Stars of Blair Witch Project struggling to get by after getting paid just $500-a-week to film horror classic that ended up grossing $250 million worldwide

The stars of the Blair Witch Project were struggling to get by after getting paid just $500-a-week to film the horror classic that ended up grossing nearly $250million worldwide.

The Blair Witch Project redefined horror movies when it became a huge, unexpected hit upon its release in 1999, raking in $248.6million at the box office on a tiny budget of $60,000. 

The film follows the disappearance of three student filmmakers in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary on the local legend known as the Blair Witch. 

It starred Heather Donahue, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard playing fictionalized versions of themselves using their real names. The actors shot nearly all of the footage shown in the film themselves. 

They only got paid $500-a-week for their work on the film, with filming lasting only eight days and when the film grossed $100million, they only received a fruit basket for their contributions.

The Blair Witch Project redefined horror movies when it became a huge, unexpected hit upon its release in 1999, raking in $248.6million at the box office on a tiny budget of $60,000

It starred Heather Donahue (pictured in 2015), Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard playing fictionalized versions of themselves using their real names. The actors shot nearly all of the footage shown in the film themselves

Artisan Entertainment, the company that bought the rights to the film for less than $2million, allegedly barred the publicist Donahue hired from booking her interviews and criticised Joshua Leonard (pictured in 2020) for taking on another role

Michael Williams (pictured), now a high school guidance counselor, said he didn’t think much of it when he signed the contract for the film that stated he would have to use his real name for the character and was even excited at the prospect of being paid for his work, even if it was only $500-a-week

A pioneering promotional campaign saw it become the first widely released movie marketed primarily by internet, with the film’s website boasting fake police reports and newsreel-style interviews.

Despite the film making millions, the actors profited little of that success and even had to spend several months after the film’s release lying low as part of the marketing campaign to make fans believe they were actually missing and presumed dead like the movie alleged.

Donahue even had to issue a statement to the New York Times that she was still alive after someone marked her as deceased on IMDb, negatively impacting her career. 

Leonard went on to claim that after the movie’s original distributor Artisan boasted about having ‘the most profitable independent film ever,’ they told the cast they ‘were actually losing money from marketing expenses… so WE might wind up owing THEM $.’ 

The three actors were forced to take on odd jobs to pay their bills while the film broke records and raked in millions.

Artisan Entertainment, the company that bought the rights to the film for less than $2million, allegedly barred the publicist Donahue hired from booking her interviews and criticised Leonard for taking on another role.

In an interview with Variety the actors said that when the film broke $100million, they thought their payday for filming and improvising the movie would finally come – but they only received a fruit basket from Artisan.

The Blair Witch Project starred Heather Donahue, Michael Williams and Joshua Leonard (pictured) playing fictionalized versions of themselves

The film follows the disappearance of three student filmmakers in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary on the local legend known as the Blair Witch

The actors, who were in their early 20s when they filmed the Blair Witch Project, are still hoping to get some of the profits from the movie they said they were cheated out of.

Williams, now a high school guidance counselor, said he didn’t think much of it when he signed the contract for the film that stated he would have to use his real name for the character and was even excited at the prospect of being paid for his work, even if it was only $500-a-week.

He told Variety: ‘I did a lot of work for no pay. This said “paid”, so you’re like, “Oh, maybe I can be a professional.”‘

The contract also stated that the actors would be given a ‘one per cent participation in profits in excess of $1,000,000’, which Donahue said at the time seemed ‘ridiculous’.

The film brought in way more than just $1million in profits, but the one per cent profit the actors were entitled to was little pay, especially considering that their real names were so closely tied to the project.

They struggled to find other roles, as they say casting directors didn’t take them seriously. 

Money was tight and Donahue, who is now a farmer for medical marijuana, said she was still working a temp job when her car broke down one day – right underneath a billboard with her face on it. 

‘I had an interview with The Philadelphia Inquirer where I said something like, I’m the poorest famous person in America right now,’ Donahue told Variety. ‘Artisan reached out to tell me I can’t say that.’ 

Meanwhile Williams took on a job as a mover to pay the bills and Leonard ended up serving food to his own agent at a catering gig – all while they were appearing on magazine covers and TV shows due to the film’s success.

Williams tearfully told Variety: ‘I’m embarrassed that I let this happen to me.

‘Because everybody’s wondering what happened, and your wife is in the grocery line and she can’t pay because a check bounced. You’re in the most successful independent movie of all time, and you can’t take care of your loved ones,’ he added.

Months after the film’s release, the trio got a ‘performance bump’ in the low five figures, while Lionsgate, which bought Artisan, kept raking in money from using the actor’s names and likenesses in their marketing material and even in sequels.

And since they used their real names in the movie, Leonard wrote that ‘the studio claimed copyright,’ adding: ‘We had to take them to federal court to win OUR NAMES back’

Leonard explained that although it was previously reported that they were paid out $4 million dollars in the lawsuit, they only actually received $300,000 ‘and NEVER saw another dime’

Producer Jason Blum (pictured January) from horror production studios Blumhouse will revive the franchise for a ‘new generation’ – following the huge worldwide success of Blumhouse films including M3GAN, The Purge and Five Nights at Freddys

Donahue, Williams and Leonard sued Artisan in 2002 and were due to be paid a $300,000 settlement each – a meagre sum, considering that production company Haxan earned somewhere between $35million and $40million on the movie, according to the New York Times. 

Since they used their real names in the movie, Leonard, who still works as an actor and filmmaker, wrote recently wrote on social media that ‘the studio claimed copyright,’ adding: ‘We had to take them to federal court to win OUR NAMES back.’

Leonard explained that although it was previously reported that they were paid out $4 million dollars in the lawsuit, they only actually received $300,000 ‘and NEVER saw another dime.’

‘After buying a car and paying off his student loans, Mike was back moving furniture within 12 months of the release, while still on magazine covers,’ he added.

‘There were many factors that made BWP a success: timing, marketing, etc. But there was also the FACT that us weirdos got together, with virtually no resources, AND MADE A FILM THAT WORKED! Can we just go on record and say that the film itself is a huge part of why we’re still talking about it 25 years later?’

Leonard continued: ‘I’m so proud of our little punk-rock movie, and I LOVE the fans who keep the flames burning. 

‘But at this point, it’s 25 years of disrespect from the folks who’ve pocketed the lion’s share (pun intended) of the profits from OUR work, and that feels both icky and classless.’

Donahue, who has changed her name to Rei Hance since making the movie, shared the post to her Instagram Story in support.

Williams also shared to his story, writing: ‘Y’all wanna see some s***? @thejoshualeonard @reihance love you guys.’ 

It was announced in April that Lionsgate, alongside Blumhouse producer Jason Blum (Paranormal Activity, Halloween Ends, Five Nights at Freddy’s), were working on a ‘new generation’ of the Blair Witch.

Following the announcement, the actors wrote a public letter to Lionsgate last month, asking them to make residual payments to them ‘equivalent to the sum that would’ve been allotted through SAG-AFTRA, had we had proper union or legal representation when the film was made’.

They also asked for ‘meaningful consultation’ for any future Blair Witch movies that would use their names or likenesses.

In addition, they requested an annual grant of $60,000 – which was the budget for the Blair Witch Project’s original movie – to be paid out to unknown filmmakers by Lionsgate.

The trio hopes that young actors ‘don’t do what we did’ and that they can inflict change so it doesn’t happen to other young actors.

‘Giant corporations don’t care that this happens to young artists. It’s bullshit. And that’s got to change somehow,’ Williams said.