In October 1999, Entertainment Tonight conducted a series of revealing and entertaining interviews with the cast of Scream 3 while the film was in production. These conversations gave fans behind-the-scenes insights, character explorations, and a sneak peek into the dynamic set environment of the final installment of the trilogy. Here’s what Courteney Cox, Neve Campbell, David Arquette, and Parker Posey shared during their time with ET:

• Courteney Cox Arquette
• Neve Campbell
• David Arquette
• Parker Posey

Interview with Courteney Cox

October 10, 1999

‘Scream’ queen Courteney Cox Arquette is becoming Gale Weathers again for the third installment in the ‘Scream’ series. Get the scoop as she chats with us from the set of ‘Scream 3’!

Bob Goen: I was talking to DAVID (ARQUETTE) and I was thinking about your schedule — between this, ‘Shrink’ and “Friends,” working out and pulling hip flexors and all that, you don’t look as exhausted as I would expect you to be!
Courteney Cox Arquette: Thank you! I have a lot of makeup on!

But are you tired? Does it wear you down after a while?
It has been such an exciting summer and an exciting time. Doing ‘The Shrink Is In‘ was such an important movie for me because it’s something I really believed in. It was a big deal for me and I executive produced it. I had so much energy riding on the excitement of doing that and then getting married — you know how exciting that can be! Then we went away and I relaxed so much. I read three books and did nothing. It was so relaxing. This is a great time. I love doing ‘Scream’ so much. I’m tired, but I don’t want to complain!

This has got to be a comfortable place for you. Tell me about the friendships and all that.
Well, a lot of people have been through all three of them. WES CRAVEN is one of my favorite people. He’s such a wonderful, sweet man. He was at my wedding — he really is a special friend to me. It’s a great team. I could go on and on, but it is kind of like going home. Like after a summer when I go back to “Friends.”

Is there the same kind of excitement over this particular installment of the trilogy?
Yes — probably more, in a way. We had a great time in the first one and in the second one, but they were different. I think they have taken the best of everything and put it all in the third one. I really think it’s the best one. It’s really funny. NEVE (CAMPBELL) is a real important character in this movie because she grounds in such reality. I was watching her — it’s like, “Wow! This makes it so real!” Then you have characters like Gale and Dewey who are a little over the top and silly. PARKER POSEY is in this one and she plays Gale Weathers in the making of ‘Stab 3.’

So she’s playing you?
She’s playing me and she’s hysterical.

Does she have you down?
She has me — up it a few notches.

Did you have to teach her you?
I always thought that Parker and I looked alike so much anyway — and then to see her with the blonde streaks, the ones I wore in ‘Scream.’

So your character is playing an entertainment show reporter?
Yes.

Where do you go for your research for that character? Please say me!
You! She started out as a newscaster and she was on gossip shows, and she is in charge of “Total Entertainment.”

The plot is not convoluted — but it is confusing.
In thrillers you have to keep people guessing, so there’s a lot of stuff going on, which makes it more interesting. It has to be that way. I couldn’t give you a one-liner, other than they are making a movie called ‘Stab 3.’ Some stuff goes down — you know what I’m saying. Gale gets a load of it, she comes by, Dewey comes by, Sidney comes by. We all meet up! That’s about it! People come by for some running, screaming, chasing and stabbing!

So then this has been shrouded in secrecy! You’re not allowed to say anything?
The only secret I have is who the murderers are.

Now, the big debate is behind you — on the back of your chair it says “Courteney Arquette.” What are you officially going with?
I’m going with Courteney Cox Arquette with no hyphen. When I was a kid I always wanted to change my name. It feels good — it feels like I’m really committed. It makes him happy.

Is that what is on your driver’s license?
It’s for real — my Social Security card, everything!

Interview with Neve Campbell

October 11, 1999.

We chatted with the “Reigning Scream Queen” NEVE CAMPBELL about her new horror flick ‘Scream 3.’ Read on for behind-the-scenes secrets!

