Do you like scary movies?
- Uh-uh.
- It's October.
Halloween is on the way, and that means it's time for some blood, guts, and gore.
This is a Supersized episode, so let's not waste any time.
Here are nine things you didn't know about the 'Scream' films, probably.
(Noise) 'Scream's' opening sequence set the tone for the film as a whole right
away, and let the audience know that they could take their expectations and shove '.
And one critical element of that first sequence is the voice of the killer
on the phone.
What you probably didn't know is that isn't the voice of anyone we actually
see in the film.
It's a voice actor named "Roger Jackson", who was a local hire in Santa Rosa,
California, where they were filming.
They'd been searching high and low trying to cast the killers voice, and
decided to bring in "Jackson" as a temp until they found their permanent option.
But he was so good that he wound up playing the voice.
Literally, he's credited just as the voice all the way through 'Scream 2, 3, and 4'.
And if you had no idea that they even made a 'Scream 4',
consider that boom a bonus thing.
"Drew Barrymore" wanted to make sure she felt the maximum amount of tension
in her scenes where she's on the phone with her killer.
So even though they had "Jackson" outside the house talking to her on the phone in
real time for each scene,
she made sure that she never met him face to face until she was wrapped.
That right there is boom, a legitimate bonus thing you didn't know, moving on.
(Sound) Even though are four 'Scream' films, there are even more installations
in the 'Scary Movie' franchise, which has made a killing parodying 'Scream'.
Sorry.
Anyway, what most people don't know is the original title for
'Scream' was 'Scary Movie'.
They had crew shirts, hats and,
you know, scripts, obviously, all printed with the title, 'Scary Movie'.
- It's a scream baby.
- Stu's line right there was only added toward the end of shooting
when they changed the name to 'Scream' in the fourth quarter.
It was 'Miramax' who had decided they should change the name and
the late "Wes Craven" actually hated it at first.
But once 'Scream' came out and went on to be the success that it was,
he later said that he couldn't imagine it being named anything else.
(Sound) If you're watching this,
then you should already know what happens to Stu in 'Scream', so
you'll probably be surprised to hear that Stu is actually in 'Scream 2'.
Technically, it's more of an Easter egg, but since "Matthew Lillard" and
"Neve Campbell" were dating at the time of filming,
he happened to be hanging around set that day.
Next thing you know, they're sneaking should be a dead character into the party
scene, so keep your eyes peeled for
a blurry background zombie Stu next time you're watching 'Scream 2'.
(Sound) "The Ghost Face Killer," obviously not that "Ghostface Killah",
the one from 'Scream'.
Well, the ghost face mask has become as iconic as "Jason's" hockey mask, or
"Michael Myers'" mask, wig, all in one thing.
But these days, most people don't realize that the Ghost Mask wasn't an original.
It was an off the shelf item they found while location scouting for the film, and
it was common enough to be found at pretty much any Halloween store.
"Kevin Williamson's" script for 'Scary Movie', as it was known at the time,
simply indicated that the killer wore a ghost mask.
Production had to sort out the rest, including how to make sure that you
wouldn't be able to guess the killer from the hands, pants, or shoes.
They had originally planned for
the killer's costume to be white on account of the whole ghost theme.
It was "Marianne Maddalena", one of the producers,
who suggested they change the costume to black to make it more menacing.
Hopefully, they gave her a raise after that one.
And that also makes boom, another bonus thing.
(Sound) 'Scream' wound up being a lot better and
way more successful than anyone was expecting.
The later films, not so much.
A lot of people feel that the franchise took a turn for
the worse with 'Scream 3', so it probably won't be a surprise to hear that they
basically didn't even have a script ready before they started filming 'Scream 3'.
Production had rented stages and built sets before there was any script.
Since they were on the hook paying for everything they had to get going and
just wrote the script on the fly as they were shooting which is why it's so good.
The actors were getting handed script pages they had never even seen before
right there on set.
- ' what's it say?'.
It says quit playing to the cheap seats, "Emily Mortimer".
Next thing (Sound).
This grain shot outside the school in 'Scream' is pretty cool the way it just
swoops down and then keeps going on at ground level.
want to know how they did it?
Well, too bad because I'm about to tell you anyway.
They achieved this shot by having the steady cam operator standing on the crane,
stepping off of it onto the sidewalk and then continuing the shot on foot.
Which is super clever and also super dangerous probably.
(Sound) 'Scream 2' will celebrate it's 20th anniversary this December.
Boom, bonus thing.
So a lot of people have forgotten how much the first film helped to revive "Wes
Craven's" career.
After 'New Nightmare' and
' Vampire in Brooklyn', things weren't exactly going great.
So it was only fitting that he make this cameo in 'Scream' wearing the original
costume from ' A Nightmare on Elm Street', one of his most famous films.
Plus, in this scene, when "Sid" is trying to call for
help through the computer inter-webs the address she types in is 34 Elm Street.
We just don't get to see it because it was cut for pacing.
Another reference to the 'Elm Street' franchise that could have been and
another bonus thing you didn't know.
As long as we're on bonus things, "Craven" also had a cameo in 'Scream 3'.
There he is behind "Jay" and "Silent Bob" holding the camera.
And the guy with him eating popcorn, that's the DP who by the way also has
a cameo in 'Scream 2' where he's serving popcorn so now you know that.
You're welcome.
(Sound) Let's talk about this scene from the second film because there
is a near disaster on set filming.
The guy underneath the stage controlling the Co2 dropped his mask during a take.
But because of all the smoke, which in a case of truly unfortunate irony,
he was generating, he couldn't see well enough to pick up his mask.
Luckily, the crew heard his cries for help in time and some stage hands were able to
jump down there and rescue him so he didn't, you know, asphyxiate and die.
Last thing.
(Sound) Let's end with the beginning.
Going back to "Drew Barrymore's" sequence in the first film.
There was a lot of push back from the MPAA because of the violence in 'Scream'.
And being able to secure a R rating was on the line.
In this shot,
you know, when she gets stabbed really no other way to describe it.
The NPAA thought it was just way too intense and wanted it swapped out for
another take that was less graphic, but "Wes Craven" lied to them and said that
he didn't have another take so that he could keep the one he wanted to use.
Can't believe that actually worked, but well played Craven.
Then for this reveal shot of her hanging in the tree,
the reason it plays at this sped up rate was not an artistic choice.
To please the MPAA, they cut every other frame,
which meant the shot would play 50% faster, versus playing in real time.
And by the way, that's not even "Drew Barrymore" hanging in
a harness wearing special effects makeup.
That's just a dummy with a wig that they hung in the tree.
And that's just one last quick bonus thing for the road.
Well that's it for us on our 100th episode of 'Things You Didn't Know'.
- That's why we're on camera right now, we wanted to give you guys a special thanks
for sticking with us through upwards of one episode, if this is your first one.
- Yeah, welcome by the way.
- But if you are in the 100th club, thanks for all those views.
That's 100 episodes worth of Tasty Hoots and Tuchipaloozas.
- And the hot cans.
Don't forget the hot cans.
- Can't forget the hot cans.
- You are looking at the team behind the show.
It's not as many people as you think.
It's just us.
- So make sure to subscribe and stick around for
more truish things about movies.
And sometimes "Stanley Tucci", even though when we didn't talk about "Stanley Tucci".
- I mean, we found a way to work him in though.
- We worked him - Right here on 'Things you didn't know.'
(Music)
- This isn't a movie.
- Sure it is, Sid.
It's all a movie.
It's all one great big movie.