First step into the spotlight
John woke up, the familiar sounds of his parents' morning routine filling the air. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted through the kitchen as he made his way to join his parents in the dining room. His father, engrossed in the newspaper, nodded in acknowledgment, while his mother glanced up from the TV screen, her eyes reflecting a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Morning," John greeted, taking a seat at the table. He poured himself a bowl of cereal, the clinking of the spoon against the ceramic echoing in the room.
As he took his first bite, he turned his attention to the news program playing on the television. The anchor's voice caught his attention, delivering unsettling news from the town of Burkittsville in Maryland. Three students from UCLA had gone missing while working on a documentary about the local ghost story known as the Blair Witch.
John watched as the camera cut to a reporter on the scene, standing before a dense forest backdrop. The reporter began recounting the details, but his words were interrupted by a deputy calling from the background. Something had been found.
Intrigued, John watched intently as the camera crew, along with the sheriff and the reporter, ventured into the depths of the forest. Shadows danced among the trees, adding an eerie atmosphere to the unfolding events. They stumbled upon an abandoned campsite, adorned with stick figures dangling ominously. The camera zoomed in on the site, capturing the chilling evidence.
A deputy held up some personal belongings, including a camera. The sheriff, his gaze fixed on the device, realized it held a tape—a possible record of what had transpired. His voice laced with curiosity and caution, he suggested that the tape might reveal what had happend to students.
Just as the sheriff turned to address the camera crew, a commotion erupted behind him. The tension escalated, and the camera abruptly cut off, leaving the viewers with a lingering sense of unease.
The news program returned to the anchorman, who couldn't help but wonder aloud about the contents of the tape.
As John's attention remained fixed on the television screen, his mother suddenly reached out and switched off the TV, breaking the tension in the room. "That was quite chilling," she remarked, her voice laced with a mix of unease and fascination.
John, caught off guard by his mother's comment, struggled to find the right words to respond. Before he could articulate his thoughts, however, his father burst into laughter, his amusement reverberating through the room.
His mother shot a stern look at his father, her brow furrowing with worry. "You shouldn't make light of such things, Henry. We don't know what happened to those students. It's not something to jest about."
Amidst his laughter, Henry managed to regain his composure and speak. "The entire spot was thought up by your son for his movie," he said, pointing a finger at John. "It's all part of his clever marketing strategy."
His mother's expression shifted from concern to confusion. She turned her gaze towards John, searching for an explanation. "Is this true, John?" she asked, her voice tinged with a mix of disbelief and uncertainty.
John took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Yes, Mom," he replied.
His mother remained silent, trying to process the information. After a moment, she finally spoke, her tone cautious. "Lots of people might be upset with this kind of marketing tactic. They won't appreciate being misled."
"We knew that lots of people would not like being deceived like that. That's why our names are in no way connected to it. It was all part of a carefully planned marketing campaign." John responded " But believe me, this will definitely be a success. So many people will believe in it, just like you did. And with the money we make from this, I'll be able to repay you for the money and finally make my first public movie."
His mother's response was skeptical. "If you make enough money," she said, her voice tinged with a hint of doubt.
John smiled confidently. "You believed it, Mom. I'm sure many others will too. This will be a truly remarkable success, just wait and see."
As the days passed, news articles and televised stories continued about the missing students and the Blair whitch. The marketing campaign stirred intrigue among the public, with debates raging over its authenticity. But the true bombshell came when the tape got "leaked" and hit the theaters a few weeks later.