Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Eve Williams]

1) My name is Eve Williams. I live in Northridge.

2) I’ve written five scripts. Over probably 20 years. Nothing in the past 14 or so years.

3 I appraise commercial real estate; my profession takes me to strange places that many appraisers won’t go near. I’m always thinking of some terrifying thing that could happen while I’m out in the middle of nowhere. While none of my other scripts have been horror, I’m fascinated by really bad things that can happen to unexpecting normal people. I want to write low budge horror since that’s where my mind goes these days.

4) November 2010, I was appraising a number of raw land parcels in the Jawbone Canyon area (northwest of Mojave, southeast of Bakersfield – west of Hwy 395). I pulled off the dirt path to dodge some motorcyclists and got stuck. No cell service, five or six miles to the nearest campsite. And the home of bears, mountain lions, snakes, and other critters. Other critters being the meth head tweakers who set up shop to cook in remote desert locales.

So I’m in my truck, cold – I’m in shorts – and really pissed. Royally Pissed. I have work to do. My clients, the Navy and the Nature Conservancy would not be pleased if the appraisal is late since the appraiser managed to get stuck in her truck on Butterbredt Road.

It is quiet. And dark, except for thousands of bright stars. So quiet out there that the jets at 15,000 feet headed to LAX are quite audible. After I while, I need to go to the bathroom and get out of the truck, and walk down the path. I don’t want to pee near my truck since that might attract a bear or lion.

I look east toward China Lake and noticed lights popping up and down near the horizon line. Up down. Sidewalks. Up down. Sidewalks very very fast. Then UP. Then DOWN. Then SIDEWAYS. At 45 degree angles. Obviously some type of helicopter. Doing things that helicopters don’t do. Way too fast, and those crazy angles. And then it hit me. The helicopters were SILENT. Oh, shit. I’m gonna get anal probbed.

They disappeared after a bit which made me feel better. Although I wouldn’t hear them if they headed my way. Morning came and I blocked the first motorcyclists who came down the path. With their help, I was soon free. But what the Hell did I see? Silent helicopters? That did crazy ass maneuvers? Really? A fair amount of my clients believed my story. But for the next several months, I wondered exactly what I DID see.

And then the May 2011 raid of Bin Laden. People said that there’s no way that helicopters could get that close to the compound without discovery. And I said: “not if they are silent” I saw the Silent Helicopters that took out Bin Laden.

And didn’t get eaten or anal probed.

[Tom Freyer]

1. Hi everyone. My name is Tom Freyer. I live in Palmdale, CA (Los Angeles County).

2. I have written 14 feature scripts, two of which were purchased and produced, and 6 TV pilots

3. I hope to write a commercially viable fairly contained horror script that will be snatched up by producers

4. I’m a retired Ad Agency Creative Director, kinda like Dan Draper on Madmen, except way better looking LOL. Four of the TV commercials I wrote, produced and /or directed appeared on various Superbowls.

[D Lyons]

Hi everyone, I’m Dawn.

I mainly write mystery, SF, & F novels and short stories, sometimes humorous, but have written one full-length script, about half of a couple others, and a few shorts.

The one I completed is about vampires but is not scary, more creepy. I’m interested in what I’d need to do to elevate that one to scary and how to stay out of campy territory. I would also like to write something new that would be low budget, possibly short, and make it myself. I’ve taken quite a few ScreenwritingU classes and have gotten SO much out of each one.

I suspect it’s not all that unique, but I talk to myself in cartoon voices.

It turns out I have an awful lot going on right now, so may not post often but will try not to get lost. Looking forward to it!

[Elizabeth Cochrell]

Hello everyone, I’m Elizabeth Cochrell and I have written 1 script called Mom Fight which is in the re-write stage.

3. A completed horror script I can sell!

4. I used to do stripping telegrams down to completely nude at 8am in the morning at the Toyota Dealership to wake up the sales crew on Monday mornings.

I look forward to working with you all!

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Elizabeth Cochrell.

[Stephanie O'Leary]

Hello, everyone! My name is Stephanie O’Leary and I live in a small rural community in Southern Massachusetts.

