It's hard. I write in the horror theme and genre, but I'll tell you it's hard to come up with something new and fresh that fits the genre. I've written 2 horror scripts that are hopefully going to be produced soon. One is original, one is not-so original. I'm currently working on another horror script, and it's hard to make a new angle on the concept. I could have wrapped up the writing after a couple of drafts and said to hell with it...but I keep re-writing and re-shaping the script to ensure that it steps away from the normal convention of horror films. I'm hoping by the end that it's original

As for the horror genre, many writers cut their teeth on horror, as one can get away without major character development...which is one of the hardest parts to learn about writing scripts. Will I most likely continue to write horror scripts? Probably. I'll most likely move away from creature feature and try to establish true horror stories. Not scenes that rely on shock value alone.

Why do horror scripts sell? Well, believe it or not, there is a demand. Especially for the direct-to-DVD releases. I've spoken with some people in the industry (producers, distributers) and from an independant studio perspective, there is still a demand from distributers for horror flicks. They are always strong renters at the video chains...even if they are poor movies in general.

So, I guess what I am saying is that there will always be a demand for horror scripts and people will continue to write them. It's up to us, the writers, to make sure that we push the envelope and try to think outside the box when it comes to ideas.

Happy writing

Quoted from MacDuff Why do horror scripts sell? Well, believe it or not, there is a demand. Especially for the direct-to-DVD releases. I've spoken with some people in the industry (producers, distributers) and from an independant studio perspective, there is still a demand from distributers for horror flicks. They are always strong renters at the video chains...even if they are poor movies in general.

Yes, very true. I've noticed that at my local video store new release horror DVD's tend to be pretty popular, even films that I wouldn't touch with a forty foot pole, like 'Frankenfish' get rented. We also need to realize that there is a difference between horror films that are directed at teenagers and horror films that are directed at adults, because it seems some people have the expectation that a teen slasher flick should be as sophisticated as an adult supernatural thriller, and when it isn't they say, "today’s horror films suck", which is a bit unfair, because you don't get people saying that comedy sucks because Freaky Friday wasn't as sophisticated as Sideways.

Quoted from MacDuff It's hard. I write in the horror theme and genre, but I'll tell you it's hard to come up with something new and fresh that fits the genre. I've written 2 horror scripts that are hopefully going to be produced soon. One is original, one is not-so original. I'm currently working on another horror script, and it's hard to make a new angle on the concept. I could have wrapped up the writing after a couple of drafts and said to hell with it...but I keep re-writing and re-shaping the script to ensure that it steps away from the normal convention of horror films. I'm hoping by the end that it's original

I'm writing a horror script (along with a non-horror script) that is about a monster/demon killing people.  It's going slow because I am working on character development and building suspense.  My title character (the Big Bad) is based on legend, though I haven't seen it done yet.

Originality can be done in horror.  You just have to look outside the small box that the horror fiilm industry has created.


Phil

Quoted Text I'm writing a horror script (along with a non-horror script) that is about a monster/demon killing people.  It's going slow because I am working on character development and building suspense.  My title character (the Big Bad) is based on legend, though I haven't seen it done yet. Originality can be done in horror.  You just have to look outside the small box that the horror fiilm industry has created.

Very true. It's just a hard sell when the time comes to pitch. I remember during one of my re-writes, I was told "you need to strengthen the character relationship between character X and character Y....but we don't want character development to slow the pace. Oh, and add more killings to the first Act."....Yikes!

It's a tought business. One of the few filmmakers who has made a horror movie and kept the violence low until the very end is Takeshi Miike's Audition. Takeshi i believe your login name is that and your picture is his.
(unless you are the REAL Takashi, if you, you're the man!)

Audition really builds up it's momentum and then b*#&@ slaps u right in the face in the last 15 minutes. I've had some major surgeries and I even got squemish. The violence only contributes to about 15% of the horror in the finale. It's the pure helplessness the character has in it. I believe the Hostel director was inspired by takashi's films.

I am currently at a boarding high school and in my dorm's lounge a bunch of kids were finishing up the grudge. These kids are essentially a mainstream audience, and they hate dthe grudge but for some reason the watched it. I popped in Audition, and didn't show them the cover or tell them what it was about. Luckily their was LITERALLY nothing else to do so they all sat through the 100 minutes of the movie yelling at me for putting it in and kept asking why i liked it. well when the last 20 minutes rolled around they kept there mouths shut and some even there eyes. My school is primarily a hockey jock school so try to put that image in your head. In a theater i would have been able to have kept them in there seats for a while.

