Have you written a great horror script that needs a little tweaking to make it perfect?  Are you a great writer but have never worked in the horror genre before?

The screenwriter of the breakout Shudder original, BAGHEAD, is here to help get your script ready for market.

PLUS: Receive exclusive script excerpts from GET OUT, SCREAM, THE CONJURING, and CARRIE!

Not only is horror one of the most profitable genres in Hollywood, but it also has one of the most dedicated and enthusiastic fanbases. Some people even say that writing a great horror script is one of the most foolproof ways of breaking into the business. They usually don't require large budgets, they are not usually star-driven, and studios bet on them because horror fans are notoriously more willing to take a risk at seeing something new at the box office. But how can writers capitalize on the industry and audiences’ appetite for horror? The key is understanding how scares work and learning to write them effectively.

Right now someone is working on the next TERRIFIER, SAW, BLAIR WITCH, PARANORMAL ACTIVITY, or countless other examples of a previously unknown writer or filmmaker who created an expectation-busting hit that spawned countless sequels and enthusiastic fanbases. There is no reason that someone can't be you. 

To understand horror writing, we have to look at all the elements of great storytelling, such as character, structure, and pacing—the things that make a script of any genre great. In horror, we have to set up these building blocks in a way that amplifies fear. To do this, we need to understand the nature of terror. We need to tune our senses into the little details that tell our brains “something bad is about to happen,” and we need to deliver that “something bad” in a thrilling and original way.

Your instructor on this webinar is Christina Pamies. She wrote the 2023 film BAGHEAD for StudioCanal and The Picture Company which is currently streaming on Shudder. Also, her script NO GOOD DEED was chosen for the 2019 Black List. Christina will be teaching you about crafting a killer cold open (pun intended), effectively creating dread in your script, subverting audience expectations, avoiding cliches, and so much more about horror that is unique to any other genre.

Plus! Receive exclusive script samples from some of the biggest horror movies, like GET OUT, SCREAM, THE CONJURING, and CARRIE!

INTRO: WHY DO WE LOVE HORROR? WHY IS IT SO POPULAR?

• Why do we love horror?

• Why is it so popular?

CRAFTING A COLD OPEN

• Opening with dread

• Types/Examples of Cold Opens

LAUNCHING INTO OUR STORY

• Who is our main character and what sets them apart?

• Building our world

• Hinting at the horror to come

• Popular Examples

WHY DO SOME JUMP SCARES FALL FLAT?

• Avoiding cliches

• Keeping the element of surprise

• Making the audience invested

WRITING JUMP SCARES THAT WORK

• Going big for the first scare

• Setting up expectations and then subverting them

• Style and techniques: using descriptive, visceral language

• How to write scenes that scare and push the story or character forward

• Popular Examples

PACING

• Timing out jump scares: how often, how many?

• Balancing escalation, tension and release

ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE

• The keys to Third act scares 

• Writing Tags/final moments

• Examples

HANDOUT: Script excerpts (GET OUT; SCREAM; THE CONJURING; CARRIE)