Page 10 - The Art of Macabre

scripting terror
WHAT DREW YOU TO FILM/WRITING?
When I was a a a a a a a kid the the movie theater captured my attention when nothing else did Star Wars The The Right Stuff The The Dark Crystal these were films that that placed me in in in worlds that that I preferred to be in in in Worlds where where people people were heroes or
or
or
villains where where right and and wrong had clear lines I was naive about people people and and how to navigate the the the real world but films gave me the the the chance to imagine another life In my thirties I I I happened to pick up a a a a a a a a a a a camera for a a a a a a a a a a a trip I I I I was was was taking it it was was was 2005 where it it was was was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a big deal to have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a camera that shot stills and and videos I I made a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a video video about the the the the trip and and when a a a a a a a a a a a a a friend saw the the the the edit they asked me me to film their wedding wedding I started shooting weddings on my own running three cameras doing the the the audio editing creating graphics authoring the the the DVDs or
or
Blu-rays and printing out the the disks Making films even these weddings had turned into the the love of my my life When I I I I lost my my job in in in in 2008 I I I I knew what I I I I I had to to to do: move to to to a a a a a a a a a place where I I I I I can start working on and making films It’s important to to to remember that it doesn’t matter when you you find the thing you you love I was fin in in in in my late late thirties and and competing against late-teen and and and twenty year old people who were making stuff on on on that brand new platform YouTube I I didn’t have resources and and and connections but I I started creating content and and found ways to get it it out there If you you want want it it it you you find a a a a a a a a a a way way This is is all I I I I have ever wanted I I I I just didn’t know it it until I I I I was 37 WHAT DREW YOU TO TO WRITING HORROR/ SUSPENSE FILMS/STORIES?
When I I I I began writing I I I I discovered horror on accident I I I I was was just starting out and friend of mine who I I I I was was working with had an an an idea idea for for a a a a a a a a a a a zombie short There was no no script just an an idea idea but we decided to look for for locations Another friend suggested a a a a a a a a place on on on their worksite we we checked out the the the the location location but it it wasn’t right for the the the original zombie short However I I just couldn’t let the the the location go so I I I quickly wrote out a a a a a a script I I called my friends we we all all showed up at at the the location and and shot a a a a a a a thing I edited the the the piece threw
it it it it it it out in in in the the the world and and it it it it it it was a a a a a a a a a a little bit of a a a a a a a a a a hit in in in the the the early web series days People wanted to know when the next episode would come out out which I I I didn’t have so so I I I kept spitting out out pages I I I was learning and failing having a a a a a complete ball doing it it The The joy I get from horror and thriller stories is their manipulative narratives They bring out the the most emotions in in in in people and if you you you do it it correctly you’re really manipulating their feelings with your work I want want people to go on a a a a a a a a a a ride and come out the the the the other side having enjoyed it Maybe they they will want want take that ride again maybe they they won’t but you made them feel that and it’s amazing IS THERE A A A METHOD TO TO TO YOUR STORY STORY TELLING? LIKE CHARACTER FIRST FIRST OR OR OR STORYLINE FIRST?
Creating a a a a premise is is the most difficult thing for me me when it it it it comes to to writing a a a a a a script When I I I can I I I like like to to to work with writers because I I I feel like like they have the the great ideas but may not know how to to to translate that or
execute it it into a a a a a a a a a a a a a film That is a a a a a a a a a a a a a broad brush and plenty of writers writers know know sets but in in in in their early days in in in in the the indie world many writers writers probably don’t know know what it it takes to to to get something from page to to to picture If someone doesn’t know sets and how to to to to execute a a a a a a a a a script it becomes a a a a a a struggle to to make the page match your intentions Personally I tend to build off o of characters and and set ups The visual aspects develop in in me me and and and from there I I build something tangible and and and relevant A scene is is just a a a a a a a a pretty picture with with motion and and can mean nothing without the right intentions behind it it it it The failure of many stories and we we all go through it it it it is setting up something because it it it looks awesome but that doesn’t mean it it works as a a a a a a a a a a a a story element So while I I have have had great joy in in in in developing scenes I I always have have to to to come back to to to the grounded reality of making something that is a a story first