The stars of The Blair Witch Project, Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, and Michael Williams, have come together to make a public demand to Lionsgate regarding the reboot of the film. They are requesting retroactive and future residual payments, meaningful consultation on any future Blair Witch projects, and the establishment of a grant for aspiring filmmakers. The trio is specifically asking for residuals equivalent to what they would have received through SAG-AFTRA had they had proper union representation during the making of the original film. This shows that they feel they were not properly compensated for their work on the film.
In addition to financial compensation, Donahue, Leonard, and Williams are also asking to be consulted on any future Blair Witch projects. They want to ensure that their names and likenesses are not used for promotional purposes without their consent. This demonstrates a desire to have greater creative control over how the Blair Witch brand is utilized in future endeavors. They also express disappointment in the two previous reboots of the film, citing a lack of creative input from the original team.
The Blair Witch Grant
The trio is also calling for the creation of “The Blair Witch Grant,” a $60k prize to be awarded to an unknown or aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in making their first feature film. This grant is intended to support emerging talent in the industry and give back to the filmmaking community. It is specifically noted that this grant is not a development fund, meaning that Lionsgate will not own any rights to the projects funded by the grant. This highlights the stars’ desire to support and uplift new voices in the genre.
The statement from the original filmmakers of The Blair Witch Project, Eduardo Sánchez, Dan Myrick, Gregg Hole, Robin Cowie, and Michael Monello, further emphasizes the importance of the contributions of Donahue, Leonard, and Williams to the franchise. They praise the original cast for their unique contributions that defined the authenticity of the film and continue to resonate with audiences worldwide. This shows a united front from both the stars and the filmmakers in advocating for the recognition of the actors’ role in the success of the Blair Witch brand.
Overall, the public proposal from the stars of The Blair Witch Project to Lionsgate sheds light on the importance of recognizing and compensating the original cast for their contributions to the franchise. It also underscores a desire for increased creative input and consultation on future projects, as well as a commitment to supporting emerging talent in the industry. The unity between the stars and the original filmmakers in this statement signals a shared commitment to ensuring that the legacy of The Blair Witch Project is respected and upheld in future endeavors. It remains to be seen how Lionsgate will respond to these demands and whether they will take the concerns of the stars and filmmakers into account in their future Blair Witch projects.