NPR’s Book of the Day — Episode Summary

Episode: ‘Your Favorite Scary Movie’ and ‘Ready for My Close-Up’ are histories of iconic films
Date: August 29, 2025
Host: Andrew Limbong (A)
Featured Books/Guests:

• Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashlyn Cullens (F), interviewed by Aisha Rascoe (D)
• Ready for My Close-Up: The Making of Sunset Boulevard and the Dark Side of the Hollywood Dream by David Lubin (E), interviewed by Elsa Chang (G)

Overview

This episode dives into the cultural history and enduring impact of two iconic film franchises and their representation in new nonfiction books: the Scream franchise, with Ashlyn Cullens’ Your Favorite Scary Movie, and the classic Sunset Boulevard, explored through David Lubin’s Ready for My Close-Up. The hosts and authors provide a lens on the complex interplay between Hollywood, technology, and social change, tracing how iconic films both reflect and shape broader societal anxieties.

Segment 1: "Your Favorite Scary Movie" — Ashlyn Cullens on the Scream Franchise

Interview led by Aisha Rascoe (D) with author Ashlyn Cullens (F)

[00:02–08:35] Key Discussion Points

Historical & Cultural Context of Scream

• Scream came out at a time when horror was often dismissed by critics and audiences, and filmmakers Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven wanted to both honor and deconstruct the genre.
  • “Both of them brought just a deep, pure love for the horror genre... Kevin…built out this story that was a true slasher, but also brought attention to all of the tropes that had become so exaggerated over the years.” — Ashlyn Cullens [02:36]
  • Wes Craven contributed a profound understanding of human psychology and fear.

Studio Resistance and the Making of an Iconic Scene

• The now-legendary opening scene with Drew Barrymore was initially doubted by film executives who felt it wasn’t scary, until Wes Craven cut together the opening to prove its impact.
  • “They were just seeing Drew Barrymore walking around holding a telephone... So they cut together the opening sequence to show them, and that did the trick.” — Ashlyn Cullens [03:38]

Innovation in Sequel Security

• With the growing anticipation for the sequel, filmmakers took extreme measures to prevent script leaks, inventing nearly uncopyable scripts and embedding secret codes.
  • “My favorite was the paper that they printed the scripts on...impossible to photocopy. It shows up black. They had secret codes written in the margins in case something did get out, that they would know who it was that leaked it.” — Cullens [04:28]

Technological Shifts Reflected in the Films

• The franchise charted technological change from landline phones to the early days of the internet, caller ID, and eventually live-streaming/social media culture.
  • “By the fourth movie, people are starting to become Internet famous, and there's commentary on social media…a little bit ahead of its time.” — Cullens [05:52]
  • Memorable meta-quote:
    • “If you want to be the new, new version, the killer should be filming the murders. It’s like the natural next step in a psycho slasher innovation.” — [06:20]

The Role of Comedy in Scream

• Comedy is a deliberate device in the franchise, making the horror more jarring and the films more rewatchable.
  • “It diffuses the tension. Right. It gives you a little bit of a break from being scared...it disarms you.” — Cullens [06:44]

The Legacy of Wes Craven

• Reflection on Wes Craven’s legacy and how he saw himself beyond just the horror genre.
  • “He was a storyteller...I don’t know that he ever really felt appreciated for how brilliant he was as a filmmaker during his life, because people just didn’t take horror all that seriously. But now they do.” — Cullens [07:44]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You never told me your name.” — Ghostface [04:09]
• “I would want to ask him if he's happy with how his career went, because it was a sore spot for him.” — Cullens on Craven [07:44]
• Release excitement for Scream 7, with original creator Kevin Williamson directing [07:09]

Segment 2: "Ready for My Close-Up" — David Lubin on Sunset Boulevard

Interview led by Elsa Chang (G) with author David Lubin (E)

[09:08–17:11] Key Discussion Points

The Layered Genres and Modernity of Sunset Boulevard

• Lubin was captivated by the film’s mix of genres: “It was a mystery and a horror film and a comedy and a romance and a psychological thriller all wrapped up into one.” — Lubin [11:05]
• The film’s “contemporary feeling” despite its age; it addresses themes still relevant today: fame, cultural obsession, and aging.

The Power of Comeback Narratives

• The making of Sunset Boulevard was a professional and personal comeback for director Billy Wilder and for Gloria Swanson, the former silent film star portraying Norma Desmond.
  • “So the whole thought of obsolescence or being irrelevant was a very powerful draw to her.” — Lubin on Swanson [12:57]
  • Swanson initially resisted doing a screen test: “I'm Gloria Swanson. I don't do screen tests.” [13:33]
  • Director George Cukor convinced her: “If you don't take this role, I’m gonna shoot you. This is the best role you’re ever gonna find.” [13:36]

Iconic Dialogue and Silent Film Legacy

• The film’s script delivers some of cinema’s most memorable lines and performances:
  • “I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.” — Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond [10:00, 13:59]
  • Swanson’s unique acting style intentionally bridged the silent and sound eras: “She acts in silent film rhetoric. Nothing like the style of Hollywood at that time...she just explodes that.” — Lubin [14:53]
  • Elsa Chang describes the monologue as “one of the top speeches ever delivered on film.” [14:44]

Hollywood’s Crisis and Context

• Lubin explains how Sunset Boulevard reflected instability in post-war Hollywood: the collapse of the studio system, the rise of television, and political targeting of the film industry.
  • “By 1949, when Sunset Boulevard was shot, people wanted to stay home and watch TV…So the film is on the precipice. They know something is going to happen, something's got to change, but they don't really know which direction it's going to fall in.” — Lubin [15:24]
  • Parallels drawn to today’s industry upheaval via streaming and AI.

Why Sunset Boulevard Endures

• Lubin posits that the enduring appeal of Sunset Boulevard is its deft handling of uncertainty and transformation in both art and society.
  • “It is about those transformations in personal lives and technological lives that is occurring right now and leaving us sort of afraid because we don’t know where we’re going.” — Lubin [16:34]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There just aren’t any faces like that anymore. Maybe one Garbo. Those idiot producers, those imbeciles…haven’t they got any eyes? Have they forgotten what a star looks like? I’ll show them