The Blair Witch Project (Extended FanEdit)

[dan1015uk]

Hey peeps,

First of all i wanted to introduce myself as a new member, Im Dan, a filmmaker from the UK. I remember very vividly being a teenage in 1999 when I first heard about the film, most likely it was hype coming out of Sundance. I remember seeing a quick piece on the TV about the film and possibly hearing something on the radio too.
As a huge Horror fan then (and still to this day) my interest was well and truly piqued, from then on I tried to find out everything I could about the movie, almost obsessively.
When the film finally arrived in UK cinemas (Probably 4-6 months after the US) I went to see it and was totally mind-blown by the movie. Safe to say the obsession grew and I went home and ordered the Region 1 DVD and then spent a further amount on modding my DVD player just so i could own the movie and watch it over and over.
The Blair Witch Project is still one of my favourite movies, and definitely influences me as a filmmaker today, so this brings me on to why I'm here and making this post.

As a filmmaker I have a lot of tools at my disposal, I shoot and edit my own work and do a lot of work editing other peoples projects too.
With this in mind I really want to have a stab at cutting together an "Extended Fan Edit" of the film.
Yes, I know this has been said before on many forums, but to this day I haven't seen a proper version appear. So please, with the help of as many of you as possible, I'd like to start work on this, I'm not trying to improve the movie, just put together the longest cut of it possible.
We all know the chances of an extended version coming from Lionsgate are slim to none. So here's what I'm looking for...
Any and all footage possible, any extended scenes, cut scenes, alternative footage, this includes the infamous workprint. I realise the PQ of some of this footage may vary, seen a lot of extra stuff on youtube but would need to have original (or close to original) files, but whatever you guys have got i'd love you to send me some links to my inbox if possible.

As a side note I want to explain that I'm taking this extremely seriously.
I will be remastering the footage to the best of my ability, this includes a full colour grade and sound mix too, this isn't just a quick "Throw it together" edit, I want to spend some decent time putting this together and make it the best it can be for all us BWP fans to enjoy.

Sorry for such a long post, I really appreciate anything and everything you guys can do to help with this.

- Dan

[Tweek]

Welcome aboard!

Sounds like an ambitious project you've got there. I'm sure there are folks here that can help.

[dan1015uk]

Hey, thank you for the warm welcome. Yes it's going to be a lot of work but hopefully well worth the effort, I totally appreciate any and all help you wonderful folk could give me, I hope one day an official release will be made, but sadly it doesn't look like it's happening too soon. Guess this is the next best thing.

[majorvanwinkle]

Is this project taking any steam? The fanbase does truly need it. Love the initiative!

[kevbones]

I don't know if OP is still on board with this, but if not, I'll gladly take the initiative and do it! It's been a big passion of mine to cobble together an extended fan edit so I would love to take a crack at it. If you all would like to PM me any deleted scenes you have, I'd gladly appreciate it.

[Tweek]

Jan 26, 2020 22:23:34 GMT -6 kevbones said:

I don't know if OP is still on board with this, but if not, I'll gladly take the initiative and do it! It's been a big passion of mine to cobble together an extended fan edit so I would love to take a crack at it. If you all would like to PM me any deleted scenes you have, I'd gladly appreciate it.

Go for it!

[kevbones]

Would anyone happen to have the "Newly Discovered Footage" that was on the DVD/VHS? Only one I can find is the rough copy on YouTube.

[tizerist]

I’ve got all the deleted scenes, plus the ‘salad’ version of the movie, I’ve also written down where each of the deleted scenes should slot into the movie.
If anyone wants any of these files, they’re more than welcome

[FormallyBlair]

You have the salad version? If you get a chance, please PM me the link!
I've been looking for that for years.

[Frances]

My friend recently asked me to make him an extended cut of the film using some of the unseen footage. I have Crybaby bridge and the motel poetry scene but does anyone have any other links to scenes not used in the film (semi decent quality)?

[FormallyBlair]

Hello my friend!

