Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Deborah Daughetee]

Hi All. I’m Deborah Daughetee. I was a professional writer in televsion for many years until I became to ill to continue. I then turned to prose writing, and have had success in the media tie-in field.
I hope to write a great horror script. I’ve been a fan of horror since I was a little girl, and LOVE horror movies. I’m not a fan of slasher. Instead, I like traditional horror that has a moral to the story. Most recently, I’ve really enjoyed Abigail and Prey for the Devil. They both have emotional components that I believe turn the stories on their ears and make them memorable.
I’d like to learn how to do that myself.
The most unique thing about me is probably the fact that I’m a double lung transplant recipient. I’m living past my expiration date!

[David Zelitzky]

Have you seen Presence yet? The new Soderbergh movie written by David Koepp… contained… haunted house… so good!!

[Deborah Daughetee]

I haven’t! Not sure how I missed it. I’ll be sure to add it to my viewing list.

[David Zelitzky]

It just opened this week. I saw a Thursday preview.

[Deborah Daughetee]

I’m going to see it tomorrow. I’m so excited. I did see Wolfman, which I enjoyed.

[David Zelitzky]

Let me know what you think… it has stuck with me since I saw it. Such accomplished handling of a very small budget –

[Deborah Daughetee]

I really loved “Presence”, David. First of all, I loved the retro feel to the way it was filmed. I also like the twist on the ghost story. There were so many ways to interpret what the presence really is.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Deborah. Thanks for the movie tips, it seems we share a preference for good old traditional horror with an emotional and moral component. I hope to learn how to do that, too, turn it on it’s ear with a strong emotional core. And, it’s great that we have your professional experience and expertise with us, but mostly I love that you are defying expiration dates. You sound like a fighter, there’s honor there. Warm regards, Jennifer.

[Deborah Daughetee]

Thank you, Jennifer. I’m so happy to be in this class. I love reading what everybody is doing. It’s inspiring.

[Jennifer Miller]

Yes, it’s very exciting and inspiring. I’m late to the party, but working to catch up–and I am loving everyone’s stories!

[Deborah Daughetee]

I’m late with my final outline, but I am working on it. When you have yours, I’d love to do a swap. Let me know.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi. Here’s my email jennmillerfilms@me.com

I’m sorry I am just getting this. I’ve been offline drafting a thriller, still drafting — whew! But would be happy to take a look. Happy weekend.

[David Zelitzky]

Hi there – David Zelitzky, taken a bunch of classes here – Master Screenwriter, Horror, Sub-text, etc. Working more on marketing now. Have written over 10 scripts – the last one being the best so I’m forgetting the others and concentrating on contained horror now.
Interesting thing? Hmmmm… third year abroad in Oxford, studied English Literature and feel Jane Austen influences all my writing! 🙂

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  David Zelitzky.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi David. Oxford sounds pretty amazing. Looking forward to seeing how Jane Austin influence’s your horror story. Fun!

[Deborah Daughetee]

Wow, Oxford. Very cool. I love Jane Austin.

[Sophia Lee]

Howdy All!
I’ve been a student of Hal’s and Cheryl’s since 2015. Where does the time go? In the last 2 years I have written 15 scripts with a producer. Two of which have been produced (and fingers crossed will be released this year — it’s amazing how the whole postproduction is such an endeavor in and of itself). I have worked with two other producers on paid jobs that never made it to the screen for various reasons. I’ve realized it’s a lifelong commitment. For me anyway.
Always be writing. Always be learning. 🙂
Looking forward to our journey together!
SOPHIA LOUISA LEE

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Sophia. Time flies. I’ve taken courses starting with the pro-series since 2017. Is this your first horror? Congratulations on all your hard work.

[Deborah Daughetee]

Hi Sophia: You’ve had amazing success. Congratulations!!! Hapy to be in this class with you.

