The actors asked for “residual payments for acting services on the original ‘Blair Witch’.” “Equivalent to the amount that would be allocated by SAG-AFTRA [Sindicato de Atores de Hollywood]if we had union representation when we made the film”, says the text.
They ask that actors be consulted “in a meaningful way” when making new productions that “use our names or faces, whether in promotional materials or on the product itself.” The actors used their real names for their characters, and in 2002 they sued Artisan Entertainment for using their names and likenesses in the studio’s 2000 sequel, “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2.”
Our film has already gone through two reboots. Both times, the films were a disappointment from the point of view of fans, audiences and critics. None of these reboots had any creative involvement from the original team. As the people who created ‘Blair Witch’, and who have listened to fans’ demands for 25 years, we may be the studio’s most valuable secret weapon. Joshua Leonard.
The actors request that Lionsgate create a $60,000 “Blair Witch Grant.” A type of financial aid given to “an unknown/aspiring genre filmmaker to assist in the making of their first feature film.” Lionsgate did not comment.
The original film’s directors, Eduardo Sanchez and Dan Myrick, and producers Gregg Hale and Robin Cowie and co-producer Michael Monello released a joint statement in support of the actors. “Their unique contributions not only defined the film’s authenticity, but continue to resonate with audiences around the world.”
