Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Michael Ramirez]

Hello, I am Michael A. Ramirez from San Antonio, Texas, and been married thirty-five years. I am a retired Social Worker, ex-marine, retired youth minister, active theologian, and grandpa of 4. I have written 6 scripts and look forward to venturing into the horror genre as my eldest son and I plan to work together writing

[Cameron Martin]

Cameron Martin

I’ve completed one feature and started many others.

I hope to understand the horror genre better, both for my own trade as well as entertainment.

I’m a black belt in Taekwondo.

Thanks and best regards!

Cam

[Eric Humble]

Hi everyone. My name is Eric. I’m excited to be a part of this class. I’ve written six screenplays, three of which I’ve marketed through the MSC and the Fearlessness As a Writer program with ScreenwritingU. I’m mostly a thriller writer but every now and then I try my hand at horror, even though I’m not a huge fan of the genre (an active imagination means I usually get too freaked out by horror movies). So I’m hoping to really get a handle on the genre from this class and to have some sort of model to be able to outline more quickly and ensure I meet the genre requirements. As well as being a screenwriter, I’m a stay-at-home dad of two boys (with a third on the way) and I’m an artist trying to break into the graphic arts/comic field.

[Suzanne Hoos]

Hi, all.

I’m Suzanne. I’m an author of 10 books in the romance genre–my latest one came out this month. I am contracted for several more over the next three years. I’ve dabbled with scripts but nothing seriously. Once in the 90s, I did come in second (of course, that’s “first loser” in an Act One screenwriting contest where I adapted one of my books in a partial script.

Better storytelling is what I hope to get out of this class. Structure, as well. I’m what they call a “pantser” not a “plotter” and I hope this course will help in plotting.

I’ve been writing since I was young, but became serious back in the early 90s when I was published in Gothic books. From there I moved on to historical romance, contemporary romance, dystopian, and horror. Quite the trip! I just love to write.

I am also a language arts teacher to a bunch of miscreant middle schooler (whom I really love) and have been teaching for 50 years. It is time to retire and concentrate on my writing.

Now, though I am basically a romance writer, I’ve always had this horror story in my head. It’s not a monster-type of story but a dark arts/devil worship thing. So, I guess I’ll see where I fit in with this group.

Oh, and as for something unique–there’s nothing. I’m boring…and that’s why I write. I live vicariously through my characters.

It’s nice meeting you all, and I hope you’ll find my brand of “horror” interesting enough to let me stay and learn.

[Mark Veau]

Hello! My name is Mark Veau and I am from Worcester, MA. In 1984, while still in college, I co-produced a short horror/comedy called “Attack of the Killer Refrigerator” to run on the campus tv station – as it turns out, it ended up by being one of the most iconic B-movie, cult horror titles in history. Rarest.org lists it at #10 of the rarest VHS titles ever. VHS copies sell for well over a $1000.00 on line to this very day. That prompted us to write and shoot another horror “The Hook of Woodland Heights” which ended up being a “side two” to the “Refrigerator” VHS national release in 1990. Also in 1990 we started shooting on 16mm with a project that we wrote titled “Snapper” – think JAWS but with a giant killer man-eating snapping turtle instead of a shark – which was a recent subject of an award-winning documentary in 2021, “Snapper: The Man-Eating Turtle Movie That Never Got Made.” In 1991 we wrote and produced a Christmas-themed horror/thriller “Days Before Christmas” on 16mm which won first place/ gold award at the 25th Annual Houston International Film Festival in 1992. My collaborator and business partner since “Killer Refrigerator,” Michael Savino, and I continue to write and pitch and I am happy to say that this year all of our previous projects are being re-released on BluRay/DVD and streaming through a distribution deal that we signed last year. I have also spent over three decades in corporate broadcast radio, both on the air and as a program director. I retired from radio a few years back to concentrate solely on making films and screenwriting. My company is Media House Films, LLC. mediahousefilms.com

[Lance Adams]

Hi, I’m Lance. A writer / director living in Chicago.

I’ve written over half a dozen feature film screenplays. Last year, I co-wrote a high concept comedy which has been submitted to Nichols Fellowship, Slamdance, and the Austin Film Festival. I also wrote two horror thriller feature screenplays last year. I also wrote about a dozen horror short screenplays of varying lengths.

I look forward to seeing your take on the horror genre.

I’ve made over 20 short films (mostly comedy, improv, drama, and documentary) in Chicago and I’m hoping to go into production again this year with a few horror film screenplays.