[Nick Walsh]

Hi, everybody,
My name is Nick Walsh.
I have written 5 screenplays (incl. one TV), all but one of which I wrote taking Hal’s classes through the years. I have been working on them all until I get a Recommend from readers. I am finally, after all these years, ready to market them. But first, I want a go at Horror, never my first pick to watch. I have a pretty good idea that will make you cringe.
I have over 60 cats and they keep me and my wife very busy. I get some of my best ideas bent over, scooping litter.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Nick. Congrats to being ready to market your work. That’s wonderful. Looking forward to your cringe concept inspired by scooping cat liter, paint me intrigued. Warm regards, Jennifer.

[Deborah Daughetee]

60 cats! OMG. That could be fun… or…

[Nick Walsh]

or…

[Renee Miller]

Hi! I’m Renee, and I’m an optioned screenwriter from Colorado. I have six completed features, and one completed TV pilot. This was one of the first ScreenwritingU classes that I took back in 2017 so I’m hoping to refresh my knowledge and skill as a horror writer.
Something unique about me is that as a kid I was a member of the Junior Olympic Archery Program and was training to go to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona but I ended up getting a compound fracture in my dominate wrist and had to quit the sport.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Renee. Congrats on your optioned project. Thanks for sharing your archery journey, that’s a very unique experience.

[Deborah Daughetee]

Hi Renee: I love archery when I was a kid. I wasn’t, of course, as good as you were. I’m so sorry that path was taken from you.

[Pam Ewing]

You must be so strong. Sorry you had to drop it. It must be a tough life change when you are at such a high competitive level. My sister was into archery. She scooped ice cream at Baskin Robbins to build muscles.

[Karlos DelToro]

Tell us the following:

1. Name?

2. How many scripts you’ve written?
3. What you hope to get out of the class?
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?

Hi, everyone, my name is Karlos DelToro. I’ve written half a script. I hope to reinforce my understanding of the conventions of horror to become proficient at writing horror scripts. I also hope to complete my first script as a result of the outline I develop from this class. My name is spelled with a “K” rather than the traditional “C” because my father liked the spelling of the European “Karl.”

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Karlos with a K. Best of luck to you to complete a first script.

[Deborah Daughetee]

Hi Karlos: Congratulations on dedicating yourself to your first script. When you finish this, it will be the best feeling in the world. But beware, it becomes addictive. Once you’ve finished one, you just MUST do another, and nothing, and…

[Barry Barry Durbin Durbin]

1. My name is Barry Durbin
2. How many scripts you’ve written? I’ve written one script
3. What you hope to get out of the class? The accountability to complete my second script.
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I recently met Elvin Bishop!

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Barry. Accountability is so helpful. I wish you the best of luck to complete script number 2.

[Deborah Daughetee]

I find these classes really do hold you accountable. While there’s no one standing behind you with a whip, knowing these classes are live and that all these people are reading what you post pushes you to do the work. So congratulations on your second script ahead of time.

[Ira Drower]

Hello,

I am Ira. I have taken many of Hal’s classes and enjoyed them all. I have written eight scripts or so.

I hope to complete a horror trilogy I have been toying with for years. I don’t expect to have them written but at least outlined and have a solid synopsis.

I am finishing up a script for an animated feature film based on a children’s book I wrote. The book will be published in October. We’ll see what happens with the script. I did review the project with an animation producer, which prompted me to write the screenplay.

A bit of a stretch from children’s animation to horror. But I love mixing genres.

[Jennifer Miller]

Hi Ira. I love that you are also writing books. That is on my to-do list, as is a horror trilogy. Best of luck finishing the script and launching your book. Wow. That’s exciting. And, maybe it’s a stretch, but as a kid I loved to be scared–ghost stories and things that go bump in the night. Best, Jennifer.

[Deborah Daughetee]

Congratulations on the publication of your book, Ira!

[Pam Ewing]

Very cool to have a “published” designation. Gives one ‘goosebumps’!

