Sorry, But a Kid Didn’t Direct Any of I Know What You Did Last Summer

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Back in 2018, I, as a movie enthusiast and fan of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” shared an intriguing piece of behind-the-scenes trivia. To my surprise, the iconic scene where my character Jules confronts her stalker by spinning around and shrieking to the skies wasn’t dreamed up by a seasoned screenwriter, but rather a child! Yes, you heard it right – a child won a contest to contribute to the film. Here, let me share the story as I shared it with Us Weekly:

It turns out that the pivotal scene from the movie was directed by a child who won a competition to contribute to the film, and surprisingly enough, this became the most impactful part of the entire production. I have no clue where he is now, but he had the audacity to request that the actress stand in the street and yell, ‘What are you waiting for, huh?’ I was taken aback by his suggestion, but intrigued at the same time – I thought to myself, ‘Could this really be what we’re going to do?’ Nevertheless, I decided to go ahead with it, and the outcome was nothing short of incredible.

Indeed, she’s correct. The scene was, without a doubt, an intriguing concept. It wasn’t particularly refined art – quite absurd, but that’s not a problem here. Instead, it stood out as a distinctive symbol of the late ’90s and early 2000s slasher era. Movies like Scream, Urban Legend, and Jeepers Creepers played with the genre’s conventions during this time, whereas I Know What You Did Last Summer was more straightforward. Unlike its counterparts, it abandoned their meta humor in favor of a traditional slasher movie, treating Hewitt’s melodramatic outbursts with seriousness. Kudos to the person who thought up such a legendary concept, worthy enough for a Scary Movie parody and a lasting place in the millennial collective consciousness.

Or not?

I’ve been trying to uncover the truth behind claims that “I Know What You Did Last Summer” director Jim Gillespie handed over control to a minor, but according to Gillespie himself, this is not accurate. When reached for comment, both Gillespie and cinematographer Denis Crossan politely denied Hewitt’s account. They asserted that there was no child labor on their set. In fact, the scene in question was already written by Kevin Williamson before filming began (Crossan even provided me with a copy of the screenplay). Crossan recalls arranging for a crane during pre-production to capture the overhead shot of Hewitt yelling. He stated that the entire sequence was carefully planned out and storyboarded ahead of time.

As Gillespie noted, I Know What You Did Last Summer wasn’t a high-profile production when it was being made, despite being based on a popular young-adult novel. Interestingly, the film was quickly greenlit after the success of Scream the previous year and featured an ensemble cast of promising newcomers who were still on the brink of stardom. One might wonder why Columbia Pictures held a contest for a movie that wasn’t drawing much interest at the time. Moreover, it seems implausible to assume this young man read the script ahead of time and came up with the scene idea independently.

Essentially, we’re curious about what Jennifer Love Hewitt is referring to in her statements. With Freddie Prinze Jr. rejoining her for the upcoming sequel set to release in July, there seems to be some confusion. It could be that she mixed up the storyline with “I Still Know What You Did Last Summer,” where her character Jules and her roommate Karla (played by Brandy) won a questionable radio contest for a vacation in the Bahamas. Alternatively, it might be a convoluted plot point from “9-1-1,” a show where you’d call for help when needed. Or as Crossan suggested to me, it could just be playful banter.

Before reaching out to Hewitt, I was eager to gather as much information as I could about his claims regarding the origin of the original movie. Producer Stokely Chaffin shared that he could provide plenty of details on the intricate backstory, but admitted he didn’t remember anything like that happening. He speculated that it might not be accurate, although Jim might have done things differently when directing his first feature. Another producer, Erik Feig, couldn’t confirm Hewitt’s memories either. Peter Guber, head of Mandalay Entertainment, the production company behind the original movies, stated he had no knowledge of such an event, expressing regret. Moreover, I failed to find any mention of a contest in the movie’s press coverage.

Afterwards, I reached out to some key individuals involved in the making of the swiftly produced sequel titled “I Still Know“, which hit the screens about a year after its successful $125 million-grossing predecessor, aiming to ride on its momentum. Notably, Vernon Layton, the cinematographer for the movie, denies any memory of a tiny John Carpenter wielding a megaphone. “The director at that time was one of the younger ones, Danny Cannon, and it’s highly unlikely he would have approved anything like that,” Layton explained.

Throughout my journey, those I interacted with went out of their way to commend Hewitt. Nobody seemed eager to humiliate her over a seemingly accurate detail she recalled (or perhaps embellished?). “She’s delightful to collaborate with,” Layton stated. Gillespie termed her “a truly exceptional individual.” However, I find myself perplexed by the unresolved enigma.

In a different context, winning a contest doesn’t necessarily mean one hasn’t contributed to a film before. However, there have been instances where fans have submitted dialogue for blockbusters like “Transformers” and “Thor: Ragnarok,” but these were family-friendly films based on established intellectual properties, not adult-oriented horror movies like slasher films, where Sarah Michelle Gellar’s character watches a man with a hook kill Ryan Phillippe at a beauty pageant. This unusual aspect adds to the intrigue: Besides being interesting movie trivia, it’s an anomaly that becomes more fascinating the more you ponder it.

Considering all that’s been thought about, it was time to return to the origin. Regrettably, emails sent to Hewitt’s publicist remained unanswered, as did two messages to her manager. I also attempted contact through Sony representatives handling press for the latest ‘I Know What You Did Last Summer’, but received no reply. It’s possible that Hewitt is playing coy, much like Robert Pattinson’s fictional tales told to reporters, or when Dakota Johnson mentioned her fondness for limes, and now everyone in charge of her publicity seems intent on maintaining the story’s viability. Jennifer Love Hewitt, if you happen to see this, please get in touch. We’re eager for a conversation with you. Why the delay, though?

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2025-05-15 18:54