Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Bill Anderson]

Bill Anderson

Written 10 drama scripts

Hope to learn the rigour and discipline of the horror genre and apply it to a specific idea.

I am also a low-intervention beekeeper – and author of a book “The Idle Beekeeper” (Abrams)

[Donna Marek]

Donna Marek

Written Twelve scripts drama, thriller, comedy

Even one point that will open and further an understanding of the horror genre.

Award winning TV and feature film producer, director , bestselling author (Creme de Carmel)

[John Postava]

John Postava (Orlando, FL and Studio City, CA)

Newbie.

Technical writer in my chosen field (catastrophe property claims – insurance adjusting)

Newly retired (sold business) and want to write the next great horror franchise.

Glad to know you all…

[Rachelle Storti]

I’m Rachelle AKA Chelle. I have written one feature-length script from the Thriller Genre class. I submitted it to a contest, but did not make it to second-rounders. I enjoy the horror genre and am pretty critical of movies in this area, I have high expectations. It was pretty synchronistic, a few days after I had a dream that would make a great horror movie, free class Friday showed up in my email. So, here I am. I’m a unique/strange person in general. I make playlists for each script I am writing, to listen to while I work, and inspire me.

[Jonathan Clark]

Jon Clark

I’ve written well over a dozen scripts, mostly horror, thriller or mystery. Won a few contests, semi-finals, and not even placed in others–Ha!

I’m here to take my work to the next level, to push myself and learn as much as I can.

Currently, I’m a published comic book writer and artist (here are some of my titles: BLACK FRIDAY, PLAYTHINGS, POP-UP) with a few coming out this month. Please do Google and/or follow me on Instagram under “Jon Clark Comics” to see more, and I’d appreciate it!

Super psyched for this class!

[Kenneth Wood]

Hi, All.

I am Ken Wood.

I’ve written ten scripts, and am currently developing my eleventh.

In this class, I want to learn all I can about writing professional horror, so this script will be solid on every level. I am especially interested in learning about “Smart Horror” and anything else that will elevate my story and my writing so that it will stand out, head and shoulders above others.

Something unique as it relates to horror writing: I first started creating spook houses in our back yard when I was ten, and now run one of the top haunted attractions in the OKC area.

The inspiration for my new horror script came from an Orb Weaver Spider that created a web outside our front door in mid-September, as we were gearing up for the Haunted Attraction season. We called her Orbie, of course.

Boy, did we get complements on our Halloween decor: “That looks real!”

She produced two egg sacs on the outside wall, and stayed on her web until mid December when she finally succumbed to the cold. When she died, we buried her. Her offspring should be hatching with the warm weather.

She is the first spider that we actually felt was a pet. Have you ever petted the back of a spider? I now can say, I have.

Orbie inspired me to study spiders, and to write my new screenplay. It won’t be about her, but a new species of Brazilian Wandering Spider, that becomes the deadliest, most aggressive, hunting spider of all time.

Something else unique relating to horror: I had a real life encounter with a 15-year-old girl whose parents were high up in a satanist cult. She was multiple-posted by demons that spoke through her in one of our 4-hour conversations. She told me her parents had invoked demons into her before she was even born, and that when she turned 16, which was in a few weeks, the father was going to ritually kill her and have her demons possess him. I was at the end of a help line and helped her escape.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Kenneth Wood.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Kenneth Wood.

[Aram Bauman]

Hey all,

Aram “Spike” Bauman, Staten Island NY.

I have written a few shorts that I shot and won Sci-fi/Sundance’s Exposure contest and a similar contest IFC channel had a while ago. Since then I haven’t been able to sit down and write anything that I can finish. My day job is cinematographer and over the years I have become too critical of my work which cripples my creativity. The reason I joined this is to get off my butt and write.

I’m just a regular mofo that is in his 50s but thinks he is in his 30s.

[Chris Spizuoco]

Ha! Hey Spike you should write a horror on/about the ferry that Pete Davidson and Colin Jost bought…horror/comedy fun…welcome aboard to ScreenwritingU!

[Chris Spizuoco]

1. Name: Chris Spizuoco

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 5

3. What you hope to get out of the class? Terrify every small child and adult on the planet; write something so scary even the aliens (from the movie Alien) are impressed/frightened.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I’m actually from Maine and believed to be the love child of Stephen King and Marjorie Taylor Green.

[Christopher Confer]

Good one Christopher in number 4!

Chris Confer

[Ulisses Botelho]

Hi everyone,

Late to the dance again…

Ulisses Botelho

Just one script so far (Crime-Thriller) but nothing but time on my hands so hope to increase this #.

I’m looking forward to these classes and hope to get some good suggestions on all points of horror writing.

I went parachuting at age 20 with school friends. Had 1.5 hours of instruction, jumped out (actually stepped out on to the wing strut/tire at 3200ft) of a perfectly good airplane, got my lines tangled, then untangled and managed to survive. Crazy ride all the way down. I hate heights now lol.

Nice to meet you all.

U.

[Christopher Confer]

Hi everyone,

I’m Chris Confer from Birmingham, Michigan

I’ve written one script and have a full outline of the second one that I am writing.

Last summer this idea popped in my head about an albino python that can morph through wall and blends into the snow terrorizing people at a ski resort.

I am a computer programmer working in integration software such as Dell Boomi and IBM Sterling Integrator.

