The Struggle Behind Friday the 13th: A Writer's Unusual Fundraising Attempt

When Sean Cunningham, the director of the horror film "Friday the 13th," was trying to mimic the success of "Halloween," he faced a dilemma. He needed more money than the original $350,000 budget of "Halloween. " So, he boosted his budget to $550,000. The movie went on to make nearly $60 million, a huge success. But the road to this success wasn't easy. The story of "Friday the 13th" revolves around a group of camp counselors who arrive at Camp Crystal Lake in New Jersey. They spend their time smoking marijuana, having sex, and sharing ghost stories about Jason Voorhees, who drowned in the lake years ago. Soon, an unknown killer starts murdering them one by one. Could Jason be back for revenge? The original script was titled "A Long Night at Camp Blood," but Cunningham wanted it renamed to "Friday the 13th. " After the movie, the writer, Victor Miller, went on to be nominated for eight Emmys for his work on soap operas. But in 1980, during the filming of "Friday the 13th," the movie was in dire need of funds. In a 2015 interview, Miller recalled a desperate attempt to raise money. He tried to sell his blood to a scientific study. Unfortunately, he didn't get paid for it. This unusual fundraising attempt is a stark reminder of the challenges behind the scenes of a successful movie.