One of Sam’s most successful projects was the film The Blair Witch Project (1999).
The Blair Witch Project was one of the most creative and influential films in history. Named the most profitable film in history. Named top ten scariest films of all time.
Focus In …..November 29, 2000, Los Angeles California. Sam Barber creative genius behind the Blair Witch Project, a record-breaking $245 million worldwide hit,……
” Micro-budgeted fright fest alters film landscape. Coveted covers of Time and Newsweek more than 133.8 million in domestic box office filmmaker and actor appearances on Good Morning America the Today Show CBS This Morning and the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
New York Times:
Like a cabin built entirely out of soda cans the Blair Witch Project is a nifty example of how to make
something out of nothing nothing but imagination and a game plan so enterprising it should elevate its
creators to pinup status at film schools everywhere shot in only eight days with no real script this little
movie is a locomotive pulling a website by mythology a special on the sci-fi channel and assorted tie ins
in its wake. And all of it, including the films cult status has been skillfully spun out of thin air.
Here is another milestone in film history, after years of effort, it looked like overnight success. But the truth is when we started it at Barber Myrick Pictures, it was three guys talking to their friends and emails about the project. Years of effort led to a revolution in filmmaking and marketing which included, four walling, screening the film on your own, which was really a beautiful effort of independent film making.
Variety
“Blair witch.com has 34,465,895 hits to date”
Rolling Stone
“I have seen the new face of movie horror and its name is the Blair Witch Project, a groundbreaker in
fright that reinvents scary for the new millennium.”
Rolling Stone
“Scary as hell”
BUT THERE IS ALWAYS A STORY BEHIND THE STORY ……….The original film copyright
Orlando Business Journal November 29, 1996
Dan Myrick, President of Barber Myrick Pictures met eventual partner Sam Barber at the 1995
Brouhaha where Myrick was screening one of his films. Sam saw my film and liked it, Myrick says,
particularly some of the Western John Rea elements. It turned out he was working on another western
project and asked if I was interested in being part of a core group of professionals forming a film
company.
Barber Myrick Pictures, which is based at Chapman Leonard studio and production center, has since that
time completed a documentary called the Blair Witch project, based on the story of three filmmakers
who vanished while doing a project about witches.
Barber Myrick also has another feature film in development that is being auctioned in LA right now,
Myrick says. Other recent projects for the group include a project for Universal Studios Terminator, Two 3-D attractions, and work for Planet Hollywood themed restaurants based on Marvel comics.
“What happened with Dan Myrick and Sam Barber is something to really feel good about,” Mondello
says.
Moviemaker Magazine
In January, local director/DP Dan Myrick joined forces with actor/director Sam Barber to form Barber
Myrick Pictures, a production co-op of local independent filmmakers aimed at developing and
producing feature films.
The two met last year at the Brouhaha film and video showcase. Sam moved to Orlando from Colorado after a nationwide search for a location to build a hub for independent film making. The first feature produced by Barber Myrick is the Black Chapters Trilogy.
The Blair Witch Project and Rendezvous are two other projects in development.
Focus In December, 2000
Blair Witch Creator unveils new project
November 29, 2000, Los Angeles California. Sam Barber creative genius behind the Blair Witch
Project, a record-breaking $245 million worldwide hit, is involved in his latest project.
Barber, president of Barber Myrick pictures, Dan Myrick and Haxan Films recently announced that
their long-standing dispute over screen credit in the Blair Witch Project has been resolved. The lawsuit
filed in 1998 first in Orange County in later in Los Angeles Federal Court by Barber against said
defendants was settled for an undisclosed sum.
As part of the agreement Barber relinquishes copyrights to the film in which he was a principal
participant in the creation process. Barber also relinquished his rights in the unreleased feature film the
Black Chapters Trilogy.
HERE IS A PREVIOUS QUOTE…
“John Marshall Oden, a lawyer for the three defendants, denies the theft (of the film and it’s assets from the office) allegation and says the lawsuit is harassment. The defendants have filed a counter suit of their own against Barber, alleging he tried to stop the movie’s release by interfering with their agreement with the distributor.”
BUT IN THE END…
Dan Myrick admitted removing both of the film projects from the Barber Myrick pictures offices.
Barber also agreed to relinquish the name of Barber Myrick pictures which will become Barbershop
Productions.
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Timeout New York
“An instant classic”
Entertainment Weekly
“One of the creepiest films since the Exorcist”
Film Comment
“The Blair Witch Project has reinvented the experience of the horror film”
Video Buzz Magazine
“Look out for October’s coolest video releases. You will will be glued to your seat while watching this
year’s most anticipated independent film, the Blair Witch Project.”
Village Voice
“The year’s scariest movie” 
