horror movie director

Just say your last name is Romero, and that it's a Zombie Flick.  They'll line up for days!

i am in the process of finishing a script for a horror short film and am actually helping a friend with the lighting and sound for a dramatic short he is filming the first weekend of December. I live in CA so i can't really help you physically but if you have any questions I can maybe help and if you want a second opinion of you script you can email it to me and I will read it over. it's hard to get help or get started when you have no expierence whatsoever. The one thing I can say is look for an uncommon theme for your movie, there are thousands of zombie and serial killer films being made every day, if your going to do zombies find a different angle that a lonly band of survivors being chased by a horde of zombies, been there, seen that a 1000 times, if you go the serial killer route, again pick something that maybe reverses the roles, make the killer the good guy, or likeable at least. Again my email is in my profile and anything I can do to help let me know, I am by no means a director myself but am working my ass off to become one. Good luck buddy.

im not a director or a screenplay writer, (although there is a book that i want to write a screenplay for) but i am a writer. im 16 and live in MO so like hard2kill, i cant help u personally, but i can offer some advice. and also like hard2kill said, go at whatever ur doing at a different angle than everyone else. im writing a sci-fi horror book rite now, and im trying to combine mutants and aliens. just think of all of your inspiration for your writing and try to change it around and look at it in a different light.
for example, if you look at the origional star wars trilogy (not horror, but one of my fav movies) if you look at it from the viewpoint of the empire, the rebels are trying to overthrow the government and destroy everything that you've worked for. in this viepoint the "enemies" are the good guys and its a totally different perspective on the movie.
jst try to find something new and go at a new angle.

Myself and some classmates of mine tried to get our own zombie pic off the ground...the one thing that kept us outta it was scheduals.

But, being in VA and in the middle of school sorry I can't help you with my own hands. 

But, here is my piece of advice:

Take a subgenre you love and do something completly different. 

I completely agree with Deathgate, tell it from a completely different viewpoint.  For a serial killer, show the serial killer's side as they decide, stalk, plan, stalk and finally slay their horny teenger prey.  Or for a zombie story...as strange as it sounds...tell it from the viewpoint of a zombie. 

Combinations and switches like that are almost infinite.  Even just the slightest tweak in the idea stage can bring forth and entirly new and unique story. 

A tweak in story example: In Dominion: Prequel to the Exorcist, the possession doesn't destory and break down the body of the possessed, instead it makes it stronger and more prefect.  That alone made me want to watch it, flipping the whole concept of what a poession is in the mindset of auidences after seeing The Exorcist and countless rip off.

So, thats my advice.  Take something that people know and love and tweak it in the story and concept phase, not a whole bunch but just enough to give you your own unique product.

I also recommend FILMMAKING FOR DUMMIES.  Got lots of good advice like if you can't pay your actors, at least promise them food like chips, crackers, sodas, some finger sandwiches etc.

Last edited by thegoldensimatar (2006-11-13 21:19:44)

ok koool thanks alot guys