Horror is THE hot genre to write now in Hollywood, at the studio & independent level. Horror movies are the most reliable films to draw audiences to theaters & they keep scoring at the box-office. New voices & emerging filmmakers are breaking in & getting noticed with their unique & scary takes on the genre. With a myriad of subgenres, Horror is increasingly becoming a vehicle for personal expression & social commentary. In this panel discussion with professionals with credits like Final Destination, Cabin Fever, The Manor, Summer’s Moon & more, you will learn the secrets to writing & producing a hit horror movie.

Topics we will cover include:
 • Why is Horror the most marketable genre?
 • What is the difference between Horror & Thriller?
 • What makes a horror concept a potential franchise?
 • How has the horror genre changed over the years & what are the current styles/themes?
 • How to write with budget in mind.
 • The first & most crucial steps to producing an indie horror film
 • Turning a short film into a feature film

Panelists:
Rick Bosner (The Manor, Black Bear, the upcoming Devoted)
Christine Conradt (Summer’s Moon, Zombie at 17)
Evan Astrowsky (Cabin Fever franchise)
Daniel Calvisi (The Lost Camp, Story Maps)
Moderated by Shayna Weber

0:00 - Introductions
3:36 - Horror Movies Now
8:39 - The Special Sauce
11:06 - The Horrors You Remember
16:10 - Horror vs. Thriller
18:39 - Originality
27:50 - People Love Being Scared
30:17 - Timing is Everything
32:20 - Finding the Right People
33:47 - Proof of Concepts
36:20 - The Why
40:36 - The Unknown
46:45 - Vomit Drafting
52:20 - The Story Engine
54:09 - Breaking the Mold
58:41 - The Miracles of the Classics
1:03:06 - Writing Horror
1:08:22 - What’s Coming?