[MUSIC PLAYING]
[APPLAUSE]
KEVIN VLK: Hello, everyone.
Welcome to Talks at Google.
I'm Kevin Vlk, and today,
we welcome Harrison Ford
from "Blade Runner 2049."
[APPLAUSE]
HARRISON FORD: Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thanks.
KEVIN VLK: How are you?
So welcome to Google.
HARRISON FORD:
Thank you very much.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
We're all excited
to have to you here.
HARRISON FORD: Well,
I'm excited to be here.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
So you're returning a role that
you created over 35 years ago.
The world and the
character has obviously
changed a bit since 2019.
But when you were first
called to return to the role--
HARRISON FORD:
Not to mention me.
KEVIN VLK: And you.
HARRISON FORD: Yeah.
KEVIN VLK: Not too much.
HARRISON FORD: Yeah.
Plenty.
I'm sorry.
Didn't mean to interrupt.
KEVIN VLK: No, no, no.
But so did you work with Denis,
the director, and the writers,
Hampton Fancher
and Michael Green,
on developing the character
of where Deckard is now?
HARRISON FORD: You
know, I worked more
with Denis, the director,
and on the script.
But mostly, I filtered my input
and concerns through Denis.
I read the novella that Ridley
and Hampton Francher, one
of the original writers,
developed as a kind of exercise
prior to the script,
writing the script.
I said, that's--
that would be good.
That would be good.
And then when the
script came, then I
began to work with Denis.
I really wanted to establish
my connection to him.
KEVIN VLK: And were
there-- did you
have any concerns about coming
back to the character at all?
HARRISON FORD: Not about
coming back to the character.
Just about taking advantage
of the opportunity
to get the most out
of the potential
that there was in revisiting the
character after so many years.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
And it's incredibly difficult
to talk about the film,
by the way.
So you'll see this
with the questions
because there's-- the
plot's basically a spoiler.
So is that difficult
as you go through some
of this talking about the film
in terms of not spoiling stuff?
HARRISON FORD: No.
KEVIN VLK: No?
[LAUGHTER]
You just keep it simple?
HARRISON FORD: I don't
enjoy talking that much.
KEVIN VLK: This
should go great then.
HARRISON FORD: For free.
KEVIN VLK: How much you cost?
HARRISON FORD: Huh?
KEVIN VLK: Just kidding.
HARRISON FORD: No, no, no, no.
I'm happy to talk.
But you know, I want to
save it for the audience.
I want to save it for you guys.
I don't want to tell
you what happens.
Why would you--
why would you want
to read in today's
newspaper what's
going to happen tomorrow?
I mean, why would
you go into a movie
if you knew how it
was going to end?
KEVIN VLK: Right.
Well, and it's unbelievable.
We were talking offstage,
and you had callled it--
HARRISON FORD: I'd
call it fucking epic.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: And it was.
HARRISON FORD: And then I
said, can you say fuck here?
And he said, yes.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: I gave Harrison
Ford permission to swear, yes.
Not that you need it.
HARRISON FORD: Not
that I need it.
KEVIN VLK: You don't need it.
You don't need it.
You don't need it.
But there's a great
cast with Jared Leto
and Robin Wright
and Ryan Gosling.
So when Ryan Gosling,
him becoming--
stepping into a
Blade Runner role,
did you give him any advice
on what he should be doing?
HARRISON FORD: The man can sing.
The man can dance.
The man can play the piano.
He doesn't need
any advice from me.
He was a Mouseketeer.
[LAUGHTER]
No, I'm serious.
He was.
He's been in the business as
long as I have, and he's only
half my age or less, I think.
Anyway, he's a great
guy to work with.
I had the best time
working with him.
And I really, not that it
matters, but I like him.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: No.
And you know, he's phenomenal.
And just the use of what
I found out about the film
was the use of practical
effects and building real sets
and not relying a
lot-- too much on CG.
But you've been in both
worlds, in terms of you've
worked a lot with
practical effect
but you've also
worked a lot with CG.
Do you like one over the other?
Or do you see any
positives or negatives?
HARRISON FORD: I think
there's a huge positive
in working in a physical space.
I mean, just sitting
here, I can--
I'm relating to the sound
of my voice in this space.
