Gizmodo
Being the businessman that he is, it wasn't the movie Blade Runner that struck L.A. real estate mogul Sonny Astani, it was the animated billboards depicted in the opening sequence. In fact, the idea has had such a profound effect on him that he plans on making advertising in 2019 Los Angeles a reality ahead of schedule. His plans call for two 14 story animated billboards to be built on condos set for construction downtown.
The display itself will consist of hundreds of rows of LEDs spaced 6 inches apart. Apparently, this will allow residents to see out of the floor-to-ceiling windows, but at a distance it will appear to be a complete image. Whether or not this over-the-top advertising will be as tacky and annoying as it sounds remains to be seen. In order for Astani's pilfered vision to come true, it still has to be approved by city officials. Let's hope they have some sense. [io9 via Wired]
Comments
Now we just need flying cars.
The question is, will the condo owners get a cut, or will it all go to the builders?
Probably the latter; everybody thinks they're entitled to control your property these days.
@HeartBurnKid: I'm guessing the HOA would be happy to do this if it eliminates condo dues (based on hoa dues in SF anyway). If they're apartments -the owner can do whatever they want.
They have these in Shanghai. Google Image search --> [www.craphound.com]
I hope people remember the the Blade Runner universe was a dystopia.
Next thing you know, we'll have personalized advertising via retinal scanners that are attached to the ubiquitous automated security droids patrolling every public area. Welcome to the future!
part of the series "you won't see that in São Paulo so soon", because of its so-called "Clean City Law", which banned nearly every kind of outdoor advertising, and reduced signage to a ridiculously small size, even on the biggest buildings, such as a Wal-Mart.
Has Sonny Astani received a Voight-Kampff test?
He should. He *is* dreaming of electric billboards, after all.
Oh fuck, this better not get passed the drawing board. At least not yet. I was thinking we had at least another 7-10 years before advertising got that intrusive.
All I'm gonna say is...
DustyButt's 14-Story-Wall-of-Porn™.
Now, let's sit back... and count our money.
About freakin' time!
Well ok but someone better start manufacturing Decker's gun so i can defend myself from replicants. Im from texas man, by law we must have a firearm for every creature on the planet.
That will be pretty annoying if it happens. Isn't there some danger with having people looking up at these things while driving?
I can see the city okay-ing it... since we already have billboards at least that big on the sides of some buildings here in LA... only non-animated.
Screw the animated Blade runner billboards! Where's my flying car!
@Set to evil: Dude, people suck at driving as it is, do you really want to give that soccer mom who's late a flying car? ...or some Chinese girl...good luck everybody!!!
I pretty much ignore billboards while driving here in L.A. Too busy doing something called DRIVING.
I might take a quick peep if it's not a busy freeway, like really late at night, but I don't like to take my eyes off the road for more than a second or two. I don't drive through downtown L.A. much, though, so I guess I'd rarely see these things if they get approved.
Wow...
CYBERPUNK is here!
looks a lot like Minority Report! next we'll be charged with crimes before they happen!
We don't have enough energy for this crap. Time to wise up people and go Green.
Nothing beats the original!
I imagine that we should be glad that it's big video ads. He could have put his energies into creating Replicants...
These have been all over Las Vegas for the last decade. A mere year or two after the invention of the blue LED, they were off and running.
I'll only accept this if they play endless Coca Cola ads and are cluttered with Japanese people.
@OG512: Get with the program here, buddy. Blade Runner.
LA is already covered with building-sized billboards, some ghastly percentage of which were put up illegally and which the city dweebs appear unable to do anything about.
Having 'em lit up day and night won't change much.
@[gizmodo.com]
Seriously. Ever tried to drive in an asian supermarket parking lot? DWA is real, folks!
@snakepliskin: "...someone better start manufacturing Decker's gun so i can defend myself from replicants."
You can make one by kitbashing a Charter Arms .44 Special Police Bulldog with the receiver of a Steyr Mannlicher .222 Model SL rifle. Functional? My utterly uneducated guess is no. But it is Deckard's gun.
Much of the outdoor advertising in L.A. is illegal, but enforcement is very weak. One of the smaller billboard companies was so upset about what the Big Boys (e.g. Clear Channel) were getting away with that he erected an illegal billboard across the street from the department that is supposed to enforce the billboard laws.
@Skeptical_Geezer: Don't you just love this town? At least they are cracking down on Taco Trucks. I guess they don't anyone blocking the billboards!
@scarbrtj: Dude! Did anyone else get that? That was funny!
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