All Scream 4 cast members have shared bits and pieces about their experiences working on Wes Craven’s revival of the iconic franchise. But Shenae Grimes, one of the cameo stars, has been notably silent—until now. Thankfully, Movieline got her to open up about her time on set and the ironclad secrecy surrounding the film.

“If You Tell Anybody, You’re Dead”

Grimes humorously recounted her initial meeting with producer Bob Weinstein:

“The first day on set—literally, before it was even my shooting day—I was just going to meet everyone. And the first thing [Bob Weinstein] said was, ‘No, it’s great, I’m so glad you’re a fan of the originals! But: If you tell anybody what happens, you’re dead.’ I was like, ‘All right, I will stay quiet.’”

This iron-fisted secrecy is a hallmark of the Scream franchise, especially considering its past struggles with leaked scripts.

A Dream Cameo in a Beloved Franchise

Shenae admitted she never anticipated being part of a project like Scream 4. Unlike Emma Roberts and others who spent months filming, Grimes described her role as a small cameo:

“I had no intent on doing a project like that. I basically got a magical phone call one day that was like, ‘Hey, do you want a part in Scream 4? Cause they offered it to you.’ Which never happens.”

Despite its size, the role felt monumental for her, considering her love for the original Scream:

“The original Scream is one of those classic things, but it totally pokes fun at itself too. It’s never taking itself too seriously, which is why I think it’s such a cult classic.”

Why She Said Yes

Grimes was initially hesitant about horror films and remakes as a “major step” in her career. However, the opportunity to cameo in one of her favorite films was too good to pass up:

“A cameo in one of my favorite movies of all time? I was like a kid on Christmas.”

For Grimes, Scream stood out from typical horror films due to its self-aware tone and humor, which she believes is the reason it became a cult classic. Shenae’s insights into Scream 4 offer a fun behind-the-scenes look at the level of secrecy and excitement surrounding the production.