Learn from producer and actor Zack Ward who’s worked on over 100 films!

Get a sample budget, call sheet and 3 and 9 act structure handouts

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class is now available to watch on-demand; it is no longer live and the instructor is not available for personal questions, but we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.

Right now, ultra low budget horror movies are incredibly popular because they thrive on creativity and innovation, often delivering fresh and unexpected scares - all at an affordable price tag to make!  Classic films like THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT and CUBE burst onto the scene and paved the way to make low budget horror a mainstay. More modern examples like V/H/S gained huge momentum and lead to the blockbuster careers for the Radio Silence filmmaking team who have gone on to direct two of the last SCREAM movies, as well as READY OR NOT for FOX Searchlight. These films were all made for under $250,000 and became massive hits, showing that you don’t need a big budget to captivate audiences. This trend provides a unique opportunity for you to break into the industry and kickstart your career with a low budget horror film.

Of course, directing an ultra low budget film comes with its own set of challenges. You'll face limited resources, small crews, and tight schedules. It's easy to make mistakes, like neglecting pre-production, over-relying on cheap scares, and not focusing enough on the story. Navigating these obstacles is key to creating a cohesive and impactful film.

Enter Zack Ward, your guide for this journey.  Zack is a producer, director and actor who started his career playing Scut Farkus on the classic film, A CHRISTMAS STORY. Zack has gone on to be involved in over 100 feature films and numerous horror films, including THE DEVIL’S REJECTS, ZOMBIE NIGHT and RESTORATION, which he directed and made for under $100,000. He knows how to balance limited resources with creative vision and is here to share his insights and practical advice with you.

In this 4-part Stage 32 class, you'll cover everything from script development to post-production. You'll start by breaking down your script and finding that pivotal moment. In pre-production, you'll learn about budgeting, storyboarding, and assembling your crew. During principal photography, you'll get tips on staying organized and maintaining your film's tone. Finally, in post-production, you'll explore editing, visual effects, sound design, and color correction. By the end, you'll have a comprehensive toolkit to take your ultra low budget horror film from concept to completion.

PLUS! You will receive:

• Sample budget
• Call sheet
• 3 act structure example
• 9 act structure example

PRAISE FOR ZACK:

"Zack was phenomenal. This was such rich information. He is the real deal." -Debra S.

"Best, most practically informative webinar I have taken on Stage 32. So good to have someone walk through the process giving so much valuable insights. Good to hear Zack talk about the importance of looking at a project from the business side. Thought this was most informative webinar yet. Zack was fantastic in detailing through various stages of film little things that had to be done." -Andy S.

"This was easily one of the most approachable How To sessions I've seen here. Advice given was rooted, did not include things only obtainable from within the system or resources that are unreasonable or unmanageable for starting/indie filmmakers." -Shane Wheeler

Pre-class prep: Please watch the case study for this class, Zack's film titled Restoration, available on Amazon, Tubi, Apple TV, and more.

Session 1) Script Development for Your Horror Film

Whether you are a writer/director or if you are a director on someone else’s script, an ultra low budget horror film starts with the story. In this session we will go over key things you need to know about the script in order to set yourself up for a successful shoot.

• Breaking down the script
• Finding that “moment” that changes everything
• Tone
• Scenes (and number and locations of them!)
• Dialogue
• Things to keep in mind when it comes to horror scripts

Assignment: Break down your script page counts for each of the 3 acts

Session 2) Pre-Production for Your Horror Film

As a filmmaker it’s always exciting to get on set and yell “action”, but the only way you will have a successful shoot is if you put all your time and energy into pre-production for your film. In this session we will go over the crucial things you need to think about and prepare for being on set.

Pre-Production Documents

• Budget  
• Story board your scenes, even with stick figures
• Shooting schedule
• Shot list

Pre-Production Hiring and Equipment

• How to choose & hire your departments
• How to cast your film
• How to choose your camera
• How to location scout
• How to cast
• How to plan production design
• How to plan wardrobe

Assignment: Put together a document outlining the # of scenes you have, the # of characters and # of  interior and exterior shots.

Session 3) Production – Principal Photography for your Horror Film

Getting on set is always the fun part – that’s where the magic happens. It is a team effort and collaboration is key during principal photography. In this session we will go over everything you need to think of as a director and go over how to handle most typical situations on a feature film set.

Team and Resource Allocation

• Defining your A-Team - What do you put on your main unit?
• Defining your B-Team - What do you put on your pickup unit?

Don’t Forget: You Are the One that Sets The Tone

• When you should show up on set
• Show confidence
• Be a collaborator

Principal Photography Tips

• Most important thing to do is hit the ground running
• Why photos are important
• Having your setups organized
• How to prepare for lighting:
  • Outside shots: App
  • Inside shots: pre-scout
• Lighting & setup tips to plan your day
  • How involved is your setup?
• How to compress a space into as many shots as you can in a day

Things to Think About for Horror Films

• When should you shoot prosthetics?
• How do get the perfect lighting for the creepy mood?
• How to get the best performance from your actors – avoiding cheesy.

Assignments: Map out a 12 hour shooting day and think about the # of setups and teardowns you will have to do to make the day.

Session 4) Post-Production on Your Horror Film

They say that the movie is made in post, and that is absolutely true. By now you’ve done your job preparing for the film and shooting it, now it’s time to set the mood and tone you established back in the script phase. In this session you will learn the various stages of post production and things you need to keep in consideration to get your picture on lock.

Editing

• The edit bay and what to keep in mind

Visual Effects (VFX)

• 3D - Blendr
• Set Extensions
• Adobe After Effects
• Eye Tracking
• Unreal Engine
• Generative Fill (AI wide establishing)

Color Correction

• Black Magic
• Premiere Pro
• Davinci Resolve

Sound

• Sound Edit
• Composer

Assignment:  Create a temp score for your film using music from Pond5, YouTube or Spotify

PLEASE NOTE: This exclusive Stage 32 class is now available to watch on-demand; it is no longer live and the instructor is not available for personal questions, but we highly encourage you to do any assignments to get the most out of the educational experience.

Directors interested in learning how to direct an ultra low budget horror film

Screenwriters and Filmmakers who want to have their ultra low budget horror film idea ready for completion

"Zack was phenomenal. This was such rich information. He is the real deal." -Debra S.

"Best, most practically informative webinar I have taken on Stage 32. So good to have someone walk through the process giving so much valuable insights. Good to hear Zack talk about the importance of looking at a project from the business side. Thought this was most informative webinar yet. Zack was fantastic in detailing through various stages of film little things that had to be done." -Andy S.

"This was easily one of the most approachable How To sessions I've seen here. Advice given was rooted, did not include things only obtainable from within the system or resources that are unreasonable or unmanageable for starting/indie filmmakers." -Shane Wheeler