I'm relating to the closeness
of the people in the front row.
I can smell something.
Don't-- not--
[LAUGHTER]
Was that you?
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: Get out.
HARRISON FORD: Man.
But it's-- it gives me a sense
of reality that I don't even
think about because it's there.
And so you combine
that with what
the visual information
when you walk onto a set.
You know, for instance,
there's a scene
in the office of a character
played by Jared Leto.
And I think it's no secret that
it's a visual environment that
telegraphs power and--
great unnatural power.
And so that's communicated.
And a picture is worth
a thousand words.
And so you pick up
from that point.
You know, it's not like--
but you can be pre-armed with
a visual CG storyboard that's
going to be supplied later.
But it's not exactly the same.
You can't bounce the
sound off a storyboard.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
And it's-- no,
that's a great point.
And you revisited this
character of Deckard.
And what's actually interesting
was watching the original film,
which is super interesting
to see how ahead of its time
it was as well with its
practical effects and its use
of models.
And so--
HARRISON FORD: How
about its predictions
of scientific developments?
KEVIN VLK: That's
where I was going.
HARRISON FORD: That's the
part that blows me away.
The capacity that we have now to
create what we call replicants,
medically possible, has
advanced far beyond anybody's
actual expectation.
And today, in this
particular environment
where we are facing
people that suddenly
for the sake of
their own convenience
have chosen not to believe
in science anymore,
it's pretty important
that we understand
that what kind of logic reality
science is responsible for.
And the sort of moral story
of that's part of the film
is that it's only--
our capacity to build
a human being and then
own it because it's your
intellectual property.
There's no free will, no free
choice, no human opportunity,
no human potential.
But to have a programmed
biologically identical creature
to a human being and to own it--
well, that's what we
used to call slavery.
But it's only the moral
constraint of science
that keeps it from happening.
I mean, we can create life in
a Petri jar, and we've agreed--
or a Petri dish,
and we decided not
to go much further than that.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
No.
And this actually goes
to one of the questions--
we took questions from social
media and from Googlers.
And one of questions was
the original 1982 film
predicted a lot of technology
that we would have now.
And "2049" does
some of the same,
where you start seeing
where technology could be.
And we're actually pretty close.
So as life is imitating art--
artificial intelligence,
toxic smog, video calls--
what lessons do
you think of that
world will be informed,
like inform us,
on how to not repeat mistakes?
HARRISON FORD: Well, I mean
we know what not to do.
And so the message
is don't do that.
[LAUGHTER]
We'd turn the world
into a shithole.
And so don't do that.
Individually or as
a culture impose
the positive nature of
humanity on the world instead
of the negative nature.
Protect nature.
Nature doesn't need people.
KEVIN VLK: That's true.
HARRISON FORD: People
need nature to survive.
KEVIN VLK: That's true.
I don't have a segue, but--
[LAUGHTER]
That was dark.
[LAUGHS] I'm sorry.
But-- sorry.
I know.
But you revisited
Deckard now and then now
Han Solo and Indiana Jones.
And I'm sure a lot of people
ask you about which character do
you want to revisit again?
But is there a character
that you really
do love that you feel
like there story is closed
and you've moved on.
HARRISON FORD: Well,
there's a lot of characters.
I mean, I don't have favorites.
I'd love the opportunity to tell
stories that the audience wants
to hear.
I think it's a public service
occupation to be a storyteller.
We need those stories
to be told in a variety
of different styles--
movies, music, whatever.
You just-- we need we need
stories about ourselves
to inform us and remind
us of our common humanity.
KEVIN VLK: Are there
any films or stories
that you've read or seen
that have done that for you?
HARRISON FORD: Well,
there are films
that I've been in that have--
well, you mean do it for me?
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
HARRISON FORD:
Yeah, I just got out
of a car listening to
an Albert King song,
and I spent three minutes
there making you wait.
KEVIN VLK: It was fine.
It was fine.
HARRISON FORD: Because nobody
walks out on an Albert King.
So yeah.
But I get it every day.
I get it out of--
I get it out of a
nod on the street.
I get it out of Albert King.
KEVIN VLK: Was there a role--
HARRISON FORD: Getting it now.
Thank you very much.
And I hope you're
getting it back.
It's only fair.
