Course Outline

1. Why make horror movie?
2. Brief history of the horror --from Edison's FRANKENSTEIN to NOSFERATU (silent movies) to drive-in's (Ted V. Mikels)--to present day Digital filmmaking, where Independent horror movies are thriving.
3. The horror script:
   • Writing the script to fit the budget-- how much do you need to spend to make a horror feature?
   • Psychological vs. physical, supernatural vs. reality-based.
   • Horror films that are scary vs. funny.
   • How to create suspension of disbelief for the viewer.
4. How important it is to get like-minded individuals to work on a horror film.
   • How to get actors and crew
   • Signing of release forms.
5. Aesthetics--camera, lighting, fog machine & makeup effects. How to create the "look" of the movie.
6. The use of editing effects- black and white, real-time vs. computerized effects.
7. Audio: Recording on set vs. looping, how get original or existing music for the soundtrack, importance of M & E tracks for sales purposes
8. What to do with a movie once it is completed:
   • Publicity
   • Self distribution vs. selling to a distributor