History Trivia / TheBlairWitchProject

** Heather's infamous "WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!?" moment during the nighttime chase is never given clarity. According to the directors, she didn't get a usable shot at what they had been creating for them[[note:Literally just crew dressed like bedsheet ghosts[[/note]] when filming the moment.

* ViralMarketing: Including a [[http://www.blairwitch.com/ decently designed website]] that's still up as of October 2014. The three actors were even briefly listed as 'Missing, Presumed Dead' on IMDB. Heather Donahue's mother also received numerous sympathy cards from strangers who thought her daughter had actually gone missing.

* TheRedStapler: Burkittsville, MD, a quiet little town of less than 200 people, was flooded with tourists after the film's release. Its residents were not happy.

* RealLifeRelative: The waitress who asks about Blair High School is played by one of the director's sisters.

** The movie was originally going to be half found footage and half mockumentary, but the directors felt that the found footage part was scarier so trimmed down most of the interviews and released them as the 'Curse of the Blair Witch' mockumentary that aired on the Sci-Fi channel

** The Blair Witch was apparently supposed to be seen in the film. As the group is fleeing through the woods, Heather screams "What the fuck is that?! ''What the fuck is that''?!" after apparently seeing something the camera never picks up on. The camera operator was supposed to pan to the left were the audience would briefly see a [[WomanInWhite woman wearing a white gown]] in the distance. However, the operator forgot to pan to the left and the scene was never reshot.

** The movie was originally going to be half found footage and half mockumentary, but the directors felt that the found footage part was scarier so trimmed down most of the interviews and released them as the 'Curse of the Blair With' mockumentary that aired on the Sci-Fi channel

* NoBudget: Made for a meager $60,000, not that [[JustifiedTrope a story like this would require much more]]. The cameras used were even returned to the Circuit City where they were purchased once shooting wrapped (this despite the fact that one of the lenses popped out during filming). It also has the highest profit-to-budget ratio for an independent movie since the original ''Film/MadMax''.

** Multiple ideas for the ending included a life size stick figure chasing the students, and Mike being hanged/found pinned to the wall like a stick figure.

* TheDanza: The three main characters share their names with their actors.

* NoBudget: Made for a meager $60,000, not that [[JustifiedTrope a story like this would require much more]]. The cameras used were even returned to the Circuit City where they were purchased once shooting wrapped (this despite the fact that one of the lenses popped out during filming). It also has the highest gross-to-budged intake for an independent movie since the original ''Film/MadMax''.

* ViralMarketing: Including a [[http://www.blairwitch.com/ decently designed website]] that's still up as of October 2014. To the point where the three actors were listed as 'Missing, Presumed Dead' on IMDB. Heather Donahue's mother even received numerous sympathy cards from strangers who thought her daughter had actually gone missing.

** Multiple ideas for the ending included a life size stick figure chasing the students, Mike being hanged or else found pinned to the wall like a stick figure.

** Josh was originally scripted to be attracted to Heather, though she would be oblivious to this. It was dropped out of fear of seeing too cliche.

** Pay attention to Heather's screams at the end; according to the directors, she wasn't acting, and was.freaking out for real.

* RealLifeRelative: The waitress who asks about Blair High School is played by one of the director's sister.

* TheRedStapler: Burkittsville, MD, a quiet little town of less than 200 people, was flooded with tourists after the film's release. The residents of Burkittsville were not happy.

* EnforcedMethodActing: The actors were screened for their improvisational ability, and given a 35-page outline of the movie. All dialogue was improvised. The directors began rationing the actors' food to make them as hungry as their characters. They were not told when strange noises would be made, or when the tent would be attacked. Makes for some great acting.

* ViralMarketing: Including a [[http://www.blairwitch.com/ decently designed website]] that's still up as of October 2014.

!!The Blair Witch Project

!! Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2

* TheDanza: Though only of first names.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Artisan recut the film and re-shot certain scenes to add more "traditional" horror movie elements instead of the ambiguous flick the director was aiming at. Among other things they also changed the soundtrack to heavy metal and rock. Oh, and that "Book of Shadows" which appears nowhere in the film? Studio addition.
* FranchiseKiller: A trilogy was planned. The second film performed so badly that the third film was scrapped.
* HeyItsThatGuy: One of the group is [[Series/BurnNotice Michael Westen!]]

* ViralMarketing: Including a [[http://www.blairwitch.com/ decently designed website]] that's still up as of February 2013.

* HeyItsThatGuy: One of the group is [[BurnNotice Michael Westen!]]

* ExecutiveMeddling: Artisan recut the film and re-shot certain scenes to add more "traditional" horror movie elements instead of the ambiguous flick the director was aiming at.

* ViralMarketing: Including a [[http://www.blairwitch.com/ decently designed website]] that's still up as of 6/19/2012.