Practical Magic
Part 1
Practical Magic (1998)
There's so much that can be said about this wonderful film! It's a true favorite of many real witches, but that doesn't mean it's without faults... Here's a behind the scenes story that I'd like to address:
Screenrant wrote for this films 20th anniversary:
"The making of Practical Magic got eerie when director Griffin Dunne hired a real witch to serve as a consultant. In return for her services, she was paid a fee and put up in a nice hotel. Dunne told Vulture that the witch surprised him with a phone call in which she inexplicably demanded a percentage of the film's profits and an additional $250,000 payment.
The producers obviously wouldn't agree to this, so the witch said she was going to put a curse on both the movie and its director. She later left Dunne a voicemail in which she threatened "a land of curses," then began speaking in tongues. The woman also attempted to sue Warner Bros. Unnerved, the studio paid her to go away."
First of all, I have a huge problem with any witch who puts on the act of cursing and speaking in tongues for personal profit! Seriously? I don't know of a single witch that would dare to do such a thing, but they are out there, obviously, since they seem to have hired one. Screenrant goes on to say that after the filming was over the director, Griffin Dunne, was so "unnerved" by having the curse put on the film as well as him personally, that he paid to have a sort of "exorcism".
The breakdown: Anyone can cast a curse, but the only way it will ever be affective is if the receiver believes in its power. Period. End of story. If Griffin Dunne was so unnerved by this then yes, it could have affected him, but ONLY because he became unnerved, NOT because some wackadoo "witch" pretended to cast a curse upon him and his production. The exorcism? Sure, any real witch can perform a ritual that will lift the curse... because the victim will BELIEVE that the curse is being lifted. Does the act of ritual help? Of course it does! Just ask anyone who has slipped their coffee addict some decaf in the morning and watch how they suddenly seem more awake... that is until the caffeine withdrawal sets in.
Until next time... mind your aunt Gypsy and don't go casting curses!
Gypsy Moon Fae
