I find it funny how most of the posting and feedback on scripts go tot he horror section. Even I really pay attention to that section more than any other and i'm not even that big of a horror fan. I know horror movies can be made by a quick buck and maybe thats why so many ppl post them but in the drama section and others theyre are no replies to all the scripts written. I don't even look at the others. You guys know why we only focus of that one genre?

Because it's an easy genre to write for... It takes little effort to churn out a horror script, by and large...

Now don't get me wrong... horror is my genre of choice, I love it, however... I see so many crap, shit, mundane, boring scripts in horror that makes me turn away from several of them all together.

When I say it's an easy genre to write for, I mean it... I don't, however, mean it's an easy genre to get "RIGHT"... writing horror and getting horror "RIGHT" are two different things and I've yet to see too many who actually do get it right.

The most I see from people is a fan fic script here and a run of the mill slasher here... every now and again we'll have someone pull a rabbit out of their ass and come up with something good.

COLD FEET is a brilliant piece of work, all be it short and to the point... It was still chilling and got over well with what it tried to do.

Because most of us have a natural blood lust and killing people is a good way to relieve stress. Writers can kill as many people as they want to by writing about it. It's like committing a crime without consequences (although my wife says if she ever disappears to look under the couch). The flow of ideas, no matter how gruesome can help to clear one's mind of the world and provide a temporary escape from the boundaries that hold us down. Horror is the most gruesome of genres and the most illegal, so people will always migrate that direction. It's living vicariously through movies and writing.

I see that. Maybe another reason is producers are also looking for horror scripts. There's something about them, they can be made relatively cheap, dished out, and make money. Often regardless of how good they are.

Any genre of film can be made relatively cheap. Dramas can also come out inexpensive due to many require few, if any, special effects. Some horror tend to use a small cast at one or two locations, which helps lend to the cheapness, but many other genres can also work this way depending on the script and what it needs. In my opinion, the most expensive "cheap" films would be sci-fi. It is almost impossible to make a good-looking science fiction film without special effects and without the effects looking cheap if done cheaply. I would think the cheapest and easiest film to make would be a drama. Not only can they be made on a single set with no special effects (stage play, anyone?), but it also requires no creative directing to make th story presentable. Creativity is nice, but all it needs is a good script. Everything else is almost incidental.

YEs but drama requires skilled actors to perform and add to the drama. Though you can find good unknown actors for "cheap" it's more of a concern finding actors. However comedy (certain kinds such as slapstick) and horror are easier for actors. Although it is not easy look at most horror movies. They hire unknown sometimes bad actors because alot of the time that's not the focus.
I'm contradicting myself now. Forget it haha

Blah, Blah, Blah Horror is most used because people on this site are shallow and can't be bothered taking the time reading something that is actually good and would rather read the bad scripts so they can look cool. Simple as that, just look at the replies and people going off on bad horror scripts (Well at least ones Don hasn't deleted by now)

And that's just going by what others have told me, and also by the facts. People would rather read bad scripts and most are located in that genre. Other genres have lots of scripts in them, good ones too but it all explains how masterpieces go undiscovered for so long.

I wasn't saying Horror doesn't have some good scripts because it does but people gravitate towards bad ones.

I hope the review exchange can fix this or maybe me saying it so bluntly.

I agree. It seems people shy away from scripts that actually have depth. Not saying I write a lot of scripts with depth, but I think I write well enough to have at least some of my scripts looked at!

[/bitter]  

Like Red Phoenix, it's too good to be an unproduced screenplay and yet as Hollywood is in it's remake/adaptation/sequel stage you're pretty much left sitting on it.

Well like you know, I've never counted that as my favourite work, but heck, if there was a call for it, I'd be there in a shot. But like you say, Hollywood sucks. I think I'm doomed to write and write and write and just be overlooked by all these crap horror movies and remakes. I guess these boards do have something in common with Hollywood.  