The problem is that people are afraid to be adventurous when it comes to movie choices. If it has not big stars and "independent" they believe it's going to be boring and weird. and the few indie movies every year that become "big" they rave about. I'm going off topic here, but the point is I believe good horror is there. Not as much as there could be though. Most people are movie fanatics like us. They want to just be entertained by a movie. Just that, a quick 2 hour thing that they do every so often. Investors see movies as a product. If audiences started leaving the tired formulas that plague the movies in general (horror especially) and saw the films that are made to be good/scary investors and companies would see that there product needs to be "good and original"

Unfortunately if I were a mainstream audience member who went to the movies "every so often" and I enjoyed the ring i would be psyched for the grudge. It's an impossible thought that mainstream audiences would go only for originality, but look at the poor box office numbers in 2005 compared to 2004.

I am still in my phase where I believe I am an indie guy except when i think indepent i think of a movie by sony pictures classic.

You know, all of you guys should consider what a tough crowd you are to please  

I don't think any of these guys (even those responsible for Boogeyman) set out to intentionally make a bad movie.  And the people who haunt boards like this -- the hardcore fans -- will be the hardest to please.

I think the great unwashed masses like them just fine.

Subtle horror can be as hard as anything, I think, and a lot of filmakers shoot for it -- and miss.  I hardly kill anybody in my horror script -- and I guess that's OK, right?

I mean, would you be happy with a horror movie where only one person dies, or would you feel ripped off?  That's the big clue to the type of horror you (honestly) prefer.    

I agree with Bert.  No one spends more than - alot of freakin money - to make something they think or know no one will want to see.  Movies like Frankenfish don't get made by accident.  They carefully consider creating even the dumbest sounding film because they know, somehow, and for whatever reason, it has a market.

That still doesn't mean I'd EVER watch Frankenfish.  I mean, come ON.

This is how Troma's stayed in business all these years.


Phil

hey i'm a hipocrite sometimes ill watch those tyrpe of horror movies on the sci fi channel (for a good laugh) and I wonder how they get made. I have been swimming through the boards for game modding (for story and script writers) and I came across a modification for a game based off a sci fi channel movie. I emailed him about the position for screenwriter and he sent me the script.

This will be released in block busters and on that god forsaken channel very soon and will be like all the rest I believe. An ambitious project made on a very low budget. I am still writing the script for the game (it's actually a sequel to the movie) and I'm writing it because it has some involvement with an actual film company. Writing it, I can see how people get caught in making bad horror movies. I had to write it within the same realm of the first and even worst it was to be a game (so no character develop just like a lot of horror movies now)You're given the opportunity to direct or write a "marketable" horror film. It's so hard to break in that making a feature like that big are small is exciting especially if you get into the directors chair. They probably do try.
Hell even Uwe boll claims his favorite movies are Citizen Kane, Taxi Driver, etc.
Particularly when breaking in it's probably not the wisest idea to go all Orson Welles on the studios and argue for freedom on your picture. The writers and directors need to make a living too.
Since I'm still a kid I'd like to think I would be tough and slick if I were to strike deals, but in reality I would probably wide eyed and mesmorized by the fact any production company is giving me a chance.
That being said if "bad" can be considered marketable then why can't "good" be marketable.
It's the companies that take the pitches in, they pick the ones they know will make money. See "The Player" and you might understand what i'm sayin.

At least Troma's, like, a thousand times better than Frankenfish.

Atleast end the bad horror movies after Snakes on a plane comes out. I'm psyched to see that.

Snakes on a plane?  I'd actually go see that.  What's it called?  I wanna look it up on IMDB.

Quoted from thegardenstate89 Writing it, I can see how people get caught in making bad horror movies. I had to write it within the same realm of the first and even worst it was to be a game (so no character develop just like a lot of horror movies now)

I know exactly what you mean. I write for a games company and I'm constantly being told "make it like this movie, make it like that movie, use this cliche, use that cliche, keep cut scenes down to 30 seconds etc etc". It so frustrating. I don't think people realise how much influence the publishers/producers have over the story. These people think in numbers, and therefore, tried and tested formulas.

Dr Mabuse, if you don't mind me asking - how did you get your job? I've always wondered how game companies choose writers and where to even find a job like that...

Thanks for the insights, Doctor.