‘Blair Witch’ Star Clues Us In On Making Of Film
No film has made more of an impact in 1999 than the independent horror movie “The Blair Witch Project.”
Shot by first-time filmmakers in Maryland’s Seneca Creek State Park using unknown actors, the mock documentary wowed film festival audiences before moving on to mainstream theaters. Made for virtual pennies, the film to date has grossed $140 million.
“The Blair Witch Project” just came out on video.
At August’s San Diego International Comic Convention, Spokane’s Tadashi Y. Osborne was part of a panel discussion that featured “Blair Witch” star Heather Donahue.
Osborne, producer/host of the Spokane cable-access television show “Tadashi Station,” took notes as Donahue answered a number of questions about the making of the film:
Q. How did you get reeled into this movie in the beginning?
Donahue: “I read an ad in Backstage (magazine) in New York, where I was living at the time, and it said, `An improvised feature film shot in a wooded location. It (is) probably going to be hell and most of you who are reading this probably (won’t) even come.”’
Q. Is it true that most of your acting was improvization? Were you given a vague script, or were you sent bottles with notes telling you what to argue about the next day?
Donahue: “Yes, it was improvised, and it wasn’t bottles. It was actually three 35 mm film containers with our names on them in milk crates that the Haxan Films guys (co-directors Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sanchez and their partners) left for us to find with a global positioning system. We would open the containers up and read our notes. We weren’t allowed to show them to each other, and we would improvise around the story structure that the Haxan guys had provided.”
Q. I understand the film is making people severely nauseous with motion sickness. Was that intentional?
Donahue: “No, had I known it was ever gonna be on large screens I probably would have tried to hold the camera a little bit steadier.”
Q. Did they tell you to be annoying? You were so annoying I wanted to strangle you after 20 minutes.
Donahue: “Well, my character was actually based on an `indie’ female filmmaker who will remain nameless. She (the character) definitely grates on my nerves, too. I can’t even watch it without getting sick of my voice.”
Q. What’s with the pile of rocks outside the tent? What is that supposed to mean?
Donahue: “Ooooooh, scary!”
Q. Just how isolated were you (in Seneca Creek State Park)?
Donahue: “It’s a day-use park. We had to kind of shoot it during the week because the first weekend day we were out there we’d see little families on their mountain bikes and things like that. Somehow, that took the edge off `Wait! Wait! We need to get out of here!”’
Q. I heard that after the Artisan (Entertainment) guys purchased the movie several other scenes were shot?
Donahue: “Oh, yeah. They shot some of the goofiest stuff you could imagine…. They didn’t use any of them. The ending you see was the absolute original ending.”
Q. Do you regret using your original name in the movie?
Donahue: “Probably. Yeah, now. It adds so much confusion because people think I’m the character in the movie. I do get a little tired of explaining myself.”
Q. I’ve heard rumors of “Blair Witch 2.” Is there any truth to that?
Donahue: “I’ve actually heard rumors of `Blair Witch 2, 3, 4 and 5.’ Recycling! It’s good for people and the environment!”
Q. If they asked you to come back for a sequel, would you? Or would you be afraid of being typecast?
Donahue: “CHA-CHING!”