KEVIN VLK: Was there
a role or character
that you felt once you
found that character that it
kind of grew you as an
actor or even as a person?
HARRISON FORD: That what?
KEVIN VLK: That grew you--
HARRISON FORD: Grew me as
an-- every one of them.
Every one of them.
Because you don't--
well, first of all,
you explore the life and the
quality of mind of a character.
But you're also working with a
group of people, a new tribe.
Every movie is a new bunch of
people with new heads and new--
it's just this process is
really sustaining and engaging
and challenging, demanding.
And that's part I really love.
KEVIN VLK: Well, is anyone--
and this is probably hard
for you-- but is there anyone
who you haven't worked with
before that you still
want to work with,
in terms of director
or actor or writers.
HARRISON FORD: Yeah, sure.
KEVIN VLK: Who?
HARRISON FORD: Oh.
KEVIN VLK: If there was one--
HARRISON FORD: You know--
if there was one?
KEVIN VLK: Well, 10.
I don't know.
HARRISON FORD: No.
I just can't go there.
I don't know how to
go there honestly.
KEVIN VLK: Fair.
HARRISON FORD: Albert King.
KEVIN VLK: You've been--
in this film, it's very
physically demanding.
There's a lot of stunts
and physical work
that you do with Ryan and
in water and everything.
How did you approach those--
HARRISON FORD: Being in water
not quite physically demanding.
I had a shower this morning.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: And that's
what I'm talking.
I'm talking about a shower
scene with Harrison in there.
HARRISON FORD: It didn't
even being to exhaust me.
You know, it's-- yeah,
there's some physical.
I like physical acting.
That's f-- that's great.
I love that kind of stuff.
But I didn't-- this is not.
There's a bit.
There's enough.
But that's not the kind
of movie this is for me.
I mean, there's good
stuff, good action, in it.
KEVIN VLK: Is
there-- so we talked
about kind of the negatives
with Blade Runner.
But is there anything with
the technology or a piece
of technology from the original
Blade Runner or this one
that you would like to
see become a reality?
HARRISON FORD: Ryan keeps saying
that he wants a flying car.
But I fly airplanes
so I don't care.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: You don't
need a flying car.
HARRISON FORD: Nah, I
don't need no flying car.
Nah.
You know, what I want is I want
to see that technology which
will help and protect
the natural world.
And I want to see us devote
our energy to making lives
better and promoting some kind
of even opportunity for people
that haven't had their shot yet.
KEVIN VLK: In then
anything across all fields?
In terms of people who haven't
had their shot like in--
HARRISON FORD: No,
I just mean cultures
that maybe are going
to get gobbled up to be
somebody else's bread basket.
Or I'm concerned about what we
have done as one of the highest
consuming nations in
the world and what
we're asking the
rest of the world
to do now to save our asses.
And I want to see
the forces at hand
that keep us from
really fully exploiting
the potential of
alternative forms of energy
because they've got such
a stake in fossil fuels
and that technology.
We'd better get on
with it or we're gone.
KEVIN VLK: It's a scary time.
HARRISON FORD: Well, it's
scary, but it's also exciting.
I mean, I'm sitting in
here, and I'm looking at all
this supposed brain power--
[LAUGHTER]
--and opportunity.
And I can see around here
that it's fun to go to work.
And so let's get other people
to get to work and get it done.
KEVIN VLK: So a few questions
from social, so social media--
which you love right now--
and Google employees.
But without going too much
into spoilers, was there--
what was the most difficult
scene for you to film?
Or challenging scene?
Nothing?
HARRISON FORD: I
love going to work.
I don't have anything difficult.
KEVIN VLK: What was an
enjoyable scene then?
HARRISON FORD: You know
what the fun of it is?
No.
The fun of it is that it's--
that in a certain sense,
you go armed with what
you think is necessary, you
identify the bit of story
that you want to
create behavior around.
Because every scene should
have a reason to be there.
You want to make sure you're
not doing the same thing over
and over again, sort
of that kind of thing.
You want to be available there.
But you also, for me, I love the
problem solving aspects of it.
All of a sudden the
director wants a shot
to motivate the camera and
the actor has-- the camera's
got to follow the actor.
Why would I go out to the
other side of the room?
Little, little stuff like that.