I write horror for just that reason: it's become 'popular.' Everyone and their dog has written a horror script. The 80s are dead and gone, the good stuff long forgotten replaced by the PG-13 cash-in era. Maybe I'm naive in thinking I can write anything that stands out in the overly saturated market, after all I write zombie scripts. Why do I write them? Because I love zombie movies, and I hope that one day I can make one that will be more than just a cheap straight to video piece of trash. Horror is easy to write, but as Balt said, it's almost impossible to get it 'right.'

I wouldn't go that far but maybe instead of writing complicated series as you do (Not that they aren't good because I've heard they are better than most) but people don't care to watch/read complicated stuff. People in the world like stuff they can sit down any week and get into and not have to devote too much time into extra details.

This is why you don't like what I'd say is your best work because you wrote it for fun and that's what people want... Fun mindless entertainment is the key to life.

Eventhough I am not a big fan of the horror movement I am doing my part to change that.

Well, with "Between The Walls" it seems I've picked up a few fans and I'd like to finish the first season, if only for them (only two more eps to go!). But at the moment, I'm trying to get as many Pilots down as possible, so I can possibly pitch them to networks. Plus, every day I come up with a brand spanking new idea, so that's a good way to get them all down.

But I do like that you think Red Phoenix is of great standard, I just didn't set out to make anything great and didn't expect people to take any notice of it. Mind you, not many have except you, but eh, one person liking it is more than enough for me. I just prefer things with thought put into them. "Six Feet Under" is a favourite show of mine... or, was... and so I'm influenced a lot by that.

And yeah, I'm not off to Oz until a month's time, but I will help you in that movement. Unfortunately I'll then be gone for a year! Well, not unfortunately, it's Australia baby!  

A lot of writers cut their teeth on horror. It's a good way to craft your skills before trying some more dramatic pieces.

I started horror, I've got a couple of more projects in the wings that are horror - then I'm moving on to some dramatic or action projects.

I write horror as a means of escape. The world is in a sad state nowadays and people love to give their two cents on current issues. But to me, most of what people have to say is BS and is simply them liking to hear the sound of their own voice. So I go to movies to get away from all that. Unfortunately these days, you get the same BS in movies too. As tired as I am of remakes, superheros, and bad 70s TV shows, I'm also tired of pretentious Oscar winners like Cinderella Man trying to shove ideas down are throats. Even genre movies are doing this today. The political overtones in War Of The Words and Land Of The Dead made me groan (and I LOVE George Romero). Horror is the best way to escape from all this since most horror films are so out there, it's easy to get lost in them.

Okay, there's my philosophical response. Basically, I write horror since I've been madly in love with the genre since I was traumatized by the Tales From The Dark Side movie when I was six years old.  

Though if you think about it even horror films (The simple ones) are very unbelievable in the way they are made and written so I don't see how it is valid that they are a good means of escape... People being brutally killed onscreen is an escape for people?

Horror films are unbelievable. Like I said, they're 'out there', detached from reality, and that what makes them a good means of escape. People also suspend disbelief when they watch horror films which makes them even more immersed in the film. People that don't, don't watch horror films.

In response to your other comment: people are attracted to violence. It's a sad truth that many people don't like to admit but it is still truth. It's a taboo subject and people are always attracted to what's taboo. Think back to when the Nick Berg video was released online last year. The websites hosted that video became inaccessible because of the traffic on them.

I personally think that horror movies, in addition to escape, are a healthy way to acknowledge that there is violence in the world and feel comfortable discussing it. Films like the Nick Berg tape, on the other hand, are not as those types of videos are real people dying and I don't think there's anything healthy in watching real people die as a means of acknowledging and feeling comfortable discussing violence. That's why I've refused to watch any of the hostage tapes on terrorist websites or 'mondo' films like Faces Of Death.

I have heard many times that Faces of Death is a fake.

I don't think horror movies these days are scary or thoughtprovoking. Horror movies don't need to be R to be scary, but some movies censor themselves so much for a mainstream audience they lose there effect entirely.

In terms of originality in horror movies, i hear that charlie kaufmann is writing a horror movie which sounds promising for this dying(in quality) genre.

And WES you'd be right... FACES OF DEATH started out as a sorta twisted america's home video's kinda thing, but then grew quickly into... Let's script deaths and use props and fool the people.