I had a course once with Jim Cash (Top Gun) on popular culture that he taught in his home. Michigan State University gave him a lot of leeway to do that as he was a local celebrity for having co-written Top Gun and several other scripts with Jack Epps Jr. His office was so large that it fit all 22 of his students pretty comfortably. It was really more of a giant family room with a Wurlitzer jukebox on one side and his desk on the other with couches in between. You should have seen his desk, it was about 15 feet long and he casually held court from behind it for the semester. It was a worthwhile course. The funny thing is that movies did not come up too often in the conversation. He did mention that was not real happy with how the Charlotte Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) character was cast. He wanted her to be stronger and more independent. He said the choice of nylons with the seamline on the back undermined his intent for the characater. He also told us he had this little trick of not having to lend out movies to people because they often would not be returned. These were the days of VHS tape in the early 1990s. He would say, yeah, I don’t have it on VHS, I prefer Betamax because the picture quality is better. It was kind of funny. He was a producer at a local PBS station in East Lansing / Lansing before he got his break. He loved sports and everything popular culture. The course mainly focused on the 1950s and 1960s and we used a book called Populuxe.

We will have some good experiences in this course and I look forward to sharing in everyone’s insights.

+1

[Christopher Confer]

Good one Christopher in number 4.

Chris Confer

[Mike Coste]

Hi. My name is Mike Coste.

I’ve written a short script, but nothing full length.

I want to get a better idea of the horror genre. I’m writing a book that has horror elements in it. I’d also like to write a horror movie as well.

I used to teach philosophy and mythology, and I like to draw from that in my writings. I’ve written short plays, stories and poetry, and I look forward to learning more about screenwriting.

[Andre]

1. Name? Andre

2. How many scripts you’ve written? 10+

3. What you hope to get out of the class? A solid outline for my horror script.

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? Yes.

-Andre

[Kris Kristensen]

Kris Kristensen

I’ve written lots of scripts. Lost track.

I’ve had this horror script kicking around for a few years, but it was a puzzle to put together. This last draft I finally cracked it, but it’s out of balance (long act 1, short act 2, shorter act 3). A friend read it, really liked it and said “Now that you’ve got the story dialed in, lean into the horror.” Coincidentally this class landed in my inbox the next day, so here I am – ready to lean into the horror.

Something unique? I don’t know, aren’t we all unique… is that a cliche? You’ll have to ask my publicist to write this part 🤣

[Jalynn Venis]

Hello All,

I’m Jalynn Venis (Juh’lyn Venice) and have written 10+ feature screenplays in the genres of drama, thriller, action-adventure, sci-fi, ghost story, and contemporary western.

My background is that of a writer and producer in broadcast, non-fiction television and corporate communications and an author of fiction and non-fiction books.

I want to learn more about the horror genre and its techniques for creating heightened tension and terror in my stories.

Something unusual about me? I’ve lived in four haunted houses and survived a few terrors myself.

[Radford White]

Hi All,

My name is Rad White and Im a professionally trained actor in Australia who loves watching Horror films.

Ive never written a formal script before but have created a lot of story and character work, improvisations etc in developing good stories for stage or short film.

Im wanting to learn how to use the horror framework to create a (hopefully) good horror script for fun and hopefully for profit.

Ive worked in marketing and sales for 30 years and have just started a sales role at a video production company run by a mate who creates amazing documentaries and short films. True story – he cast me in a role for a short film several years ago, because he said I had the right “look” he wanted for the character… yet we worked out improvising that it was far more mysterious and supportive of the story if my character remained mysteriously masked for the entire film…!

Looking forward to getting your feedback on the work, and if i can help anyone, I’d be glad to assist.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Radford White.

[Jeff mustard]

1. Jeff Mustard

2. Four TV Pilots – 2 are Historical Fiction – each has won several significant awards/recognitions – contests, etc… (still have not marketed these or sought out agents/managers) — 3rd tv show/pilot – a female superhero/action/adventure – I’ve also used the pilot as source material and produced a super high production value 21-page Comic/Graphic novel piece of work – was thinking two ways to market this – as a tv series – (five one hour episodes – most of these episodes are written )- also created with spinoff character in mind for franchise) | 1 Feature many years ago… Presently in middle of writing two features — one – the first act written – also a historical fiction piece – (on a research pause presently with this one) | the other feature in research stages IS the horror film I have in mind for this class. (more below)

3. Understanding that “horror” as a genre is the “easiest” of all “film categories” to “break into” – for several reasons… but one, in particular, is that these are generally low budget and self-contained or quasi-self-contained. With this in mind, I am pursuing the “horror category” with an eye toward producing my own horror film. I have a very remote historic hotel location in mind (think the Shining) (have not approached the owner yet to “work a deal” – room and maybe board in exchange for credit and incredible public relations value) – but I have various elements of a story in mind to pursue this approach/avenue. Hence, taking this course to learn/understand all the nuances of the horror genre. (I have a title for a completely different horror film than the one I just described above) – so, my view is to apply new horror knowledge and skills and see where this leads.

4. Can’t think of anything quirky…but sure the wife would have much to say about this… some b.g. Born/Raised Brooklyn…emigrated to South Florida many years ago, presently live in the Boca Raton/Delray Beach area. Professionally, was in advertising, marketing, public relations and produced many radio and tv commercials, infomercials and other media – both traditional and “new.”

Early Disclaimer: Will be traveling this Saturday through to next Thursday, (Boston on Business) so will not be able to finish/complete this first assignment (just saying)

[MarianS S.]

Hello Everyone,

Marian Smith here, finally getting down to business on the assignments!

I’m looking forward to browsing the forums as there seems to be a lot of activity in this class.

I studied playwriting and screenwriting in college many years ago and during that time wrote about five screenplays. I have also enjoyed writing plays over the years. Today I work as a studio teacher on TV shows here in NYC.

Something unusual about me? Our pre-war apartment building has at least one ghost who uses a dumbwaiter to move from floor to floor.