SCREAM: The Screenplay
Scream was one of those beautiful things that only come along once in a great while for a director. A brilliant, iconoclastic script. A true star (Drew Barrymore) already attached - which in turn brought in an entire cast of gifted, hot actors and actresses - and the support of a studio known worldwide for its smart, adventurous, and cutting-edge productions and distribution. I'll be eternally in debt to Kevin Williamson for his script, and to Bob Weinstein and Dimension Films for entrusting me with this project, to my wonderful cast, lead by Neve Campbell, and to the producers who worked so hard to make it all come before the cameras. Marianne Maddalena, Cathy Konrad, Cary Woods, and everyone at Miramax and Dimension all pulled off a miracle after miracle to bring the show in on time and on budget with the incredible look that it has.
From the beginning, Scream was almost impossible to categorize or predict. We called it by turns a black comedy or a contemporary thriller. Our detractors (and we had our share) called it a "slasher" at best, and a work of the devil at worst. We had to fight mightily to gain an R rating, and everyone thought we were insane to open during the Christmas "family" season. Even in our first week, one of the Hollywood trade papers called it "dead in the water." But shortly after that Scream simply took off - gaining rather than dropping from one week to the next, gaining the incredible word-of-mouth that made it one of the top-grossing pictures of the season, and arguably the most profitable. And the reviews were there, too. Critics citing its wit, its social commentary, its searing performances.
The rest, I suppose, is some sort of cinematic history. Less than one year later, Scream 2 is in the can, and advance word is that it is as good or better than the original. If that is in any way true, it is because so many of us that were involved with the first Scream elected to come back. I see Scream now going into still other forms; I'm sure it will make thrilling reading - enjoy!
-- Wes Craven
Los Angeles
October, 1997