Hollywood Picnics Spooky Locations: Scream 3
Unmasking the Haunting Beauty of Hollywood's Past & Exploring the 'Scream 3' Locations
In honor of October, I am discussing the beauty that is Scream 3, and in the spirit of Halloween, it coincides with some spookiness. This film and its locations have it all. I find it so fulfilling and excel at knowing where movies are filmed and their locations. I can recognize the valley, downtown LA, and cities in LA within a couple of seconds of it appearing on screen. This is why this Scream installment is such a visual feast for the eyes.
But first to credit the location team for the film:
Robert C. Decker ... location manager
Rob Gibson ... assistant location manager/location manager: re-shoots
Ilt Jones ... additional location manager
Michael Sandknop ... key assistant location manager
Paul Schreiber ... key assistant location manager
Emre Sonmez ... key assistant location manager
Marc J. Ventimiglia ... key assistant location manager
This crew did an incredible job of bringing to life the vision of Wes Craven while also creating a maze-like feeling in LA. Every location in this film offers a new perspective and challenge in escaping the killer Ghostface.
The Hollywood Sign
Location: 3160 Canyon Lake Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90068/ Mt. Lee
The first location we are introduced to is the Hollywood Sign with a helicopter shining its spotlight on it, she is illuminated in the night. Contrary to popular belief the Hollywood sign is not lit up. For the sake of the plot, it’s not essential but it does establish us firmly in La La Land. From what I’ve read, the sign was supposed to play a more central role. It would be the place where Cotton finds his lover, hanged on one of the letters. I can imagine the allure of this shot as it would create mass hysteria for not only the transplants from Woodsboro but also Hollywood herself. But alas, that plan was scratched. My experience in the film industry and the Hollywood sign itself would lead me to believe this was not only not allowed by the city, the trust, and the neighborhood surrounding the sign but also as a precaution to avoid any further desire for movie lovers to visit the sign. If you didn’t know, the Hollywood sign is one of the most contested & most visited locations in all of the country which has created a large headache for the residents of the Lake Hollywood Estates and the council that represents the area.
As timing would have it the Hollywood sign is celebrating 100 years this year. It was built in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development by Hollywoodland Realty Company and the name comes from Harvey and Daeida Wilcox. The couple wanted to establish a new life for themselves from Topeka and spread the gospel of the temperance movement. I could talk on and on about the Hollywood sign but I want to give it its introduction in a separate article. What I will say is that the Hollywood sign has been the beacon of fame and prosperity but its inception was to provide solace to Harvey and Daieda “Ida”. Three years after moving to Los Angeles, their only child died in 1886 at the age of 18 months. According to family history, it was their buggy rides in the canyons of Los Angeles that provided them comfort specifically the Cahuenga Valley. Harvey purchased their favorite area at $150 an acre, which at the time hosted fig and apricot orchards. He was not a successful farmer and ended up doing the real estate mogul thing and subdividing the plots for $1000 each. It was Ida who supposedly came up with the name "Hollywood." The origin of the name came from Ida’s interaction with a woman on a train back to Kansas. A conversation sparked with a train passenger named Mary Peck who raved about her estate in Illinois called “Hollywood”.
Speaking of Hollywood, it offers a unique temptation- which is posed by the many available backlots and ranches that offer this faux experience. Production designers, carpenters, set dressers, teamsters and builders can be brought in to create a whole new world exactly to your liking. But the Scream franchise explicitly makes good use of real life on location. Occasionally crews will opt for a recreation or model figure of the sign as it is one of the most heavily guarded and lengthy permit situations to acquire. I know this to be true as there is one new film coming out sometime next year that opted to recreate the sign on the Sable Ranch in Santa Clarita. I will give more details at a later date xxx. That brings me to another point. Whereas most studios would take advantage of shortcuts for the sake of budget there’s something so comforting about a big-budget horror movie. It’s a comet. It’s rare and remarkable to see. I can’t think of many horror movie franchises that #1 outlive their period and #2 stays consistent in plot, scares, and an incredible cast. The Scream franchise is that. It also parodies this very idea. I chose Scream 3 because it knows how ridiculous the film business is and yet lovingly makes fun of it. From the duplicate cast to the replica of the house, the absurdity of Hollywood is the butt of the joke and the whole plot of this movie. On the flip side of this, the running around and hiding places we and the characters partake in become so much more visceral.
A helicopter reporter then announces a crash on the freeway foreshadowing the deadliness of living in LA. Cotton Weary played by Liev Schrieber is traveling on the Hollywood freeway when his drive is interrupted by a threatening call from Ghostface. He is trapped in a gridlock and crashes his way through cars after being told his girlfriend is next. We move up to the main Blvd where we encounter our second Hollywood landmark. The Capitol records building.