I’m currently working on a rewrite of my first script, TUSK with a film producer. It’s based on a short horror story I had published many years ago, and frankly, I never dreamed I’d be asked to turn it into a feature-length script. The possibility of a sequel appears at the end, hence I’m hoping to get a jump on organizing my ideas, should that opportunity ever come to pass.

I’ve written in other genres (local arts reporting, music reviews, op-eds, advertising copy, picture books, poetry, and even the occasional obituary) but this is my first decent script. (An earlier attempt when I hadn’t truly committed to the work years ago resulted in a flawed but fun effort that will never see the light of day xD.)

As far as “unique” goes, I designed the house my husband and I live in (BIG architectural salvage fan) and am owned by a handsome orange tabby named Leonidas = ^;^=

PRE-CLASS ASSIGNMENT

Since a prior script has already introduced my main character I’ve provided more than just the skeletal outline this assignment requested – I hope that’s okay. I did listen to Hal’s audio and understand that as the lessons to come present different ideas and options, I may change things – works for me!

Monster: Chogan, a haunted and conflicted Fallen Angel. He was once a Warrior of Light who succumbed to jealousy and temptation for promised Status and Power. He appears as a young man but is spiritually ancient, and retains physical scars and memories of not only his earthly sins but the divine inheritance he threw away. Trapped in a new role as Death Bringer, he now walks between two worlds, an outcast to both Heaven and Hell.

Terror: Repeated reincarnations as a half angel/half human where he’s forced to face the sins of his past, events that add to his Karmic debt, and trying to make amends for those offenses before being claimed by The Eternal Abyss. Also, periodic “exorcisms” between incarnations at The Way Station.

Environments: Earthly, alien, and supernatural. Chogan prefers isolation; the further he is from triggering interaction, the better. The Powers That Be, however, have other plans for him (and that will begin on Page 1.)

Victims: Myriad, but chief among them are a wife he betrayed, a child he abandoned, and every other being he ravaged as a demon in his days of bloodlust and rage.

Primal Fears: Exposure and judgment. The dark rage within that still periodically surfaces and destroys. Facing the spiritual Brother and Father be betrayed. The never-ending traps of The Dark One who seethes at his escape and defection. A “ticking clock” element also keeps Chogan on a knife edge: when will The Creator “call Time” on his “purgatory experiment” and finally cast him out to be torn apart by the monster he once served?

• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Stephanie O'Leary.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by  Stephanie O'Leary.

[Kevin Lobo]

Hi, Everyone! My name is Kevin Lobo and I live in Toronto, ON, Canada.

This is my 8th script in the last 3 year (since I started writing screenplays – a gift from COVID lockdowns). Before that I’ve self published 2 books and written a ton of short stories (1 trade published in an anthology).

This is my first horror. I hope to really nail this on with Hal’s help and make my breakthrough.

Strangely, I am an IT guy (no surprise there). I’ve had a 30 year career as a DBA primarily. I do data, data-analytics, etc. Once of my screenplays is called CYBERDOOMS DAY WWIII. It’s based on my journey into cyber security.

Looking forward to this journey with all of you.

Kevin

[Josh Pack]

1. Hi. My name is Josh Pack.

2. I’ve written about 6 scripts. Nothing to final draft.

3. I hope to learn the skills to develop some of the ideas I’ve had for horror films over the years.

4. The movie Saw messed with me so much I didn’t watch another horror movie for several years.

[Brett Born]

Hi, I’m Brett. I’ve written 11 features, two pilots, and 7 episodes of Power Rangers.

I’ve been a big fan of the horror genre my entire life, and I want to learn new ways to take my horror stories to the next level.

I’m a big KISS fan and have a lot of band memorabilia, including Eric Carr’s original Hawk costume. Most people think it looks like a giant scary chicken-man, and I always enjoy the reactions from people when they first visit my studio and see the costume posed on the mannequin.

[Michael Jones]

1. Mike Jones

2. Four draft scripts, in process of a tv pilot and a feature adventure script.

3. Write a horror script, and learn from everyone else.

4. I suppose I’m just ordinary—for now.

[Tasha Espinoza]

Hello Everybody,

I’m Tasha. I’ve written 3 scripts to date.

I hope to really master the conventions of the horror genre, so I can write and sell Scary-as-Hell screenplays with joy and ease.