As a whole... viollence is not an escape, it's a cop out answere to say it is. You can't take any horror movie serious. You simply cannot. I write horror, I love horror, It's in my soul, it's what I need... but at the same time... I know that my escape isn't in horror... Reality is a much better place to see, live and be in.

All genres are easy to write.  Writing them well, however, is another matter.  And people just have a lower standard when it comes to horror/slasher films.  They ignore the good ones (ie:  The Excorcist, The Shining, Psycho) and compare their scripts to the bad ones (pretty much any horror movie made today).

The bar is just too low for this genre and that's why so many people, here, write them.


Phil

I think all of you guys are analyzing too much.

Those who haunt these boards are (primarily) youngish males.

And for this demographic, horror is the favorite to read, watch, or to write -- for whatever reason.

Faces Of Death is fake but there's real footage spliced into it including cruelty to animals, wartime footage, and prisoner executions.

If the age limit was raised the problem would go away is what you're trying to say than Bert, Don won't raise it... He's already made that clear once before so I guess we'll all just have to live with it and take out your frustrations on the many bad horror screenplays based on other bad horror films as Dogglebe put it.

On the one hand, you can check the ages of the writers in their profile and only favor a certain few who are over a certain age. The problem there is there are a few young writers who are cutting their teeth on bad horror, but you can read in their scripts the potential for greatness. Don said once that some of the best people on here started when they were quite young (Wesley, you were one he mentioned by name). Had there been an age limit of some sort, we might not even have you.

Situations reversed I wouldn't want myself on the boards from when I was younger, I'd say I'm right in the middle age group of the boards. Though maybe I'd be considered old because most members are in their early to late teens ha-ha

Wow, I hate to know what that makes me. And Phil. And Don, for that matter.

Hey George,  don't group me in with you old farts.  We made be the same age, but I age like a fine wine.  You sonsabitches age like milk on a hot day!


Phil

I generally avoid the horror boards because the vast majority of the stories fall into either zombie or slasher.  Neither of them interest me.  Let the kids have their fun there.

This is partially why Dreams in Dust and Marble was placed in the shorts sections and not horror.


Phil

WEll i wrote a few horror  (though i dare not post them they would get ripped to pieces) as an easy way to practice my story and character development. THough i'm much more into stories about life. It is much easier to pick up a zombie script and read it though. And also if a horror script sucks it's for some reason to me readable. However if a drama sucks it's unbearable.

And you wonder why people don't read your work as much as you'd like? Because some people can be picky, it's a review, it's not like you're giving up your first child.

It's a copout to say you don't like drama so you don't read drama. I don't like horror but I still read the screenplays.

Bert also reads every genre so he can say that, can the rest of you say that? His reviews are longer than 1 or 2 lines also... 2 line reviews aren't reviews, remember that.

I agree 100% with everything you just said, Wes... I can't comment too much on Action... but I have read a lot of varried work here. I've read Drama, Comedy, Thriller, Action, Fan Fic, and I think I'm the only member to have read every western screenplay up on the site, LOL!

I think if you are going to give a review, give a review... don't half ass a review with 2 or 3 lines of -- It was um... good. It was um... Bad... It wasn't formatted right...

I want to see what I did right. What I did wrong. What I can do to make it better. What I missed in way of mistakes or continuity.

Double standards are a plenty on this site.

If you are talking about me King Wes, I have never moaned about people not reviewing my work once.

I dont expect someone who writes drama to read a horror script, if they do, great.
If they write a review, fantastic.

Im not asking talking about anyone or anything in particular, my view is my opinion and I have a right to that as much as you do yours.

I write horror and I like horror movies/scripts. That is me and that is my choice.
If you are saying im a "copout" because I dont read other genres, then so be it.
Perhaps I do read other genres but since I dont know about them as much as my particulat fav then I dont think I have the right to comment or review it in a way that may seem fair.

Plus, any review I have written has been a lot more then two lines.

For the short time ive been on this site i have not seen a review shorter than 2 lines, but don't bring 1 up proving me wrong, b/c im sure there are many. It's most of the ones ive looked at have reviews that are much longer than a few lines.