[Alfred Green Green]

Hello everyone. My name is Alfred Green. Currently living in Los Angeles. I’ve written five screenplays. I’m hoping to better understand the horror genre with this class.

[Gloria McClintock]

Hi to all–I’m Gloria from NB California, married. I’m positive, even tempered, observant, and other things. As for the scripts I’ve written: they have all lacked ‘the’ significant message I wanted to convey. But the (I hope type of horror) story I just finished is a different kind of writing, something I’m satisfied with. As far as my expectations from the class: I hope to be able to get the kind of knowledge, the right tools, to properly critique what I write. I’ll get to sending a picture at some time, I promise.

[Scott Kaplan]

Greetings from Long Island, NY. My name is Scott. In 1996, I graduated with a BA in Psychology. I intend to use my background to better flesh out the motivations of these horrific characters. On break from semester, I studied and became a Certified Fitness Trainer(CFT). I parlayed this into opening Maximum Fitness in 1999. As President, I’m proud that we are celebrating our 23rd anniversary, doing my best to keep the community healthy!

My greatest passion is writing. I wrote my first screenplay in 6 weeks. Since, it’s gone through 30 rewrites. I have written 3 full-length screenplays. All different genres. One was a psychological thriller about a serial killer. The second was based on true life events pertaining to my business. The last was a time-travel fantasy spanning forty years. None have been published… I have written 13 short stories/essays and one poem. I was published in 3 of those instances. In all, having submitted thosands of times, my rejection file is full:-)

I have one movie short to my name. Filmmaking is challenging and must be collaborative. I hope to make another someday…

I wanted to take a “stab” at horror. This class provides the forum to ‘jump-start’ some new material, and get those creative juices flowing. My goal is to have a “routine” like exercise, instead of binge writing because of a hectic schedule.

To everyone who signed up…anyone who writes is a winner! Let’s be supportive and push each other to be the best versions of ourselves.

Regards,

SK

PS…as you can see I am a huge fan of ellipses…I tried to give them up for lent, but have failed mightily… good luck to all!

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Scott Kaplan.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Scott Kaplan.

[Brandon Barker]

Hi, my name is Brandon. I’ve written about 10 scripts. I hope to learn how to plot better horror films. I like to play the ukulele.

[Marc KOENIG]

Hi Brandon,

Ukulele music in a horror movie would be absolutely delicious 😄

[ATAUR BACCHUS]

Ataur Bacchus

Working on and off, I’ve completed 5 scripts including shorts for small competitions.

I don’t have a good feel for writing horror, and hope to up that a little..

I retired recently from engineering; my early education was hybrid – math and physics, but also humanities at 100 and 200 level – Literature, Latin

[Marc KOENIG]

Hi everyone,

I am Marc KOENIG, from France. I was an engineer in a previous life and decided to become a professional screenwriter 3 years ago. I have written 4 scripts so far – 2 in English and 2 in French – and was optioned for 1. I look forward to learning how to write a horror movie because I love this genre!

[Tim Hamilton]

Salut and bienvenue!

[Connie Whitmer]

Hi everyone. I’m Connie Whitmer from the beautiful farm country in upstate NY. I have completed one script. I’m working on a book series, to be irresistibly suitable for a TV series. I have taken all of Hal’s courses, but Horror, and loved them. Everything that makes a great film, makes a great story, and any novel better. Over the years I have seen the writing world start to use more and more screenwriting techniques. Hal’s are the best. Besides writing, my passion is competing in extreme obstacle courses with my amazing, and absolutely fearless horse, that will do anything for me. Currently we are perfecting shooting a bow and arrow at targets, while at a gallop.

Good luck with your projects.

[Lisa Kristel]

Hi, there!

I’m Lisa. I have never written a screenplay before, yikes! What I’d like to get out of this class is to learn how to turn an unfinished story into the script for a horror film. I once broke my collar bone by sailing over the handlebars of my mountain bike and crashing to earth during a race, and I got back on my bike, overtook all who passed me in my wave but one, and came in second. Then I went to the hospital to treat the broken bone.

[Tim Hamilton]

Hello, I’m T.J., and Ive written maybe around 10 scripts. I had one that quarterfinaled the Nichol in 2020 and is currently under option. I love action and horror. I’m originally from northern Michigan, but I currently live in LA (Los Feliz, specifically). I guess the interesting about me is that I’m a curler (that sport where you slide the stones on the ice)

• This reply was modified 3 years, 1 month ago by  Tim Hamilton.