Scream for Me

I’ve never been into the Scream movies. I’m not much into horror, but those films specifically have never caught my fancy. So when I dedicate a piece to them, it isn’t because I have any positive or negative attachment. Understood? Good.

  

So the most-recent entry, Scream 7, has negative reviews already. This isn’t surprising, as it refused to pre-screen, but it’s especially troubling given that it’s the worst-reviewed in the franchise. It’s even more troubling given its production history, having derailed its original plans by firing Melissa Barrera over remarks made a few years ago. And not even the worst kind. This was during the height of the Israel-Gaza skirmish, and Barrera’s exit kick-started a chain of events that forced the movie to be completely retooled.

I’d like to clear up some misconceptions about Gaza: yes, Hamas has been subjugating its citizens for years. Yes, October 7th was a massacre, and anyone claiming otherwise is being naïve. Yes, Netanyahu’s partly to blame for that massacre, and refusing to hold himself accountable sucks. And yes, Israel’s actions in Gaza haven’t been great. All of this is true.

There’s been plenty of misinformation circulating about this war, and it’s led to group-think from everyone. There’s a possibility I’ll be criticized for my opinions on it, with both extremes chastising me for not “picking a side”. I don’t care, though. This isn’t a football match, it’s reality. And people have died, whether or not you want to acknowledge that.

Barrera’s remarks, irrespective of whether or not you agree, didn’t warrant her dismissal. Perhaps they were ignorant, I don’t know, but at best they warranted a reprimand. It’s also troubling because many actors have said far worse and haven’t been penalized. And if they have, like with Susan Sarandon, it was after years of warnings. Because the industry is like that.

By dismissing Barrera, Paramount shot themselves in the foot, as it caused Barrera’s co-star, Jenna Ortega, to also leave, followed by the director. This forced the movie to be retooled to meet its deadline, leading to the current mess. Which begs the question of whether it was worth it. I know The Sunk Cost Fallacy is real, but was this chain of events warranted? Could it not have occurred differently?

I don’t know the answer in hindsight. However, this debacle has raised uncomfortable truths about the divide on Israel-Palestine. On one hand, there’s the financial side, which has taken Israel’s side for years because, good or bad, it’s beneficial. On the other hand, there’s the social side, which has been pushing back and made the conversation toxic. Both sides have caused ripple effects that are negatively impacting Jews and Palestinians, with a rise in hate crimes all around.

It’s been frustrating navigating this conflict for the last few years. My Jewishness was always something I couldn’t hide, but October 7th only exacerbated that. I’ve been covering my yarmulke in public. I’ve taken note of graffiti and posters all over the city, snapping screenshots of the most-egregious examples. Even conversations about the war have varied depending on who I’m talking to, as people’s biases are on full display. Factor in an increase in Antisemitism, and gentiles weaponizing Jewish trauma, and it’s been bad for me mentally. I say that knowing that many Jewish organizations have made discussing it difficult.

Barrera’s comments might’ve warranted a warning, but firing her derailed an entire movie franchise. It’s frustrating because while many celebrities have run their mouths off before, and some about this conflict, they’re not puppets. They’re entitled to political views, and they’re allowed to share them. It’s especially prescient because they can move the needle if they back their words with actions. We’ve seen it happen.

I know actors have a responsibility to their jobs. It’s important to not make your employers look bad. But shouldn’t that go for the reverse too? Actors are employees, and they’re human beings. They deserve to be treated as such, complete with dignities and rights. Wrongful dismissals are bad, especially when they implode a movie’s production. That can’t be overstated.

So what now? For starters, a serious conversation about Israel-Palestine needs to happen. And it needs to happen without anyone’s egos involved. Whether it’s acknowledging how Israel hasn’t always exerted its authority correctly, or how Palestine’s leaders haven’t helped their own cause, or even the generations of trauma on both sides, this reconciliation has to occur. Because it’s been long enough. We’ve let preconceived notions dictate everything, and if Scream 7’s an indication, not having this conversation is also bad. Basically, we need to do better.

Also, leave Jews and Palestinians alone. Most of us are trying to live our lives, and the attacks against us have made us distrustful of people. I know tensions are high, and there are real stakes involved, trust me. However, this isn’t helping. It’s a shame that it took a firing, and a subsequent movie’s disaster, to highlight this problem, but-actually, I doubt Paramount cares, given how they’ve been handling the Warner Bros. situation. Yet that shouldn’t stop everyone from learning from this. Because it was a mishap, and nothing will change unless we take action. I hope we make the right decision...