Most of the deleted scenes can be found on BlairWitch.com
They are hidden all over the site, but you can find most of them on the 'Legacy' page.
www.blairwitch.com/legacy.html


There's a 4:00 deleted scene at the end of Stick and Stones



"Newly Discovered Footage"



This 2012 thread has most of the deleted scenes
blairwitch.proboards.com/thread/2421/blair-witch-project-documentaries-download


All other deleted scenes are on the Sundance cut or the FX TV version

Hope this helps!

[Frances]

Thank you so much and yes I would love to get a link to your extended cut 🙂. Will you post it here or shall I send my email?

[Frances]

I sent it earlier, did you receive it?

[ouija]

Good Afternoon Everyone!

New to the Board today and I have no idea how I didn't discover this awesome place sooner. Not to hijack another's thread, but seeing as the OP hasn't posted in a bit and my comment is related I figured this would be a good place to post. I can create another if that would be better.

I'm in the planning stages of my own Blair Witch FanEdit/Extended Edition Project. My love of BW goes beyond just the first film but also into the lore and the world that has been created. I'm still in the idea stages, but I THINK I would like to create a series of short films or "episodes" using the existing material and deleted scenes that we have access to.

It would look something like this:

1. Blair Witch: The Legend [Footage from Split Screen Episodes, the 4 Mockumentaries, and other sources all about the "historical" lore that has been built up around the area. A way to watch all of this footage in one place without redundant and duplicate interviews]

2. Blair Witch: The Recovery [Footage from Split Screen Episodes, the 4 Mockumentaries, and other sources all about the "recovery" of the footage from the first film and the process of "assembling it" into TBWP.]

3. The Blair Witch Project: The Recovered Footage [The main film with as many extended/deleted/extra scenes as I can edit back in using, The Workprint, Website/CD/DVD deleted scenes, "Salad Cut", Crybaby Bridge etc.]

4. Blair Witch: The Black Hill Murders [Shadow of the Blair Witch, a heavily cut down Book of Shadows, and other sources to effectively turn this concept into something similar to "A Haunting" or other dramatized "True Crime/Spooky Shows" with talking heads and reenactments.] I don't hate Book of Shadows, but for this project this format makes more sense in my head.

5. Blair Witch (2016): If I were marathoning this, I would then probably watch the 2016 movie here. Not likely going to touch it.

I'm very excited to have a creative project to work on for a bit. I'm not a video editing expert, but I've dabbled for 15 years or so and am proficient at the basics. I have extensive formal music training, but Sound Mixing and Color Grading might be a bit out of my wheelhouse, but I'm also always looking to learn!

Anyways! I need some help filling in possible gaps in my current sources and deleted scenes. Here is what I currently have to work with at the moment [all in wildly varying quality of course]:

- The Main Films
- The Blair Witch Project Workprint
- Both Split-Screen Episodes
- Curse of the Blair Witch
- Sticks & Stones
- The Burkittsville 7
- Shadow of the Blair Witch

- The Following Deleted Scenes:
- "Lost" from the CD
- The Website Deleted Scenes [bones, can1, can8, can11, cemetaryscrewup, confession, leavepacks, ontrail, packs, puttingon, thisismyhome]
- Outtakes
- Poetry Scene
- Alternate Endings

Here is what I think I still need that's floating around out there:

- Crybaby Bridge Scene
- "Salad Cut"
- FX TV Cut
- Anything else I may have missed along the way.

Any help for those missing clips or any I'm not aware of/have forgotten would be extremely appreciated! And any input or ideas on this concept are always welcome. I'm excited to check out this community a bit more!

Thanks All!

[FormallyBlair]

Howdy there, ouija

First let me say welcome aboard!
Second, I'm a huge fan of this episode style take on the Blair Witch mythos.


You can snag Cry Baby Bridge at Woodsmovie.com
web.archive.org/web/20110718081857/http://www.woodsmovie.com/

As for the "Salad Cut",
The workprint is the salad cut. People just call it that due to the extra "This is our salad" scene in the workprint.

I'm assuming you have the deleted scenes at the end of Sticks and Stones?
1 - Mike and Heather at the tent
2 - Volunteer Firefighter interview


There's also the "Newly Discovered Footage" on the DVD - The one with the trio in the tent discussing what's chasing them.