Bob Goen: Is ‘Scream 3’ as scary and kooky as the previous films?
Neve Campbell: They are definitely tough acts to follow, but I think the writer [EHREN KRUGER] and WES [CRAVEN] have done a very good job of pulling it together again. It’s always hard with a sequel, but I think they did a great job.

 Sequels are never as good as the originals, except for in this case and maybe one or two others. So what’s the ‘Scream’ formula? What is it about this mixture of horror and humor that works so well?
Well, I think the reason that the first ‘Scream’ was so popular was because the audiences were ready for it and they wanted to see this kind of film. They hadn’t seen a good horror film in a long time. I think it’s also that the films sort of take themselves really seriously, so they are able to bring the humor and the wit into it.

 Is it fun to bring back a character? What’s it like for you to do the same character three movies in a row?
It’s definitely fun to bring a character back, because, like everyone, we grow. It’s making those choices on how your character would have grown in a year. It’s kind of neat in that way.

I guess it’s like “Party of Five.” You’ve done that for six years. You do24 shows a year…
Twenty-six shows a year!

Do you still bring energy into that?
Absolutely, but it’s a different kind of challenge. When you haven’t played a character before, you have to create the character. You have to decide what their personality is and decide how they move, how they think, and how they feel. When you’ve done it many times before with a character, it’s a matter of keeping it fresh and finding new things for them.

There’s a lot of secrecy associated with this new movie. Why all of the secrets?
I think because the movies have been pretty popular and there seems to be this cult following. People get on the Internet and try to figure out who the killer is or killers are. They try to figure out what’s going to happen in the next one and have a jump on it. I think it’s more fun if people don’t know, so we have to be secret.

Just give us a morsel…
Neve: Within this film, the characters are making the film ‘Stab 3.’ It’s kind of interesting in that way, because it’s kind of the making of a horror film within a horror film. From my character, all I can tell you is that she’s isolated herself because of all of the circumstances and all that she’s been through. She’s decided to sort of live on her own and go into hiding.

You’re up in Northern California hiding?
Yes.

Then you come down to Hollywood to visit the set of ‘Stab 3?’
Yes.

Why?
I don’t know if I can tell you that much! Because of the circumstances, she’s forced back into the game and into having to figure what’s going on and sort of helping the situation out. So she’s forced to come back to L.A.

Forced, meaning against her will?
Kind of against her will. I think anybody who’s been through as much as Sidney probably doesn’t want to walk into the fire again, but she has to.

Watching the scene you’re shooting right out here with DAVID [ARQUETTE] and the police car — it seems as though you’re sort of scared about something!
Yeah! Sidney’s just seen the set for the first time. She’s seen sets of the trauma that she’s been through before. She sees her old house from Woodsboro and Stu’s house. So that, in of itself, is traumatizing, and she also has an incident with a killer. That’s all I can give you!

Was this incident just before the scene you’re shooting?
Yes.

So you have to conjure up some…
Some angst. Just a little angst. And fear and anger and all of that stuff.

You get to act?
Yeah!

That’s cool. Is it hard to do such emotional acting early in the morning right when you get on the set?
It’s a challenge, but it’s just sort of bringing up those emotions and thinking of the circumstances and what my character has been through and what she’s dealing with in the moment. I just sort of conjure it up.

What’s this set behind you here?
This is the set of Stu’s house for the making of ‘Stab 3.’ Stu is the character that MATTHEW LILLARD played in ‘Scream 1.’ His house is where the final scene took place in the first ‘Scream.’ This brings back bad memories for Sidney.

Tell us what ‘Stab 3’ is about.
‘Stab 3’ is about the events which took place in ‘Scream 1’ and ‘Scream 2.’

So ‘Stab 3’ is about what happened in those films?
Yeah.

Is this the actual ‘Scream’ set?
This is a remodeling on the set of ‘Stab 3’ of the houses that were in Woodsboro in the first film. When my character comes out to visit, she’s visiting a replica of her house and Stu’s house in Woodsboro.