Capitol Records Building
Location: 1750 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028
The building was designed by famed architect Louis Naidorf of Welton Becket, who also designed the Music Center, Cinerama Dome, Santa Monica Civic Auditorium (all still standing), and the department store that now houses the Petersen Automotive Museum. The building was not meant to model a stack of records, and yet I might say, fashionably does. It was influenced by the local aerospace fashion at the time which influenced many coffee shops and John Entenza’s case study house program. It was designed circular to save money: “The shape required 13%-20% less outer wall than a rectangular structure, which saved on construction costs. Because of reduced heat loss and gain through the glass, less wall space made climate control easier and more affordable In addition, light was more evenly distributed in a round building.” The 13-story tower, was the world’s first circular office building when it was completed in April 1956. Another beautiful little tidbit is that the blinking light atop the tower spells out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code, and has done so since the building's opening in 1956. The story goes that it was the Capitol’s then president Alan Livingston, who wanted to subtly advertise Capitol's status as the first record label with a base on the West Coast. The switch was initially activated by Leila Morse, the granddaughter of Samuel Morse.
Cotton then speeds onto Hollywood blvd where we see a shot of the T-Rex above the Ripley’s Believe It or Not building as well as a brief glimpse of the Pantages building. I would assume Hollywood Blvd was the choice as it has some of the most prominent neon signs to this day and a particularly alluring jugular of the LA heartbeat.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!
Location: 6780 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028
Cotton’s Home
Location: 1334/1336 North Harper Avenue, West Hollywood, CA
Cotton’s Home is a classic example of some of the most popular California architecture you will find in LA. It’s a Spanish revival but with a twist of Baroque. The home has beautiful arches and gothic ironwork. Something that works against him as he is trying to escape Ghostface.
Sidney’s Home
Location: 21914 Gold Stone Road, Topanga, California, USA
Sidney’s home in the Topanga Canyon area. The home being located in Topanga is very poignant as it is, in my opinion, one of the most peaceful canyons in LA but also boasts some of the greatest vantage points. Her being located in one of the most secluded and highest points in LA is tied to her growth, she needs to be on the defensive and is taking all precautions to do so. However, actively she seeks out peace and she also finds it in helping others. I think this is why we see her continuing her appearance in the franchise. Other than her being a central character and a star of the series, it’s her character’s unique motivation to help others who are vulnerable like she was.
The area of Topanga Canyon is far removed from the center of LA. Trading the hectic lifestyle of the city with mountains and ocean views with a short drive from the beach.
Unfortunately for Sidney, although she is physically far from trouble, trouble is seeking her. No matter where she runs, she is haunted by Ghostface. Visiting her in her nightmares prompted extra precautions and uneasiness. We know Ghostface is hunting her and being in a secluded treehouse-like abode may work to her advantage, but still proves scary. If you have ever traveled in Topanga you know it to be so enchanting but with a little fog, some distant background lighting, and a haunting mother figure it transforms in a minute.
Her life is bookended with visits from Ghostface and the recent run-in with Cotton transforms her beautiful escape into a wooded, spooky nightmare.
Sunrise Studios
Location: 4024 Radford Avenue Studio City, California 91604
Onto the studio location. I connected with a producer some years ago who was putting on a producer’s podcast luncheon hosted at Radford Studio Center. She asked for some assistance and I agreed because I got to visit one of the few studios that don’t allow studio tours. I hadn’t booked a job there yet and was excited to see this beautiful lot. I gawked and gasped at the fake movie backlot streets memorializing Mary Tyler Moore and other stars of the bygone era. It is one of the core memories I have to this day about the film industry and why I immediately recognized the lot too. It’s one of the few lots that still have that vintage feel and is small enough to feel navigatable and very distinguishable. The entrance gate is small, the warehouses are very close together and those film logo signs you see everywhere, are actually on the lot. It’s a great choice and probably the least costly and impactful lot to be on. Hard to believe any other lot would allow free range with the amount of space it looks like the cast and crew took up for this film.
Onto the “Jennifer Jolie” house played by Parker Posey. Who does a phenomenal job playing a caricature of the dumb Hollywood actress.
Jennifer Jolie’s Home
Location: Runyon Ranch - 3050 Runyon Canyon Road, Los Angeles, California, USA
The home is located in a precarious position topped high above the hills of Hollywood through two gates. Hence the name Runyon Ranch. You will have to walk to this location if you want to visit it. If you want to get a better view of the property and see it in person, you will have to park your car outside of Runyon Canyon Park and then walk about 800 feet east on Runyon Canyon Road, or think about hosting your next get-together at this location. The home doubles as an event venue and boasts panoramic views of Los Angeles.
