Production Workshop Insights: Key Learnings from Four Horror Producers
In the world of horror and thriller filmmaking, a clear concept, effective tension-building techniques, and a character-focused approach are essential for success. These tips were shared by industry veterans during a 4-week course, the "Story Maps Horror & Thriller Seminar."
One of the first steps in creating a successful horror film is to start with a clear, simple, and scary concept that taps into primal fears such as darkness, isolation, and the unknown. The story should focus on building tension and atmosphere without relying heavily on backstory or explanation. Cinematic techniques like Dutch angles, long takes, and slow pans can be used to create an unsettling perspective and suggest something is wrong in the scene.
Incorporating point-of-view (POV) shots can heighten immersion and personal fear experience, while quick cuts and fast editing can create chaos and panic, disorienting the audience and amplifying fear sensations. It's important to remember that horror is a genre that is always popular and in demand, as emphasized by Evan Astrowsky, producer of the Cabin Fever franchise.
Character-driven narratives and pacing are crucial, taking inspiration from established masters like Alfred Hitchcock, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven who revolutionized psychological horror and slasher genres through tension, unexpected twists, and social commentary. Blending visual style with storytelling by incorporating elements like vibrant colours or minimalist scores can enhance mood and tone.
Diversity in casting and narrative themes is also important, modernizing genre conventions while honoring influences and maintaining creative storytelling freedom. Participating in development labs or workshops, such as the Horror Development Lab by Deadly Exposure, can offer structured guidance on project development, production opportunities, and business facilitation for horror and thriller genres.
Daniel Calvisi, co-writer of the award-winning Horror short, The Lost Camp, and consultant on the film Devoted, suggests looking in one's own area for filmmaking opportunities and checking with film commissions to find people in one's home state who are making films. Rick Bosner, who has worked on films like The Manor, Paint, Fruitvale Station, and Devoted, suggested creating a short film as a way to build buzz and show investors that one can helm a horror film.
Rick Bosner's pitch deck for Devoted was only 10 pages long, with a synopsis of only two paragraphs and a single line for each character description. He hired an artist for around $1,000 to make his pitch deck stand out. Jeffrey Reddick, creator of the Final Destination franchise, advised keeping the logline tight and leaving a little mystery to intrigue potential readers.
The updated edition of Daniel Calvisi's book Story Maps: How to Write a GREAT Screenplay is now available exclusively at his website. The course was led by an individual who has guided a small group of students to develop original concepts for films and television series in the horror and thriller genres. Four guest speakers, industry veterans with credits including Final Destination, Cabin Fever, The Manor, Blumhouse, Netflix, Amazon, and Lifetime's "At 17" franchise, provided notes on students' loglines and shared valuable insights.
Christine Conradt, currently producing three thrillers for Lifetime, emphasized the importance of tapping into primal fear to create great horror. She also emphasizes the importance of having all deliverables (logline, synopsis, script, etc.) ready and great. Together, these tips highlight the importance of a strong, simple concept combined with effective tension-building cinematic techniques and a character-focused approach as emphasized by industry veterans in short, intensive horror film development programs.
- In the world of horror and thriller filmmaking, the director must focus on a clear, simple, and scary concept that taps into primal fears.
- The script for a horror film should concentrate on building tension and atmosphere, avoiding heavy reliance on backstory or explanation.
- Cinematic techniques such as Dutch angles, long takes, and slow pans can be used to create an unsettling perspective in a horror film.
- Incorporating point-of-view (POV) shots can heighten immersion and personal fear experience in horror movies.
- Character-driven narratives and careful pacing are crucial in horror and thriller genres, taking inspiration from Alfred Hitchcock, John Carpenter, and Wes Craven.
- Diversity in casting and narrative themes is essential to modernize genre conventions while maintaining artistic freedom.
- Development labs or workshops, like the Horror Development Lab by Deadly Exposure, can provide structured guidance on project development, production opportunities, and business facilitation.
- Creative professionals like Daniel Calvisi and Rick Bosner encourage finding local filmmaking opportunities and working with people in one's home state.
- A short film can be an effective way to build buzz and demonstrate one's ability to helm a horror film, according to Rick Bosner.
- Jeffrey Reddick advises keeping the logline tight and leaving a little mystery to pique potential readers' interest.
- "Story Maps: How to Write a GREAT Screenplay" by Daniel Calvisi offers insights into developing original concepts for films and television series in the horror and thriller genres, with guidance from industry veterans.