Now, EMILY [MORTIMER] plays Sidney in ‘Stab 3.’ Have you guys gone off to the side and discussed exactly how to play Sidney?
No, not really. You don’t see her exactly playing Sidney. You see her as the actress that would be playing Sidney. She doesn’t have to be exactly like me. She can have traits similar to me, but she doesn’t have to be Sidney.

So it’s not eerie for you to see her playing you?
No.

Is it true you don’t like scary movies?
Yes. I don’t deal with fear very well, or I choose not to bring it on myself if not necessary. I’m just one of those people that if I sit down to watch a horror film, I put my hands over my face and I cry a lot and I don’t see half of the film, because I’m too upset.

People are calling you the “Reigning Scream Queen.” Is that a title that you’re okay with?
If I didn’t feel like I was doing other films and trying to do other things and accomplishing that in some ways, then it would bother me. I don’t think people take it that seriously. I think people understand that I’m also doing other things — I’m doing comedies and I’m doing dramas. Yes, I’m doing horror films, but I’m putting my fingers out everywhere. And I’m producing.

Do they put you through any stunts?
I’ve done some. Mainly the fight scenes. Wes is very careful about that. He doesn’t want any of his actors getting hurt. He’s very cautious, as I think most directors would be. But I’ve had some fun, hanging out doors where they’re twenty feet above the ground. I enjoy it!

Did you see ‘Blair Witch?’
Yes, I did. I thought it was interesting. It’s sort of a new way to film stuff. I thought that was good, and it’s always nice to see people trying new things. I watched it by myself at night!

There’s a victim in the opening of this movie. Can you tell us who dies?
I can’t tell you. I’m not supposed to tell you anything, man! It’s hard to do an interview for ‘Scream,’ because we’re not allowed to say anything!

Interview with David Arquette

October 11, 1999

DAVID ARQUETTE will ham up the big screen again reprising his role of the loveable Deputy Dewey Riley for ‘Scream 3.’ Read on as he talks about his wife, COURTENEY COX ARQUETTE, and making ‘Scream 3.’

BOB GOEN: So you’re going to shave your mustache off now?
DAVID ARQUETTE: Yes, it’s history.

You know what you should do? Shave half of it and then go home and show Courteney — act like nothing is wrong. How would she react to that?
I’m not exactly sure. We should try that out, Bob!

So you’ve wrapped today. Was it an exhausting shoot?
It was strenuous, but fun. It’s great to work with WES (CRAVEN). It’s always such a treat — he’s such a great director. The cast — NEVE (CAMPBELL) is the glue to this movie. She really holds it all together and keeps it all alive. She grounds the movie. It’s always a treat to work with Courteney. It’s a dream. In a business where it is so hard to find time for each other, to be able to work with each other and interact is such a treat.

Then you go home and run lines and work out characters….
Yeah, sometimes. We’re pretty good about leaving work at work.

What’s your relationship with Courteney in the film?
It’s sort of similar to the past ones — there’s that tension. We are not really sure we’re supposed to be together.

So there is some sexual tension there — now we are getting somewhere!
That’s right!

That would be easy, I would assume!
That’s right. It is good! After you get married, the sex just goes out the window! (laughs) I’m kidding.

Oh, man, is she going to nail you for this! Speaking of which, are you planning a family?
We’d love to, but it will take a while. We are both really career oriented.

It sounds like things are going great for you guys — there’s a lot of lovey-dovey stuff going on out there. You just can’t keep your hands off that woman!
That’s right, especially on the set. We are so comfortable together. It’s a lighthearted place and we fell in love on the set.

So can you possibly explain this movie? There’s this big shroud of secrecy around it.
There is. We’re not allowed to say too much. We can let you in on certain elements. It takes place in Los Angeles, in Hollywood. It’s very much a tongue-in-cheek attitude toward Hollywood. It being a movie inside a movie, there are people playing us, and so on and so forth.