The home is the quintessential Hollywood star home. You have the homey feel, rural area, multiple lots to put an ADU or trailer, and a KILLER panoramic view of LA. I seriously love the look of this home and would encourage many people to believe me when I tell you this is what rich looks like for the majority of people in LA. The ability to have peace and a large backyard is something reserved for the ultra-wealthy nowadays. The home also has a signature feature of homes on the hillsides- STILTS. As we see Dewey, Gale, and Jennifer escaping the explosion they jump over the balcony onto the dusty hillside. Many, many homes in Los Angeles are situated like this. While you may have a beautiful front home, that view has to be achieved with altitude and the only way to get that is to build in places as high up as possible.
We come to my final two favorite locations. Milton's office and his home. Milton’s office is in a far-off place from the rest of these locations and not a place a Hollywood director would have his office nowadays but- a perfect spot for the visual feast theme of this film and nice eye candy.
Milton’s Office
The location: American Cement Building, 2404 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA
Why is it so odd? Well first off it is right off Wilshire but in the beginning of Wilshire not in the trendy miracle mile portion but a place overlooking MacArthur Park/ Westlake. I am very loving to most of LA- but to this area, it’s one portion of LA that kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies. The building was meant to boast the architectural stability and beauty that concrete offers. And you will see that in the lattice work and weaving that is on the facade. The building once hosted offices but is now home to 71 residential lofts and occasionally, is still offered as a filming location.
I can assure you as a frequent passerby and resident of LA. MacArthur Park hasn’t looked this clean since this film came out. It is a hub for drug trade, homelessness, and a tent city of sorts. But, it’s nice to see it in its heyday.
Milton’s Home
Location: 1923 Micheltorena St, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Onto the star of this piece. The Paramour. This is one of my favorite estates in all of Los Angeles. It is one of the most historically rich homes which has maintained its original architecture all these years. Mostly because it is way too expensive to even begin remodeling and because it was home to an orphanage and convent for a good portion of its life. It has however changed titles throughout the years but to people in the LA area nowadays, it’s the Paramour. I was always somewhat aware of this home but it wasn’t until the Olivia Wilde vs Jason Sudekis tabloid situation occurred that it came to the forefront. The Paramour was where Olivia Wilde was staying during her divorce/ DWD days. It is located in the hills of Silverlake close to the home she shared with Jason. Which made it my opinion not only a convenient choice but a financially smart one. Other than being a supremely opulent escape this was one of the only properties in LA that offered privacy and proximity to her actual Silverlake home which she previously shared with her ex.
The Paramour was originally The Canfield Moreno Estate/Crestmount, a la Daisy Canfield. Daisy commissioned the estate to be built atop the Silverlake area for her and her husband Antonio M. Moreno to enjoy. Daisy was living to what I lovingly refer to as the “American dream” -an oil heiress.
Movie stars, excessive drinking, partying, scandals, film screenings, and dinner parties. If you want to get an idea of what this property was like when it was originally built you can watch Babylon. The house was built explicitly for parties hosting the Canfield family. Antonio was a smoldering silent film actor who achieved major stardom after starring in the film IT with Clara Bow. Clara Bow went on to inspire the character that Margot Robbie plays in Babylon, Nellie La Roy. This couple had it all and did it all during the prohibition I might add as well. The secluded and perched location offered an advantage in avoiding police.
The home was built upon a hilltop on a dirt hill surrounded by empty fields, orange groves, and vineyards. When it was built it was called “the most beautiful home in Hollywood” but in my opinion, that’s a little too easy when there wasn’t much else in Hollywood. The Paramour is now open to guests, film crews, or events so if you want to either stay at the Paramour or host a party you can inquire here.
As life imitates art all too often a lot of what happens in the film is mirrored in the events of the estate. Daisy Canfield died in 1933 after her car veered off the side of Mulholland Drive. Some attribute it to fog, some to alcohol and some to potential murder. Miraculously, her chauffeur survived and helped flag down help climbing the 300-foot cliff they veered off. Daisy had no will and Moreno received a large inheritance splitting with her children from her previous marriage.
Moreno never remarried after he saw her bloodied body and was scarred. The Paramour has played its role in other horror media. Seen here in the Neon Demon where Elle Fanning overlooks the empty, ginormous pool. It’s undeniable that this may be one of the best pool views in all of Los Angeles. The home is not so overly gaudy that it looks built to accommodate those views and yet, as luck would have it Los Angeles was built to have that perfect perspective.
The empty pool also appears in Shivaree’s “Goodnight Moon”. The pool appears both drained and full in the music video where her bedroom is also constructed. A genius idea from the production designer I might add. Kudos to them.
I look forward to sharing more spooky locations and I hope you enjoyed revisiting Scream 3. Thank you for reading this far and if you have any questions, comments, or requests, please feel free to share. Until then, please make sure you are following me on my Instagram and Tiktok for more content.