Hoping to strike gold once again, the team behind the "The Blair Witch Project" has committed to filming an independent feature film, "The Possession," in Maryland next month at several locations in Washington County. The shoot will employ some of Maryland's film crews and help boost the local economy. The film's writer/director Eduardo Sanchez, producers Robin Cowie and Gregg Hale and their company Haxan Films' "The Blair Witch Project," which shot in Maryland on a micro budget more than a decade ago, went on to gross over $250 million worldwide. Haxan Films is making "The Possession" with Amber Entertainment, the production company of Mark Ordesky ("The Lord of the Rings" Trilogy) and Jane Fleming.
"We are excited to welcome Haxan Films and their talented team back to Maryland and are pleased that their positive experience here in 1999 is leading them to film their latest project here," says Gov. O'Malley. "We also welcome the opportunity to put some of our talented film crews back to work and positively impact the local economy."
"It feels great to finally shoot another film in my home state," says Sanchez, who lives in Maryland. "The last time went pretty well for us so we're hoping that Maryland brings us some luck again with "The Possession".
The movie's storyline begins as a simple horror film about things that go bump in the night but as it unfolds becomes a thriller about the evil power that exists inside one troubled young woman.
"The State of Maryland, the Maryland Film Office, the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau and local businesses have been extremely pro-active and supportive in bringing our film to Maryland," adds Cowie. "We look forward to creating jobs, hiring local cast and crew and a great production."
Source: Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development
Writer: Walaika Haskins