Highlights from the commemoration of The Exorcist steps

The day before Halloween marked a special moment for the greater Georgetown community and for both William Friedkin, the director of The Exorcist, and William Peter Blatty, the Georgetown alumnus who wrote and produced the original book and film.

A real grassroots campaign that was funded and supported by Georgetown residents, the Dupont Festival organized an evening to commemorate the iconic “Exorcist Steps” together with both William Friedkin and William Peter Blatty in attendance.

Among those present were D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans, and our very own President Jack DeGioia.

The event kicked off with crowds lining up at the top of the Exorcist Steps in front of Car Barn to get their posters, DVDs, books, and even iPads autographed by Mr. Friedkin and Mr. Blatty. Following the signing session, a new plaque was unveiled at the bottom of the steps. An exclusive screening of The Exorcist with Mr. Friedkin for select invitees concluded the event.

Here were some of the highlights from the Festival:

Fans of all ages from all over DC, Virginia, Maryland, and elsewhere lining up for autographs:

A special moment when a woman who was in the film reconnected with director Will Friedkin, 46 years later:

I also got the chance to sit down with Mr. Friedkin and Mr. Blatty for a little Q/A. Apart from learning that the two had great senses of humor, here’s what I discovered:

Could you talk a little bit about the inspiration for that famous scene on the steps from the movie? Did it strike you all of a sudden or was there some kind of process involved in writing your book?

William Blatty: I used my imagination, that’s all. Oh, and I sat in front of a blank piece of paper, and, uhh, sweat 14 hours a day.

Did you know the movie was going to be such a hit and become as famous as it did when you were producing it?

William Friedkin: Mr. Blatty did! He might have, but I certainly didn’t. He wrote the book, and he believed in it when no one else did. No one else believed in it but the man who created it. Then all of a sudden, the whole world started to believe in it.”

Are you aware that students use the steps for work out purposes, either willingly or as part of an athletic team?

They used to do that back then too. They had to run up the steps in the old days! The crew team, I remember.

Do you have any advice or wisdom that you would like to pass along to students at Georgetown?

Stay straight, believe in God, do your homework.