Watch Creating Modern Ghost Stories: The Blair Witch Project

Creating Modern Ghost Stories: The Blair Witch Project is a documentary film that explores the making of the 1999 horror movie The Blair Witch Project. The film was directed by Eduardo Sanchez and produced by Michael Monello, both of whom were involved in the creation of the original movie. The documentary begins by introducing the concept of the Blair Witch legend, which inspired the story of the film. The legend tells the story of a woman named Elly Kedward, who was accused of witchcraft and banished from the town of Blair, Maryland in the late 1700s. According to the legend, Kedward returned to the town years later to seek revenge on its residents.

Sanchez and Monello explain that they were fascinated by the Blair Witch legend and decided to create a movie that would explore its themes of isolation, fear, and the supernatural. They developed the idea for the film, which would follow three filmmakers as they investigate the legend of the Blair Witch in a documentary-style format.

The filmmakers explain that they wanted to create a film that would feel authentic and realistic, so they decided to shoot the entire movie on handheld cameras with a small crew. They also decided to cast unknown actors and give them minimal direction, allowing them to improvise much of their dialogue and reactions.

The documentary goes behind the scenes to show how the filmmakers created the movie's eerie atmosphere and sense of dread. They explain that they shot the film in the woods of Maryland, using natural lighting and minimal special effects. They also used sound design to create a sense of unease, with the sounds of twigs snapping and footsteps crunching adding to the tension.

The filmmakers faced many challenges during the making of the film, including harsh weather conditions and difficulties with the improvised dialogue. However, they also found that the limitations of their low-budget production helped to fuel their creativity and spur them on to innovate.

The documentary also explores the unique marketing campaign that accompanied the release of The Blair Witch Project. The filmmakers explain that they used the internet to create a buzz around the movie, creating a website that presented the events of the movie as if they were real. They also created fake news reports and interviews to lend credibility to the legend of the Blair Witch.

The combination of the movie's unique format and its innovative marketing campaign made it a massive success, grossing over $140 million at the box office on a budget of just $60,000. The Blair Witch Project is now considered a classic of the found footage horror genre and a groundbreaking work of independent filmmaking.

Creating Modern Ghost Stories: The Blair Witch Project is an insightful and engaging documentary that provides a fascinating look behind the scenes of one of the most iconic horror movies of all time. The film showcases the creativity and resourcefulness of the filmmakers, and demonstrates how a low budget production can turn into a major success with the right combination of talent and innovation. Anyone interested in filmmaking or horror movies will find this documentary to be a must-watch.