I personally think any good writer can (and probably should) read every genre available in order to better their own work. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of spare time so I can't read all the things I want to read (although, I download them all on my hard drive... so you'll probably get some reviews in a years time!)

And I don't think it's right to say that because you don't particularly know a lot about a certain genre, you don't have the right to comment/review it. Of course you do. You don't have to throw yourself into that genre to know what a good script is, what good drama is, good horror, good comedy. If you say that, it's like saying you don't have the right to have an opinion about a certain movie in the cinema... because any decision you come to wouldn't be fair as you don't know a lot about that genre. And let's face it, we're all too willing to shout about the movies in the cinema, so why so quiet on the script side?

Thats a fair point.
I didnt mean I dont read other genres I just dont usually write or comment about them. I try and read as many things as I can but usually stick to horror because thats what I enjoy the most.
At the same time, I was saying I dont think people HAVE to read other genres if they dont want to.
It was a simple comment that I guess I didnt write well enough to be clear on.

Oh definitely. It would ruin the experience if you felt you were forced to read something. But also, people shouldn't feel like they have to write horror to get loads of reviews. I find the best reads are the best screenplays, and so far there's more in drama/comedy/adventure/action than there is in horror... so I guess I just don't understand why some people would choose bad horror scripts over good "insert genre here" scripts.

I think Bert makes a good point that horror is more popular with the young male demographic of the site. I used to be a huge horror fan but not so much any more.

I still haven't really found my favourite genre to write which is probably why most of my features stall in the second act when I decide to start something new.

I tend to read scripts from various sections on this site. A good script is a good script regardless of genre. I think if you limit your reading (and writing) to one genre you'll find it difficult to develop as a writer.

If you want an example of what I mean go read the bad 1 line - 3 line reviews in Final Destination 3... All those members should be banned now regulars or not because the reviews are attacks and not helpful at all.

But as I am honest about my feelings nobody cares (eventhough I have a very valid point) though people would rather listen to dim witted comments by cold hearted assh**es that ruin the little guys confidence and hurts the community as a whole.

I think that some people post their scripts and expect everyone to wriye, "This rocks!"  As opposed to, "This sucks."  Both examples of reviews, IMHO, are wrong.    Details and excerpts should accompany each review.  I would rather have someone write "Your script is bad and here's why..." followed by examples than to have someone just write, "This should be produced."

I'm against the "I'll read yours if you read mine," idea as people here should want to read other works, and also the feedback that accompanies it.  See if your critiquing is similar to others.  If not, you should practice that.  We're not trading gold nuggets for food here.  Don't go one-for one.


Phil

Quoted Text I'm against the "I'll read yours if you read mine," idea as people here should want to read other works, and also the feedback that accompanies it.

While I agree, I can also understand people getting frustrated if they review a lot of movies and nobody reviews any of theirs.

Quoted from dogglebe I'm against the "I'll read yours if you read mine," idea as people here should want to read other works, and also the feedback that accompanies it.

Sure, that's the way it would work in a perfect world.

But I think lots of people just "expect" to get reviews, and months go by, with maybe 16 people "looking" and no posts, and they are like, "Wow. My stuff must really suck."

I'll bet it hasn't even occurred to alot of people that reading other peoples scripts will get their own stuff read.  It took about a month for it to occur to me.

And it works, too, if you do it right.

Go read the scripts of people who are ACTIVE on these boards and you will get read.  And sometimes, read something new, and you can help "CREATE" an active member.

It's all good, man.  Whatever helps people get reviews.  The "other stuff" is great, but I think helpful reviews are what this board should really be about.

I don't think any review should be all that leaning toward one direction because if you're saying a screenplay is perfect why is that writer still unproduced? Every script on here has some problems but some people are just afraid to say the truth as to not hurt anybody's feelings. (Hollywood produces a lot of films with problems and possibly some screenplays here are better) but if you can't even keep the format and spelling perfect you're well behind where you need to be.

Almost every great script I've read has a couple problems that will keep it down but that's not saying that they aren't really good. When you tell the writer these problems they aren't very receptive to that feedback but they are as it goes with spelling which is weird but oh well.

