Ok, so, let's continue!
'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.
Next thing.
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.
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.
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 is 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.
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 an 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 revealing 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.