[Jennifer Miller]

My name is Jennifer Miller. I’m a produced screenwriter, who currently focuses on thrillers. However, when I played with the AI prompt for the Horror class I fell head-over-heels. The ability to be extremely creative using this genre made my heart explode. My goal is to create a billion dollar horror franchise, land a manager, and sell my current thriller, as well as this horror concept. One unique thing about me is that I study the law. It’s strange and surprising, but the study of law has turned into a spiritual pursuit as well, which, I hope, will lead to great moral and emotional horror. We shall see. Happy writing everyone!

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  Jennifer Miller.

[Ira Drower]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I hope this experience serves us both well to complete our horror trilogies.

[Jennifer Miller]

Heck yeah! This will be fun and spooky, HA!

[Deborah Daughetee]

Hi Jennifer, We really do have a lot in common in that my prose writing (Kolchak, the Nightstalker, and The Green Hornet) is a mix of horror and thriller. I love writing noir. On another note, I can’t tell you how many people I have known who left the law profession to become television writers! It’s pretty amazing.

[Jennifer Miller]

Those are great titles! I am a huge noir fan, too. Sorry I missed this reply. I had just finished the pitch class and I had to focus on my thriller. I hope you enjoyed the class and achieved your goals along the way. I look forward to catching up in April, once the rewrite is complete. Here we go!

[Jennifer Miller]

Thanks, Ira.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  Jennifer Miller.

[Joan Butler]

I’m Joan Butler.
I’ve written 4 scripts.
My heart is in drama, but it is difficult to sell, so I am branching out. Horror has never been my thing. I’m hoping that will change as I come to understand it.
Nelson Mandela’s words help me to feel capable while I’m writing. “We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are we not to be?”
I look forward to working with all of you.

[Deborah Daughetee]

I have always loved that quote, Joan.

[Pam Ewing]

1. Pam Ewing
2. I’ve completed maybe 20 TV scripts/pilots. With screenplays I’ve written many outlines and treatments but maybe only completed a handful.
3. I hope to complete a first draft to see if I have horror bones and blood in me. I think horror speaks to a modern audience that is looking at the complexity of society and wanting to feel control in the release/resolution of terror
4. I seem to be a bungler of opportunities. I think I’m on the autism spectrum and really don’t understand what’s going on until it is too late. I try to tell myself that this is a wonderful detachment trait for a writer. (but maybe not a successful writer)

[Tom Wilson]

My name is Tom Wilson
I have written 3 scripts.
From this class, I hope to become an excellent Horror screenplay writer.
I am a foreign war veteran. I helped design space missions at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  Tom Wilson.

[Simon Abbott]

Hi, I’m Simon Abbott
. I’ve worked as a PM/Line Producer for over 30 years and now I' ve turned to writing. I don't know how many scripts I' ve written – more than a dozen. I like the idea of coming up with a pitch first before writing the script. I'm very much into using AI and I love the prompts I've been taught in previous classes.

• This reply was modified 4 months, 1 week ago by  Simon Abbott.

[JD Oppen]

Hi all, JD here. Great to be here, again. Yes, I had taken the horror writing class before. I primarily write comedy and so my horror script was on the back burner and taking the class again will give me the push to get back to this one and I have plans to franchise. I am an optioned screenwriter and have written around 15 or so scripts. My optioned script is one I wrote during a previous course here at SU. SU has been stellar to my journey as a writer. As for something unique, special, strange or unusual about me… where do I begin, LOL. I toured and recorded as lead guitarist and vocalist with a popular 80s indie power-metal band, for over a decade. Other than that I mix and master music for bands and mix film sound – member of MPSE – Motion Picture Sound Editors (LA). Okay, gotta run. I have lots of people to kill… IN MY ASSIGNMENTS of course, HAHAHHAA. All the best to you all with this class. Cheers! JD

[Patricia Semler]

Hello. I finally got access. My security program was being overly protective.

My name Is Pat Semler
I’ve written twenty features and a ridiculous number of television episodes for the 2 original series I love to play in.

I’ve taken the Bingeworthy class with AI and now I want to see how the prompts work with straight up horror. I hope to have fun and get a great new script in a shorter amount of time.

I work at a theme park and for 19 of my 26 years I was a backstage show technician. Part of my duties was setting a performer on fire for the finale.