Chapter 109: The Film Wrapped Up
[Chapter 109: The Film Wrapped Up]
"I want to apologize to everyone. I was so naive, and I am truly, truly sorry for everything that happened."
In front of the camera, Renee Zellweger cried as she spoke into the lens.
"Whatever Mike says now, this is my fault. It was my idea to come here, and my insistence to keep going. I insisted that we weren't lost; I insisted we move south. I messed everything up. We're cold, we're hungry, we're hurt, and we might die out here. I love you, Mom and Dad. I'm so sorry."
...
"Cut!"
"I announce the film is wrapped!"
Link had spent eight days filming in Illinois, completing all the shots.
Due to a tight shooting schedule, they filmed six or seven scenes each day, sometimes working late into the night. By the end of it, everyone was exhausted. Link was tired too.
He had been traveling from one signing event to another, and after returning, he had no time to rest before heading back to the set. He hiked through the woods daily under the sun. If it weren't for his exceptional stamina, he would have struggled to keep up. The rest of the crew had followed him through the woods, rising early and working hard, and they were just as worn out.
After he announced the film was wrapped, cheers erupted from the crew.
---
"Link, when will we see the final cut?"
On the roadside, Sofia Coppola approached wearing a windbreaker.
"Next week, hopefully. I'll do my best to have the film edited by then," Link said as he packed up equipment with Chris Barnes.
"Great! Just remember to call me when it's done. If it looks bad, I don't want my name on it."
"It won't be bad; it's going to be a good film," Link replied with a smile.
"I don't know if the film is good, but you're definitely a great director. I've learned so much from you these past few days. Thank you."
Sofia's tone softened suddenly.
"Let's call it mutual learning. I've come from a more unconventional background, and working with you has taught me a lot. I think we're even now."
Link chuckled.
Sofia looked at him and suddenly teased, "Last time you said you wanted to take me out. Were you serious?"
"Last time? When was that?"
"The day after you gave me that novel Interstellar. I called to tell you how great I thought your work was, and you said 'yes,' that we should go out. Did you forget?"
"Oh, was that last month? I remember now. We have been spending time together constantly. Doesn't that count as a date?"
"Not at all! We're dirty every day, covered in either mud or sweat. That's not a date. I mean a proper date."
"Alright, once the film is done, I'll take you out for some great food."
"You'd better remember that."
Sofia hugged him before she got in her car and left.
...
Bang!
Chris Barnes heaved a large wooden crate into the back of a truck, wiping the sweat from his brow. "Link, that girl is definitely into you. I always see her staring at you in a daze."
"Don't be ridiculous. What's this? I don't remember there being anything that big in the props."
Link patted the crate.
"This is a prop. It's the handiwork of our props team over these past few days."
Chris opened the crate to show him. Inside were dozens of crosses and human-shaped puppets made of sticks and branches, along with strange symbols and over a dozen black stones.
These were the items found by the main characters when they got lost in the forest, supposedly used by the witch to cast spells.
In the film, they primarily served to create a horrifying atmosphere. For authenticity, Link had instructed the props team to use whatever they could find instead of relying on polished items, resulting in rough and abstract "witch items." At first glance, they looked like a pile of broken branches; upon closer inspection, they were still just broken branches.
"What are you planning to do with these things? Use them to start a fire?" Link teased.
"Ha! Don't underestimate these branches, they're worth something! Remember when we filmed Buried? Do you recall the props used?"
"What do you mean?"
"After that film wrapped, I kept all the props. There were phone models, lighters, flashlights, glow sticks, knives, and so on. When Buried became a hit, I heard those props can sell for quite a bit, so I tried to sell those props. Can you guess how much I made?"
"So you're planning to take these wooden sticks and sell them, huh?"
"Absolutely! I used to think being a prop master was pointless, but I've learned it's actually really fun. I get to use my skills creatively and make some extra cash. It's the best."
Chris flexed his arm muscles excitedly.
"Just take care of them! The film won't release for a few months, and you don't want them to turn to dust by then."
Link shook his head but didn't interfere with Chris's plans. Some props in the crew were rented, some purchased, and some created by the props team.
After filming, valuable props would often be divided and sold, while useless items would be discarded. It wasn't against the crew's rules for Chris to save a pile of useless wooden sticks for profit.
"Link, don't change the subject! I said Sofia is into you, but don't forget about Monica and Jennifer. My advice? Keep in shape; otherwise, all these girls will wear you out," Chris urged.
"Don't worry, I'm in good shape," Link replied, glancing over the equipment.
He asked Danny DeVito and Chris to double-check the load, and once they finished packing, they were ready to leave.
...
"Link, is there still room in the car?" Renee Zellweger arrived pulling a suitcase.
"Yeah, hop in the back," Link replied and placed her things in the trunk.
"Great, another one," Chris Barnes remarked, glancing at Renee as if worrying about Link's stamina.
"Are we all set?"
"Ready!"
"Let's go!"
---
After returning to Los Angeles, Link took a few days to rest before heading back to the editing studio to cut together The Blair Witch Project.
This film had a simple plot and structure: it followed a college student named Annie who, after hearing the story of the Blair Witch on the news, gathered two friends and drove to Illinois to find her.
Ultimately, they got lost in the woods and were killed by the Blair Witch.
A year later, the footage they left behind was discovered, documenting everything that happened to them before their disappearance. The movie tells the story of their journey from departure to death.
The original film premiered in 1999, made for $60,000 and grossed $248 million worldwide, pioneering the "found footage" horror film trend. This inspired many filmmakers to follow suit, including Paranormal Activity, which is a definite follower of that trend.
Now, he was set to film Paranormal Activity first, then The Blair Witch Project, reversing the order of these two films.
Whether this movie would achieve the same success as the original remained uncertain.
*****
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