How to Write a Horror Movie

THEATRST 284S

Great horror movies are substantial works of art that go beyond jump-scares to confront society’s most intractable problems – like racism, in the brilliant Get Out. In “How To Write A Horror Movie”, students will study genre classics, while writing weekly short scenes – to be read aloud in class – that address basic elements of screenplay-writing, the mid-semester goal being the script for a short horror film. Students will also keep a journal of story ideas, one of which they’ll develop in the second half of the semester as a feature-length screenplay, completing a rough draft of at least 80 pages, with successive portions of these scripts to be discussed in class. Instructor: Professor Neal Bell.

Great horror movies are substantial works of art that go beyond jump-scares to confront society's most intractable problems – like racism, in the brilliant 'Get Out'. In 'How To Write A Horror Movie', students will study genre classics, while writing weekly short scenes – to be read aloud in class – that address basic elements of screenplay-writing, the mid-semester goal being the script for a short horror film. Students will also keep a journal of story-ideas, one of which they will develop – in the second half of the semester - as a feature-length screenplay, completing a rough draft of at least 80 pages, with successive portions of these scripts to be discussed in class.

Notes

New Course Fall 2024. Cross-Lists CINE 281S, ENGLISH 223S. ALP, CCI, W.

Curriculum Codes
  • CCI
  • W
  • ALP
Cross-Listed As
  • CINE 281S
  • ENGLISH 223S
Typically Offered
Occasionally