Writing the Horror Short Film

Class Description

For decades, Horror has been one of the more dominating genres in film due to its cheap budgets and timeless material that opens doors to several remakes and expansions. However, some gems like Saw, Lights Out, and The Evil Dead started as short films that later became features that exploded into million-dollar franchises. So how do you write one? In this class, we’ll explore what makes a Horror short appealing to its audience in such a short time, while understanding why they work better as a proof of concept instead of a plot-heavy character study. We will watch some examples, including excerpts from Saw and Lights Out, and discuss what works and what doesn’t.

Writers will leave with an outline for a Horror short idea and a strong understanding of short-form script format.

Class Format

This class will take place using Zoom videoconferencing. About 15 minutes before your class is scheduled to begin, you'll receive an email from your instructor with a link to join the class meeting!

Scholarship Information

Thanks to the excellent literary citizenship of our donors, scholarships are available for all GrubStreet classes. To apply, click the gray "APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIP" button. In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must complete your application at least one week before the start date of a class. Please await our scholarship committee's decision before registering for the class. We cannot hold spots in classes, so the sooner you apply, the better. Scholarships cannot be applied retroactively.

For more more detailed information about GrubStreet scholarships, including how to contribute to scholarship funds for other students, click here.