I think only IMADMAN and Dogglebe really know how to keep review neutral and everyone else is too afraid of hurting people's feelings. (And they keep it constructive and not just attacking people like the FD3 thread.)

I'm awful at keeping stuff neutral, i try to be sympathetic b/c i know WHEN i post mine it will hurt to see all that work insulted or trashed ( though i only saw it on the FD3 post recently). I think the biggest problem if you look at the scripts is a lot of people don't have any proper training or didn't research how to write a script in terms of structure. I took a one month film program and in jsut that i was slapped in the face about everything i thought i knew when it came to script writing and character development, but i was wrong.
And i still barely reached the tip of the ice berg. You don't need to follow the structure to make a good script, but knowing it helps. Looking back at my scripts that i halfway completed b4 the program i noticed so many problems with it. Many scripts focus just on the events and not the characters and at the end ive noticed nobodys grown since the end, just a lot of people died. I shouldnt bitch about characters and stuff, but just in general i think the reason why people get bashed is because the scripts feel so akwards because they didnt read up before or anything. This is a personal view, i may get a response back yelling at me saying you don't need any sort of instruction, but I think it makes a difference A huge difference.

Is horror popular or is chattering about it popular? There are four pages of discussion on the topic, yet most scripts barely manage four reads. Just sort of funny.

Quoted from Old Time Wesley I think only IMADMAN and Dogglebe really know how to keep review neutral and everyone else is too afraid of hurting people's feelings. (And they keep it constructive and not just attacking people like the FD3 thread.)

I don't care if I hurt anyone's feeliings.  If you post your script on a public board, and ask for comments and criticism, I'm going to be honest.  Anything less than that will be disrespectful.  And if I say your script sucks like an open chest wound, I'm going to back that up with examples of your script.

A script that I am writing now includes a wannabe actress.  She's been cast in a bad sci-fi/adventure/romance film.  I'm laughing hysterically at the script-within-a-script that I am writing because it's so awful.  At the same time, it wouldn't be the worst that I've read.


Phil

I don't think the word suck, terrible or stupid should be used when describing someone's work... Constructive is the key word not childish as it seems a lot of people are when reviewing screenplays (I'll be cool if I say something bad about this script, maybe people will like me and read my work hehe)

I think you might be right R.E. but all the pages of Horror with even more pages of pointless chatter about each of them (It's not all reviews, a lot of pointless chatter) but it is still a vast pile of garbage that should not be aloud. They are posted for reviews and people fill them up with unrelated banter.

I guess you can't stop it but you can sure avoid it and that's what hurts some of the better ones that go unread because people choose to read the bad apples.

I wouldn't use those words, either (atleast not often), but I have implied it on more than one occasion.  Backing it up separates slamming from criticism.


Phil

I would prefer someone slam my work with some honest criticism than say it's great when it isn't. As long as someone tells me why what I wrote sucks, then they are free to have any opinion they wish. I just want to be able to fix whatever sucks.

Because some people think it's easier than writing a character driven piece, laden with snappy dialogue. In short there's a lack of respect for the genre, and "some ' probably think that a horror screenplay is as easy to nail as the town bike, once she's had a few too many drinks. And we wonder why a horror film has never won an Oscar for best picture. Mmm.

I don't want to piss anyone off, but horror films are easier to write than other genres.  Comedy and action are next.  Then we have drama.  Drama is considered the most challenging.

Why is this so?  All a horror film has to do, for most, stupid people, is freak you out - not give you interesting characters and subplots and such.  That's just what we wish good horror films had.  Comedy and action films just have to be funny and/or blow stuff up.  Interesting characters and thought provoking themes are just a plus.

...

Sorry, I guess.

Comedy is hard, jokes come fewer and fewer as you get further into the script.

Horror is easy, plots are useless, women are stupid, and people are dumb.  GET A GUN!  SHOOT EM'!

It's not that people like myself hate the genre but are sick of it being popularized by kids who cannot write it for shit, that means those who think A road trip turned bad is a good story or a really violent piece with "cool" deaths will make it good.