Hope this helps!

[ouija]

Feb 22, 2021 22:21:19 GMT -6 FormallyBlair said:

Howdy there, ouija

First let me say welcome aboard!
Second, I'm a huge fan of this episode style take on the Blair Witch mythos.


You can snag Cry Baby Bridge at Woodsmovie.com
web.archive.org/web/20110718081857/http://www.woodsmovie.com/

As for the "Salad Cut",
The workprint is the salad cut. People just call it that due to the extra "This is our salad" scene in the workprint.

I'm assuming you have the deleted scenes at the end of Sticks and Stones?
1 - Mike and Heather at the tent
2 - Volunteer Firefighter interview


There's also the "Newly Discovered Footage" on the DVD - The one with the trio in the tent discussing what's chasing them.


Hope this helps!

Thanks for the welcome!

And thank you for being immensely helpful! I'm not sure how I missed the "this is our salad" bit in the workprint, but it has been a minute since I fully watched it. Checked right now and there it was!

I do have the Sticks and Stones scenes from my personal VHS and the DVD footage as well.

Now I just need to figure out how to get to the WoodsMovie files on the Wayback machine. With Flash being moot, it's a pain navigating over there, but thank you for pointing me in that direction!

I'm glad someone else thinks this idea is neat. I'm getting all of my sources compiled and organized and then it'll be time to start chopping and storyboarding out some stuff. This'll probably be an ongoing project, but I'll update as I finish certain tasks. 

Thanks Again!

 

[FormallyBlair]

No problem!

Keep us updated on the project!
It's a fantastic idea.

I'm particularly interested in episodes 1&2. I never thought about combining all the mocks together. Bravo!

Oh and I'll send you Cry Baby Bridge later today.

[ouija]

Feb 23, 2021 10:29:34 GMT -6 FormallyBlair said:

I'm particularly interested in episodes 1&2. I never thought about combining all the mocks together. Bravo!

Thanks! That's actually what sparked this whole idea. The Mockumentaries have a special place in my heart and as I was doing a marathon of everything and thought it might be neat to have the mock footage all in one video to keep the flow of the marathon consistent and to eliminate any dupe interviews throughout. And once a creative idea crosses my mind I can never quite let it go, so here I am!

I'll likely be assembling the episodes in this order, though I do have to wait for one final source to arrive (The UK DVD of BOS for higher quality B7 & Shadow. I have the Spain Blu, but there are some hardcoded subs on B7 I want to nix). I'm going to map all of the scenes with the current sources I have though so when it arrives I just need to plug them in.

And thank you very much for sending Crybaby later! I could access the hidden page, but could not for the life of me get the video to play. That will be extremely helpful!

I'll definitely update as I go along!

[FormallyBlair]

Gathering the high def mocks will definitely be crucial. I want to see Bill Barnes in full HD.
It's funny we have to go International to find them in good quality.

[blairwitchrestore]

I'd love to see an extended cut if anybody has the link or can tell me where? I've actually spent the last year collecting all the docs including the uk one with mark kermode which came from a nice archived tv broadcast and the movies/additional material for an all out ultimate blu ray

[FormallyBlair]

Interesting! What is this UK version you speak of?

[blairwitchrestore]

It just a doc from the UK with famous UK critic Mark Kermode and they interview the cast and briefly talk about the merchandise and making of the film, think it aired the year it came out, you can see it on youtube but as i said i got a copy from a guy who used to work in tv and he kept a nice complete copy, also came across the original vhs and dvd versions that kept the entire frame as i know in subsequent dvds and blu ray they cropped the image.

[FormallyBlair]

That is quite awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Do you still have access to the film in its original format?

[blairwitchrestore]

If you mean the original uncropped 4:3s yeah i still have them both the dvd and vhs versions

[jmexplorations]

May 20, 2021 10:20:19 GMT -6 blairwitchrestore said:

If you mean the original uncropped 4:3s yeah i still have them both the dvd and vhs versions

That's awesome!!!