The Actor Shares the Importance of Finding Your Tribe.

PLUS, WHY ‘SCREAM VI’ IS BEING CROWNED THE MOST RUTHLESS OF THE FRANCHISE.

By Kirby Carroll Wright

Directed by Wes Craven, the first Scream came out in 1996, and took audiences by storm.

Whether you left the theater looking over your shoulder or brainstorming your next Halloween costume, it became tattooed in your mind. I guess that’s why it’s not surprising that the franchise has reemerged in recent years and maintained its cult following.

Bleu Magazine chatted with Mason Gooding, who plays Chad in Scream VI about what makes this film unique.

Gooding, the son of actor Cuba Gooding Jr., has been a fan of the Scream franchise for years. In fact before the films resurfaced, he wrote a college essay about its impact.

“I guess it’s a form of manifesting,” Gooding said. “It just happened to contextually make sense in the moment. I’m such a big fan. It’s one of the first horror films that made me feel like I was watching elevated cinema.”

He went on to explain how he was asked to email his essay to the production team after his audition. He received a call a few weeks later telling him he got the part.

“I screamed fittingly,” Gooding said with a shrug.

Fast forward that moment to last year’s Scream (2022), to the present, Chad remains, which Mason contributes to his character’s support system – an element he can relate too.

“I love that Chad is willing to put himself on the line to protect the people he loves,” Gooding said. “As a young man, that’s something he’s coming into. He affords himself the space to take direction and criticism from the women in his life. I try to do that in my personal life too. I respect him deeply.”

Gooding seems to be very in touch with his character. That’s apparent by the respectful way he speaks on acting and his creative journey.

“I was afforded a specific showcase of the industry with my father and I think there was always a question of if this was something I had the ability to pursue,” Gooding said. “I don’t know if I had that answer until I got my first job on Ballers [Season 4]. There was a moment in the water because I played a surfer where hundreds of people clapped from something I’d just done. And I was like, ‘I can do this for the rest of my life.’ I just want to get better at it and hone my craft.”

Scream VI is already making quite a bit of noise online thanks to the film’s creative marketing where a performer dressed as Ghostface makes appearances in popular cities. Some onlookers are taking photos to capture the bizarre sighting while others are calling the police.

“I think people are right to be curious and cautious about a famed serial killer showing up in their city, but I think it gets people talking about the movie,” Gooding said. “People really start to wonder what they’d do in a situation where Ghostface is amidst their presence. I like that people were respectful and safe of the performer in the costume and they weren’t hurt in any way shape or form. But I like the immersion factor the marketing team has taken. It’s fun for me at least.”

The excitement and vigor of the latest Scream most definitely allows Gooding the space to explore his creative passion because the characters endure a plethora of emotions. Many are calling it the most “ruthless” of all the films, which Mason says is due in part to the film’s new backdrop: New York City.

“New York is a very visceral landscape and that’s part of what makes the city move fast,” Gooding said. “Things are so high-octane and quickly paced that the violence that would take place would follow suit and have a higher level of intensity. Moreover this time around, Ghostface is just something different

— that will make sense once it’s revealed. But the motivation and drive behind his actions are indicative of that violence.”

Moving forward, Gooding is excited to continue delving into other genres. Though he admits he doesn’t think there will ever be a time he says no to being amidst horror.

Still, there are many other creative avenues he’s looking forward to exploring.

“A random career goal is to dress up as a character and go hang out with kids and involve myself in the community,” Gooding said. “I want to have my art and representation of a character go beyond the screen and be amidst the audience in a more tangible way.”

We’re intrigued to see where his journey will take him next, but for now it’s Scream VI’s moment.

“What makes me comfortable as a longtime fan of the franchise is the themes and messaging rely a lot on family and sticking close to the people you trust most,” Gooding said. “Remain skeptical of the world around you but through the lens of protection and trying to be together with your chosen group.

I think what brings new people in is the fresh take that Radio Silence [the production company] applied to their vision of Wes’ original narrative. The guys have done their best to respect what came before but also add their own personal and artistic take.”

Scream VI is in theaters beginning March 10, 2023.