At one time, Harvey Weinstein was the most influential and powerful Hollywood producer. Through his production company Miramax, various award-winning films were made and every actor/actress wanted to be associated with him. The studio was responsible for Oscar-winning films like Pulp Fiction, The Crying Game, Good Will Hunting, and Shakespeare in Love.
The studio was already among other prestige names in Hollywood by the late 90s. The studio supported both commercial films as well as indie filmmakers who were trying to make their name in the industry. However, they passed on the opportunity to distribute a micro-budget horror film The Blair Witch Project in 1999, which went on to become a big commercial success.
Miramax Missed Out On Nabbing One of The Greatest Success Stories in Hollywood
By the 90s, Miramax was putting out some of the best films of the decade and had a great reputation among filmmakers and actors. Harvey Weinstein and his team were very involved in what films they chose to distribute, frequently welcoming new artists and filmmakers who wanted their voices heard (for example Matt Damon & Ben Affleck with Good Will Hunting and Kevin Smith with Clerks).
In the late 90s, student filmmakers Daniel Myrick and Eduardo Sánchez had an idea for a film titled The Blair Witch Project. The film was shot with a small budget of over $200,000 (via The Hollywood Reporter) and was a found footage style feature chronicling three students who disappear while exploring the myth of the Blair Witch.
The director-writer duo pitched their idea to several independent studios including Miramax. However, according to What Culture, Jason Blum who was working in Miramax at the time, passed on the opportunity to distribute it. Artisan Entertainment eventually struck a deal with Myrick and Sánchez to be the film’s distributor domestically.
Upon release in 1999, The Blair Witch Project received race reviews from critics and fans. The film became one of the most profitable films ever made, grossing $248 million against its $200,000 budget (via Box Office Mojo). The Blair Witch Project also started the whole genre of found footage films and is considered a landmark horror film. Miramax and Weinstein surely missed out big time by passing on the film.
Gwyneth Paltrow Fought Back Against Harvey Weinstein’s Tantrums On Shakespeare in Love
In the 90s, Gwyneth Paltrow featured frequently in films produced under Harvey Weinstein‘s Miramax such as The Talented Mr. Ripley, Emma, The Pallbearer, and Shakespeare in Love. The disgraced producer was known for his authoritative conduct and frequently butted heads with Paltrow during their collaborations.
During an interview with Variety, as she recollected making the latter, Paltrow revealed that Weinstein was a bully but had no problem standing up to him and pushing back against his erratic demands. Additionally, the actress stated that they made a beautiful film and its image is not tarnished by Weinstein’s disgraced reputation. She said,
He was a bully. I never had a problem standing up to him. I wasn’t scared of him. I also felt for a period of time, I was the consumer face of Miramax, and I felt it was my duty to push back against him. We had a lot of fights. It’s a beautiful film. A movie is not going to be successful if it’s not a good movie, not like that.
Shakespeare in Love was a career-defining film for Paltrow as she won an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in the film. The film also went on to win Oscars for Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actros for Dame Judi Dench, and Best Picture.
Fans can watch/rent Shakespeare in Love on Apple TV+.
The Blair Witch Project is available to rent on Apple TV+.