It is actually really hard to write good horror, sure anyone can write it but that doesn't mean anything if it's bad.

The best horror movies actually have drama and non stereotypical characters - that means, not what we've not seen in a while or even NEVER seen - characters that we actually would never expect.  I want to see a business man become a murder because he's forced to by a psychopath, only to learn - he actually likes it. Now that would be fun to watch.

Anyone, feel free to write away.
Please, please, dont than me.

Quoted from Stephen Wegmann The best horror movies actually have drama and non stereotypical characters - that means, not what we've not seen in a while or even NEVER seen - characters that we actually would never expect.  I want to see a business man become a murder because he's forced to by a psychopath, only to learn - he actually likes it. Now that would be fun to watch. Anyone, feel free to write away. Please, please, dont than me.

Um... that's actually what Hostel's about. All the murderers in Hostel are rich businessmen who are so bored with sex and drugs that they want to experience the "ultimate rush."

And yeah, horror's really going down the toilet nowadays. It's extremely difficult to come up with new ideas. I'd say the trick to making a good horror movie in this day and age is a difference in interpretation rather than concept (e.g. both The Cave and The Decent came out last year. Both had almost identical plots. Yet one is being raved as the best horror film of 2005 while the other, well, it's The Cave).

And, of course, well developed characters and plot are vital too. Unfortunately, taking the time to develop characters often takes a long time and people who are unwilling to bare through the exposition often get bored and the film ends up losing them. Then again, it's sometimes done very well.

That's seriously hostel?  Wow.  But is it about the murderers or the murdered.  If it was about the psychos, then that'd be a REALLY interesting twist.

I heard of The Cave but not The Decent.  Didn't see them either.  'Reckon they both sucked.  

Horror movies nowadays are lacking.  The last good horror flick was possibly Saw but definitely the Amityville Horror remake - not for personality, but for pure intensity.

Quoted from Stephen Wegmann That's seriously hostel?  Wow.  But is it about the murderers or the murdered.  If it was about the psychos, then that'd be a REALLY interesting twist. I heard of The Cave but not The Decent.  Didn't see them either.  'Reckon they both sucked.   Horror movies nowadays are lacking.  The last good horror flick was possibly Saw but definitely the Amityville Horror remake - not for personality, but for pure intensity.

Hostel is the victims' story but I thought the torturers were well-developed as well. One of the scenes I found most creepy didn't even have any blood. It was simply a conversation between one of the tourists and a jaded American businessman. It's a very different film than most horror movies. I'd check it out.

The Descent is a British film that came out last year from the director of Dog Soldiers (fantastic werewolf movie). It's about an all-female caving expedition that goes wrong. It's been compared to Alien and Dog Soldiers - the humor and has been referred to as a true monster movie. I hope it gets released in the US before too long.  

The Descent sounds interesting - an I've been wanting to see Hostel since I heard it was a Tarantino film! - jk jk

Quoted from Stephen Wegmann I don't want to piss anyone off, but horror films are easier to write than other genres.  Comedy and action are next.  Then we have drama.  Drama is considered the most challenging.

IMHO, comedy is harder to write than drama.  It's easy to come up with five or ten jokes for a script, but when you have to right 150, that's another problem.  THis is why the Police Academy Films died after the original.  The writers couldn't sustain the jokes and ended just rehashing old ones.

Quoted from Stephen Wegmann Why is this so?  All a horror film has to do, for most, stupid people, is freak you out - not give you interesting characters and subplots and such.  That's just what we wish good horror films had.  Comedy and action films just have to be funny and/or blow stuff up.  Interesting characters and thought provoking themes are just a plus.

Horror is popular on this site because so many writers here are young and think that killing people (on paper) is cool.  It's also easy.  An axe through this guy's head?  That is so cool!  A whaling harpoon through that cop's stomach?  Sweet!  The same holds true for most of the produced horror movies.  All it comes down to is the bodycount and how bloody things get.

When we did the last one week excercise, last October, and the genre picked was horror (at the insistence of a lot of people), I made sure it was gothic horror.  I personally didn't want to read graphic violence and blood.  These types of stories aren't even horror; they're shock and violence.

