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Actors From 'The Blair Witch Project' Completely Neglected Despite $370 Million
Despite its immense financial success, the actors from The Blair Witch Project faced severe career consequences that troubled them greatly.
In 1999, The Blair Witch Project exploded onto the scene. In an era with limited internet access, this found footage film felt incredibly believable and downright frightening.
Against all odds, the horror film succeeded, grossing $250 million at theaters worldwide. Including the sales and rentals of video tapes and DVDs, as well as broadcasts on television and streaming platforms, the film earned an estimated $370 million globally across all platforms.
With a young team and a budget of only $35,000, the film was purchased for $1 million after screening at the Sundance Festival by Artisan Entertainment. Unfortunately, the studio insisted that the unknown actors pretend they were really dead.
This made people believe it was a true story, allowing viewers to genuinely feel frightened. The arrangement was extreme: the actors were barred from acting or seeking publicity. Thus, the film marked both the beginning and the abrupt end of their acting careers.
When Lionsgate announced a reboot for the film's 25th anniversary, actors Joshua Leonard, Heather Donahue (Rei Hance), and Michael C. Williams decided to speak out. Aside from a payment of $1,000 for two weeks of film work, including their own filming, they received no income from that movie. They were entirely neglected.
Due to subsequent lawsuits, they received $375,000 each. However, with a better contract, it could have been $1 million per actor. Sadly, all three have struggled to secure a decent income after that film - and Rei Hance even had to change her real name to escape her connection to the movie. More insights are available in the Forbes YouTube video.
Against all odds, the horror film succeeded, grossing $250 million at theaters worldwide. Including the sales and rentals of video tapes and DVDs, as well as broadcasts on television and streaming platforms, the film earned an estimated $370 million globally across all platforms.
Severe Arrangements
With a young team and a budget of only $35,000, the film was purchased for $1 million after screening at the Sundance Festival by Artisan Entertainment. Unfortunately, the studio insisted that the unknown actors pretend they were really dead.
This made people believe it was a true story, allowing viewers to genuinely feel frightened. The arrangement was extreme: the actors were barred from acting or seeking publicity. Thus, the film marked both the beginning and the abrupt end of their acting careers.
Completely Neglected
When Lionsgate announced a reboot for the film's 25th anniversary, actors Joshua Leonard, Heather Donahue (Rei Hance), and Michael C. Williams decided to speak out. Aside from a payment of $1,000 for two weeks of film work, including their own filming, they received no income from that movie. They were entirely neglected.
Due to subsequent lawsuits, they received $375,000 each. However, with a better contract, it could have been $1 million per actor. Sadly, all three have struggled to secure a decent income after that film - and Rei Hance even had to change her real name to escape her connection to the movie. More insights are available in the Forbes YouTube video.
