setting was San Francisco. What do you think the filmmakers got right in terms of a 2019/2020 Los Angeles? When you are watching this film, what parts are realistic? Why do you think the filmmakers moved the setting from San Francisco to Los Angeles? To put this another way, the City of Los Angeles is almost a character: how does its depiction influence your understanding of the film?
2. Why are there constant advertisements for living “off-world” in this version of Los Angeles? What do you think is the appeal of migration for people living in Blade Runner’s version of Los Angeles? (thanks to Tom Pilcher and his Great Books guide to Blade Runner).
3. Blade Runner has been called a futuristic film noir. What are some elements of film noir that you notice? These can be production design choices, lighting, costumes, even dialect. What are other examples of film noir stories set in the future?