Creating the Horror in Your Screenplay

Ready to write a horror screenplay that gets under your audience's skin? Learn to craft truly terrifying and unforgettable horror stories in this comprehensive, self-paced course taught by celebrated horror screenwriter Owen Egerton.

In this course, you'll go beyond cheap jump scares to discover the core principles of cinematic horror. Through bite-sized video lessons you can watch at your own pace, Owen will guide you through writing exercises that build your story from the ground up, helping you develop compelling characters, build suspense, and create scares that are both original and deeply unsettling.

This course builds upon a previous Sundance Collab Master Class and features exclusive insights and conversations with some of the biggest names in the genre, including Jennifer Kent (The Babadook), Ana Lily Amirpour (A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night), Jason Blum (Blumhouse Productions), and Robert Eggers (The Witch).

In this course, you will:

• Develop and outline a compelling horror story
• Create and define your characters
• Craft and analyze the art of "the scare"
• Write a powerful logline to pitch your project
• Draft a short horror script for your film concept

Who this course is for: This course is ideal for aspiring and working screenwriters, as well as directors and genre enthusiasts who want to master the unique elements of horror storytelling.

Additional Benefits: Your enrollment includes a workbook and access to our On Demand course, Writing Horror for Film & TV.

Live Interaction and Support:

• Weekly Group Office Hours: Join our live online sessions with Sundance Collab Advisor, Dennis Widmyer. This is your opportunity to ask questions, discuss challenges, and get real-time feedback in a supportive group environment.
• 1-on-1 Feedback (Additional $150): For more personalized support, you can book a 60-minute, 1-on-1 meeting with another Sundance Collab Advisor to receive detailed feedback on a draft of your horror scene, sequence, or short film (10 pages max).

Sundance Collab provides accommodations and support services to participants with disabilities. Accommodations and services are designed to meet the needs of each participant. Please email us at accessibility@sundance.org to arrange for services.