And don't get me started on zombie scripts!

I don't think most horror writers/producer/moviegoers even know what horror is.


Phil

Horror is something that scares you.  Watching people getting gashed up is not scary, it's amusing.  "Horror" films these days are all rated R for "Strong graphic violence/gore and sexuality/nudity," yet they're not remotely scary.  The last film I saw which I can say actually scared me was Signs.  House of 1000 Corpses is about gore, not horror, same with Devil's Rejects.

I haven't read many of the horror scripts on the site, but to make an effective horror piece, in my opinion, you don't need gore.  Check out "The Farm." If that was made into a film it would be PG-13.  Now check out "The Cabin" or anything by M*** M****.  They're listed under horror, but they're just poorly written porno-gore thingies starring Paris Hilton. If those works were made into feature films...well...you'd see what I'm saying.

Quoted from tomson As far as Oscars and horror movies go, I do believe Silence of the Lambs is a horror movie as well as Jaws, but I know what you mean.

IMHO, the best scene in Silence of the Lambs was the conversation between Lecter and Starling at the hospital.  Even though I knew that he couldn't possibly hurt her, he scared the living Bejeezus out of me.  The violence he committed during his escape was descent because they kept it to a minimum.

At the same time, my favorite scene in Reservior Dogs was the opening scene in the diner.


Phil

I suppose comedy is harder than drama, just not for me.  I, for one, am a heartless bastard.  THAT'S what makes drama such a challenge.  

That's also what makes horror incredibly easy for me to write.  Oh, people being mutilated while spanish flamenco tunes play?  Now THAT'S horror.

Quoted from Stephen Wegmann Oh, people being mutilated while spanish flamenco tunes play?  Now THAT'S horror.

Spanish flamenco tunes is horror in an of itself.

Anyone who wants to see good examples of gothic horror should read the scripts from the last one week competition/challenge/assignment/thing can go to:

http://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-film_contests/m-1129338399/s-75/

Reading the entire thread is actually a good thing to do, too.


Phil

When's the next one week contest, if ya don't mind me asking...and if you know.

Quoted from Stephen Wegmann When's the next one week contest, if ya don't mind me asking...and if you know.

I will be announcing the genre and subject on the thirteenth.


Phil

Horror films and scripts have time to add a great story but people think that you have to kill everyone right away, that's why we have so many 20 page horror scripts in the full length section.

And those twenty pagers seem to go on the longest.


Phil

Quoted from tomson As far as Oscars and horror movies go, I do believe Silence of the Lambs is a horror movie as well as Jaws, but I know what you mean.

I wouldn’t consider Silence of the Lambs a horror, more like a psychological thriller. But Jaws won an academy award for best picture? I’ll pay it as a horror because I suppose the shark was a monster, but it seemed more like an action movie to me. Anyway, I reckon the The Sixth Sense and The Shinning were pretty stiff not to have received Best Picture Oscars. As far horror v drama goes, I think if done properly, a supernatural thriller could be as good as any drama.

Quoted from Takeshi I wouldn’t consider Silence of the Lambs a horror, more like a psychological thriller. But Jaws won an academy award for best picture? I’ll pay it as a horror because I suppose the shark was a monster, but it seemed more like an action movie to me. Anyway, I reckon the The Sixth Sense and The Shinning were pretty stiff not to have received Best Picture Oscars. As far horror v drama goes, I think if done properly, a supernatural thriller could be as good as any drama.

That's the problem right there.  Horror isn't done properly.

Horror should give you a feeling of dread.  Having someone with an axe suddenly appear around the corner will startle you, but it won't leave you feeling dread.


Phil

i think jaws was shatfted when it came to the best pic oscar. still on afi's top 100 films of all time and #2 on afi's top 100 thrillers.

Quoted from dogglebe That's the problem right there.  Horror isn't done properly. Phil

And it's not done properly because some people don't respect the genre, and it shows in their work. Why you would want to write in a genre you have no respect for is a mystery to me. Anyway, artists who do respect the genre, like Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock, have shown us that the horror genre can be as high an art form as any. Of course they’ve had their turkeys too, but most prolific artists have.
    
