It is one of the most profitable films in the history of cinema, but its main actors were not able to really benefit from the windfall generated by this surprise success. Released in 1999, “The Blair Witch Project” was shot in one week for a budget of $35,000. It grossed 248 million, not counting the films derived from this first opus.
Recently, Lionsgate Chairman Adam Fogelson announced plans to bring “a new vision” of “Blair Witch” for a new generation. Lionsgate neither produced nor distributed the original 1999 film, but acquired ownership through its 2003 purchase of independent film distributor Artisan Entertainment, the trade journal explains. Variety.
The actors of the initial film Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Michael Williams now intend to benefit from the spinoffs of the franchise. They released a public letter Saturday asking Lionsgate for better compensation for their work on the film, as well as “meaningful consultation” on any future “Blair Witch” projects that use their names or likenesses.
“25 years of disrespect”
Joshua Leonard indicated on Instagram that his face was used on a press release announcing the franchise’s plans, without anyone contacting him or his teammates. “At this point, it’s been 25 years of disrespect from the people who pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and it seems both disgusting and classless,” he said. protests the actor.
He adds that the actors would have only received $300,000 at the time and not a cent more for 25 years. In 2002, the actors sued Artisan Entertainment for using their names and likenesses in the studio’s 2000 sequel, “The Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.”
In their most recent statement, Leonard, Williams and Donahue (who now goes by Rei Hance) call on Lionsgate to provide them with retroactive and future residual payments “equivalent to the amount that would have been allocated through SAG-AFTRA, had we had union or appropriate legal representation during the filming of the film.”
Support from the directors of the first film
They also request “meaningful consultation on any future reboots, sequels, prequels, toys, games, rides, escape rooms, etc.” ” from “Blair Witch”, where one could reasonably assume that the names and/or likenesses of Heather, Michael and Josh will be used for promotional purposes.
Finally, the actors asked Lionsgate to create a “Blair Witch Grant” of $60,000 which would be awarded to “a filmmaker to help them make their first feature film”.
Additionally, the directors and producers of the first film supported the actors in a statement: “While we, the original filmmakers, respect Lionsgate’s right to monetize the intellectual property as it sees fit, we must recognize the significant contributions original cast – Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard and Mike Williams. As the literal faces of what has become a franchise, their likenesses, voices, and real names are inseparable from The Blair Witch Project. »