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Lot #929: BLADE RUNNER (1982) - Geoff Hutchins Collection: Pair of Esper Tapes

Currency:GBP Category:Memorabilia / Movie - Props Start Price:500.00 GBP Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 GBP
Lot #929: BLADE RUNNER (1982) - Geoff Hutchins Collection: Pair of Esper Tapes
Please note that all bids placed through 3rd party platforms will be subject to a buyer's expense of 5%. There is no fee for bids placed on propstoreauction.com

Day 1 and 2 of the auction will be held live with in-person bidding on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th November 2023 at BAFTA 195 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9LN.

Please note in-person bidding is not available on Days 3 and 4 (Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November), bids can be placed online or via telephone or written absentee form.
BLADE RUNNER (1982) - Geoff Hutchins Collection: Pair of Esper Tapes

A pair of Esper tapes from Ridley Scott's sci-fi classic Blade Runner. Espers were futuristic computers with three-dimensional resolution. This lot comes from the family of Blade Runner archivist Geoff Hutchins.

These video tapes contain graphics and videos that were used on set during filming to represent what was seen on the Esper screens. They feature shifting screen vectors and a deleted sequence in which a man at Tyrell headquarters - Dr. Schlecht - answers questions from Deckard (Harrison Ford) about J.F. Sebastian (William Sanderson) via vidphone. The Esper screen graphics are the same as those which appear on the Nostromo's screens in Scott's Alien, which has fuelled speculation that the two films are set in the same universe.

Made of plastic with metal components, the tapes are analogue Sony and Fuji U-Matic tapes, which are no longer in mainstream use. Each tape is presented in a hard black plastic case. A label on one tape reads, "Blade Runner Esper Room Sequence - (1) No Grid (2) Grid on Some Scenes (3) Grid Throughout". The label further states, "Also Spinner Read-Outs". Dimensions: 25.5 cm x 17 cm x 8 cm (10" x 6 3/4" x 3 1/2")

Contains mechanical components; see mechanical notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Additional Provenance:

This lot originally came from the personal collection of Ivor Powell, the film's associate producer.

Estimate: GBP 1000 - 2000 M

Bidding for this lot will end on Saturday, November 11th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM BST and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Thursday, November 9th, Friday, November 10th or Sunday, November 12th.