  

I've essentially given up on horror films nowadays. There are some gems out there (a lot in asia) but as far as american horror goes, it's been milked for all it's worth. Creators can't seem to create a new idea. A scary original horror movie is such a rarity that once it's a  hit they have to make it a franchise and ruin the beuaty of the first. Just look at the first saw despite it's flaws it was an engaging enough thriller. i just knew they were going to destroy it with the 2nd.

A good horror movie should be able to scare you not only when your alone but with other people. And i'm not talking about covering your eyes waiting for something to suprise you, I'm talking about just making you truely frightened. The first nightmare on elm street horrofied me and i was with other people. I was dreading each time the night came (or whne a character started to dream). It's that since of dread that horror movies fail to evoke these days.

Quoted from thegardenstate89 I've essentially given up on horror films nowadays. There are some gems out there (a lot in asia) but as far as american horror goes, it's been milked for all it's worth. Creators can't seem to create a new idea.

I hear ya, and think everything you’re saying is valid. And a fresh approach is needed. But it's not the fault of the genre; the fault is with the people that are attempting to do horror. I wouldn't say that as a genre horror is dead because there have been bad horror films, that would be like saying drama is dead because there have been bad dramas. The people that are doing horror just have to start thinking out of the box a bit more and stop giving us reheated left overs. Let’s face it, with a genre that has supernatural themes the possibilities should be unlimited.

when a drama is bad lots of people tend to avoid it. When horror is bad lots of kids still go (I must admit so do i from time to times) Bad horror is just a little more bareable than bad drama.

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.

I don't write horror because it doesn't take much to write it.  I love a challenging script with a lot of character development and emotionally tense moments.  Scares last seconds while emotional distress lasts long after the movie ends.  

And as far as not posting any scripts on the site, I am very paranoid of having my work stolen, so if it's something that I have a chance of having produced I won't post it on the internet (such as my sci-fi trilogy Superpower).  I think that's why a lot of great scripts don't see this site, they figure they can do much more with a great script.  No offense to anyone here but I'd rather have my screenplays watched not read.

Quoted from factorfilms And as far as not posting any scripts on the site, I am very paranoid of having my work stolen, so if it's something that I have a chance of having produced I won't post it on the internet (such as my sci-fi trilogy Superpower).  I think that's why a lot of great scripts don't see this site, they figure they can do much more with a great script.  No offense to anyone here but I'd rather have my screenplays watched not read.

That's why scripts should be copywritten before they're posted.  I copyrighted (copywrote?) my work long before I found this site.


Phil

I would copywrite them but my limited research looks like it costs a lot of money to do it.  If you know of an inexpensive way to do it let me know.

Isn't it just like $50 a script?

You can copyright several scripts under one copyright.  A compiliation, if you will.


Phil

Also, if you are really lacking in the $$ department, then there is a site called writesafe.com where you can electronically copyright your material for around $10.

I believe it's copyrighted for 8 years or something like that.

Quoted from MacDuff Also, if you are really lacking in the $$ department, then there is a site called writesafe.com where you can electronically copyright your material for around $10. I believe it's copyrighted for 8 years or something like that.

Is this legit? I thought only the Library of Congress could entitle you to copyright protection.

I've used WriteSafe and I think they are legit. InkTip recommends their service and I trust their judgement (I think)

Man...I keep checking back with this stupid thread and people are talking about darn near everything except horror scripts!

It's starting to tick me off.

Check the title of the thread -- if your post don't apply, put it somewhere else.

Horror  is the easiest genre to write. Just kill off a few people, basic storyline, bit of blood & gore, and it's simple. Lots of people rush these things out, which makes them stupid.

The 80's are gone. I do usually write horror hough, but not from the mainstream rubbish these days, I prefer the Unrated Japanese Movies before the 2000's.

Someone earlier in this thread mentioned there's a difference between writing horror and getting horror right and I'd definitely have to agree. The problem with most horror films is that they don't take the time to develop the characters and, perhaps more importantly, build suspense. I always try to do both but I'm still learning and trying to improve.