Something unique about me is that Halloween 2 is the first movie I remember seeing. The unique part is that I was 2 and a 1/2 at the time. My 25 year old father and his younger brother took me to a monster movie marathon at the cheapie theaters for the air conditioning–it was the hottest day of the summer. We saw Halloween 2, Humanoids from the Deep and Silent Rage. My love of horror was born that day.

I’m looking forward to working and learning from you all!

[Christopher Newell]

Hi, I’m Chris! I’ve written three or four scripts so far, but they’ve been shorts. I’m hoping to expand into features, and horror is a likely genre so this class seems well-suited. When I was younger, I spent six months living in Brazil for work.

[Deleted User]

Hello, I’m Karen Crider. I ‘m a lifetime writer, poet, memoir, fiction and children’s writer. I have written seven scripts, but my computer ate one. I think it’s part vampire. This is my first attempt at horror, but for some reason, I find it entertaining, which is a little scary. I am published and have won awards but it’s the words, the writing itself that keeps me coming back for more. I live in the Minnesota woods, but sometimes the words: Hi, I’m a poet and I live in the woods seem fitting; and yet at the same time, they feel woodsy and down home, like the farm girl I am. Nice to meet you. To great writing…

[Rich Bradley]

1. Hi my name is Rich Bradley and I live in Pembroke Pines, FL.

2. I have written 4 scripts and several show and film concepts to develop.

3. I hope to get a fully marketable horror film concept developed while being held accountable by a timeline.

4. When I work out, I don’t listen to music. I only play Alfred Hitchcock Presents, both 30 min and 1 hour versions.

[Reggie Giles]

1. My name is Reggie Giles.

2. I have written a few short scripts of varying genres, one feature-ish, and a series of novellas.

3. I hope to get a very tight, white-knuckled grasp of the horror genre and how to apply it to everyday situations.

4. I have always loved movies, but there was a decade in my life when I didn’t watch ANY.

[I really enjoyed reading everyone’s #4. People are infinitely interesting.]

[Ryan Buffa]

Hello! Pardon I’m joining delayed here, it’s been a busy week but I loved reading everyone’s answers and looking forward to the class!

1. Ryan (she/her)

2. I’ve written 3 short films

3. I hope to learn more about the horror genre and write my first feature length script

4. It’s strange and unusual for me to be joining this class because I’m a huge chicken when it comes to watching horror films. My imagination is already scary and vivd enough that I can’t expose myself to certain kinds of horror films or else I’ll never sleep or be sane. However, I worked on two zombie television shows as a producer for 9 years so I learned to appreciate elements of storytelling with horror. I hope to take this experience with me into the class

[Mary-Ann Skweres]

Hi, this is Mary Ann Skweres.

6 feature scripts are completed, including one for a producer who hired me after reading one of my other scripts. Several other scripts are in various stages. I have 6 produced comedy episodes for a WGA series.

Worked in the film industry, mostly in feature film and feature doc editing, including a number of horror films. Learned what makes a film work. Wrote and directed an award-winning short film.

I have also written and directed music videos and plays (a theater major). Some acting, musicals, and in a band too. I love the creative arts.

The last few years, I have been raising capital and investing in real estate with the view to eventually raising capital and producing my own scripts. This course is pushing me to focus on writing the script for a contained horror film idea that has been drifting around my brain for a while.

I spend a lot of time traveling between CA, FL and IL. Crazy schedule. My posts to the forum may be a bit erratic, but loving the assignments.

[Bent Hanlen]

HELLO

my name is Bent. I live in Reseda and love it here.

I’ve written 3 tv scripts. Two are of my own concept.

I’ve written 4 features and one was my college thesis back in 1999. My favorite genre is comedy.

[Kevin Lobo]

Hi Everyone! Hope you have all had great success after this course. I got a lot out of it and now have a fully edited, reread and reedited, and reread and reedited and rewritten draft, LOL!!!

I am looking for some feedback. Would one of you like to read my horror feature, DAVISVILLE EVIL? I am happy to return the favor.

I can be reached at lobokev@gmail.com. Thanks.

(P.S. – I know there was a final feedback class/session, so I am posting this).