See, you can’t do it! (laughs)
OK — ‘Stab’ is a film about what had happened in the ‘Scream’ movies. The ‘Scream’ movies are the realities of these characters based around Neve’s character, Sydney Prescott. Courteney’s character writes these books, one became the ‘Stab 1’ movie, then ‘Stab 2’ was ‘Scream 2.’ It’s a play on a movie inside of a movie.

It gets harder, doesn’t it? (laughs) What I do know is that Courteney plays an entertainment reporter, not unlike what I’m doing.
That’s really true — maybe you’re the man in the mask!

Is it really difficult to go home with a woman who could be an entertainment reporter?
No, absolutely not. It’s so funny — when she gets into that mode, she gets real frisky! Much like yourself, Bob! (laughs)

BOB: (laughs) Thank you! When people describe me, frisky is usually the first word that comes!

Interview with Parker Posey

October 13, 1999.
We talked with actress PARKER POSEY about her new role in the upcoming horror flick ‘Scream 3.’ Read on for the killer details.

Bob Goen: So this is kind of a new look for you?
Parker Posey: Right, exactly. I play an actress who’s been playing Gale Weathers in the first two ‘Stab’ movies, so I get to act however I want to act.

Is this COURTENEY [COX ARQUETTE]’s look from ‘Scream 2?’
No, it’s not. All this stuff happens to my character, and this is my warrior wear. This is her fight wear because she continues on in the third act, and this is the second act.

You continue on as your “actress” character?
Exactly. I continue as my actress character, following Gale around in real life. But it’s not really in real life, it’s in the reality of the horror film, ‘Scream.’

That’s confusing.
Yes! It’s totally confusing when there’s a movie within a movie. This is a genre film. It’s a horror film.

So, you’re an actress in ‘Stab 3?’
Yes, I play an actress in ‘Stab 3.’

Is the actress you play in ‘Stab 3’ a dramatization of Courteney from ‘Scream 1’ and ‘Scream 2?’
Yes.

Do you get confused at all when you are acting in the scene?
There’s just so many options, so it’s actually really fun. There are so many ways I could play it.

Does WES [CRAVEN, the director] let you just play it how you want to?
Yes. He just lets me play it how I want, which is nice.

Now let’s talk about the lip.
No. I can’t say anything about it!

Did someone in the movie hit you?
Someone in the movie, but I can’t say who.

Was it the killer?
I can’t say!

Why can’t you say?
Because we signed a contract that we wouldn’t talk about the movie because then it will get on the Internet.

How does that stuff get started on the Internet?
It’s easy! Someone has a computer, and they write something.

That could work for you or against you.
That’s the thing. One of the things that we’re up against right now is a whole load of information available on the Internet.

You’re the only star performer who hasn’t been working on this movie all along. What’s it like to come onto a film that has this incredible cult following?
I’m not really a part of that, so I don’t have to think of that. I know that the ‘Scream’ movies have become like a soap opera horror film. People have become fascinated with it!

Are you drawn in by that mythology?
No.

Did you see the first two movies?
Yes.

What do you think of yourself when you look in a mirror and see the wig and that kind of look?
What wig? It’s looks like a wig, but it’s not! I wanted a wig look.

If it’s not a wig, then you actually take it home with you and wear it when you’re with your friends…
This hair, yes, but I don’t do all this with my hair. One scene that I thought would be funny, and we actually joked about, was being really scared and yelling and grabbing my hair and actually having clumps of hair come out. But we never got around to that.

Do you get to scream?
Yep!

Will you give me a sample?
Nope (laughs).

Have you ever had to do a movie with a good scream, one where you had to just belt it out?
Yes, in ‘House of Yes,’ I screamed!

Very cathartic?
Yes, very cathartic. It’s great. I get the feeling that we don’t get to scream as much as we really want to. Maybe that’s what these movies do — they give an outlet for expressing fear or whatever emotions are going on that can only be expressed through a scream.