Or the dialogue isn't
really feeling authentic.
And then what do you
do in collaboration
with all of the
other people involved
to just solve that problem?
KEVIN VLK: Is there any--
did you have any advice--
HARRISON FORD: That's
the real fun of it.
That's what makes you
feel good about the day.
KEVIN VLK: Do you have like a
particular director or someone
you worked with where
you got that from them,
and you just remember this
is a piece of advice that
will carry through with
all my other films?
HARRISON FORD: Well, I had--
there was a guy named Mike
Nichols, a great film director.
He was half of Nichols and May.
Great stage director.
One of the smartest
guys I ever met,
and funny, hugely funny guy.
But the occasion of one
of my some early success
or attachment to
somebody else's success--
which is really what's
about-- or a common success,
he said to me, don't let
them turn you into a thing.
Now I still don't know
exactly what that means.
KEVIN VLK: Neither do I.
HARRISON FORD: But
it'll come to you.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: After
all these years.
HARRISON FORD: Well, I mean,
somebody will approach you
with something that is not who
you are or what you want to be,
but it has a utility to them
or a perceived utility to them,
and I'll call that a thing.
KEVIN VLK: Great answer.
Another question
from social was--
so you were talking a little
bit about scenes and stuff
like that.
Do you have a preference between
the original cut of "Blade
Runner" or-- of the
original-- or the final cut,
or the director's
cut, any of the cuts?
That you like-- did you rewatch
one, I guess, going into this?
HARRISON FORD: Did I
rewatch one of those?
Yeah.
I rewatched what Ridley
called his director's cut.
or was his final director's
cut, or his last chance cut.
[LAUGHTER]
Or the one after that.
I don't--
KEVIN VLK: Yeah, we
have no more money cut.
HARRISON FORD: Yeah,
we're shit out of money.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah, we're
shit out of money.
HARRISON FORD: Yeah.
I like the one without
the voiceover narration
and the drive into the sunset.
I like the one that ends with
me picking up the unicorn,
stepping into the elevator,
and the doors closing.
Now I don't know if that
one's still out there or not.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
That was the one I just watched.
HARRISON FORD: Well, I'd like
to see that one in the new IMAX
format.
I haven't seen that.
That would be-- that would
be interesting to see
what the visual changes.
KEVIN VLK: So a few
more from social--
what should we expect of
Deckard and his evolution
with the Blade Runner
universe from the first film
to now in 2049.
HARRISON FORD: Expect nothing.
KEVIN VLK: Spoilers?
HARRISON FORD: No.
Oh, I thought you
were talking about--
KEVIN VLK: Just yeah.
Evolution of his character.
HARRISON FORD: Let
me leave it at that.
Expect nothing.
Just go in cold.
KEVIN VLK: Yeah.
What was the first
thing that you
thought when you found
out there was going
to be a Blade Runner sequel?
HARRISON FORD: Well, Ridley
called me and said, would you,
in theory, would you be
interested in revisiting
the character?
And he's quoted as saying
that I said, "meh"--
[LAUGHTER]
HARRISON FORD:
--which is bullshit.
I said, yes, yes, I
would if I can figure out
how to do it Show me a script.
And that's when I
got this novella
that I talked about earlier.
KEVIN VLK: And how did
reprising the role of Deckard
compare to returning as
Han Solo or Indiana Jones?
HARRISON FORD: It's just
two different things.
That's how they compare.
KEVIN VLK: They don't.
HARRISON FORD: Two
completely different things.
KEVIN VLK: OK.
That's an employee question.
HARRISON FORD: No,
that's all right.
KEVIN VLK: Not mine.
Do not credit me with that.
HARRISON FORD: There's nothing
wrong with the question,
but that is the answer.
KEVIN VLK: They don't compare.
And I'll leave it with-- if you
had to describe yourself with
three words--
[LAUGHTER]
--what would it be?
HARRISON FORD: Almost done.
[LAUGHTER]
There is no fourth word.
What, now you want four words?
KEVIN VLK: No, it's all right.
So thank you so
much for being here.
"Blade Runner 2049" is out
next week on October 6.
It is--
HARRISON FORD: Fucking awesome.
[LAUGHTER]
KEVIN VLK: So it is.
[APPLAUSE]
