Screenwriters today must have a marketable screenplay that a producer, executive, manager or agent reads and says “I can sell this,” and that begins with a concept in a commercially-proven genre that fits into today’s global marketplace and doesn’t feel dated, cliched or irrelevant.

In our complex entertainment landscape, there is one genre that top writers and filmmakers keep turning to because it consistently fills cinemas and generates great numbers on streaming.

Horror.

There is no other genre today that offers storytellers so many opportunities to connect with audiences, especially the younger demo that is most coveted by studios and advertisers, while exploring important themes and ideas that capture the zeitgeist. But you must understand the conventions of modern suspense stories before you can put your personal stamp on the genre, because today’s horror films are different than previous eras. They can be Oscar-nominated hits like The Substance or tiny no-budget features on Tubi. They can be made for a few bucks but spawn lucrative franchises, like the recent Terrifier series or the iconic Saw and Paranormal Activity movies. They can be chilling art films like Weapons, Midsommar, Nosferatu and Longlegs, or major television series like The Last of Us, The Walking Dead and Stranger Things.

No matter the story or the setting, there is something for everyone in this genre, and a point of entry for every type of storyteller, whether this is your chosen genre or not. If you want to write, direct, produce, or all three, this webinar will give you the tools to first identify a great concept and whether it’s more fit for film, television or other media, and then walk you through a powerful, easy-to-learn structural roadmap that you can follow to execute your own scary story.

Professional screenwriter, writing coach and former major studio story analyst Daniel Calvisi has taught writers with credits that include all of the top networks, streamers and studios in the industry. He will demonstrate how to use his Story Maps method to break down your hot concept into its most crucial dramatic elements and key signpost story beats so that you always keep your screenplay on track. Using the methods detailed in this webinar along with bonus materials, you will learn the exact steps to follow to generate a fantastic concept, killer logline and undeniable screenplay that can break you into the industry at exactly the position you want to be.