I like to sit down and try and write screenplays for horror films some are good some never get further than the first page. I have a healthy taste for horror. Just recently I read that the old faithfuls, (Vampires, werewolves, jason, etc) are off the menu. So what type of horror should I start to research for my next screenplay? Any ideas would be welcome. Or should I stick with what I'm doing and one day the market will come round full circle.
Screenwriting : Am lost and stumbling around, show me the way.... by Quentin Robinson
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Write what you have the passion to write. You're right, today, vampires and werewolves are not what producers are looking for. But that might change in three months. If your script was finished today and you were sending out queries this week you would likely get no response. When will your script be finished? Polished and the very best it can be? If you started writing what is popular today, by the time you are finished the market will be saturated with script from writers who are writing what is popular today. Write what you have the passion to write.
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Ask yourself what kind of horror film would I love to see on the big screen. Forget about trying to ride a current wave. All big successes buck the trend and define the new trend or wave that everybody then jumps on for the ride. What's your favorite horror film? Why? What is it about it that makes it your favorite? I'm writing a big budget story about the war between the Seminole Indians and the U.S government in the 1830's. I'm passionate about telling a story that hasn't been told yet, and that history has--for the moment--forgotten. What are the odds of making a sale? Astronomical, right? Well, they're astronomical for ALL spec scripts, so why not write the story YOU want to see on the big screen. Doesn't this make sense?
Have you tapped the resources on Twitter?
Well, I agree that some of these are out for now but as D said, they come back. Since you didn't mention what type of horror, I would do an inventory of what your resources are in the marketplace too. What are your strengths in the genre? What are your opportunities? Do you have success in gore versus suspense? Go with what you KNOW and LOVE. When these intersect, as you probably already know, it makes a better mousetrap.
Am trawling books on folk stories from way back when. And picking out the stories that mothers would scare their children with, as in "watch out or the.......will get you" And then the imagination kicks in as to what "......." would do when it caught you. Celtic stories are full of nasty beasties so for me it's a rich feeding ground. My all time favorite is the ANNAS, a welsh beatie that lures hikers with calls for help and sucks the gizzards out of them, tried to make it last year, built a model and attempted stop motion for the first time, I think I started to loose the plot around still shot number 25,001 ! realised that as a project I couldn't make it. So have bought the film rights of the book and will sit on it until I find someone who does CGI. Then it's WAGONS ROLL!!! But back to the original question, would a film/movie on this subject sell?
I agree with Johnny, Quentin. Write the type of horror story you'd want to see on screen. I'm writing a horror script, and my influences are from the old school -- the 60s, 70s, and 80s. I did a little research to guide me, but as you write, sometimes the outline changes. If the story can give me an eerie, unsettling feeling like Rosemary's Baby, The Exorcist, The Omen, the Prince of Darkness or any Christopher Lee or Vincent Price film, then I know I'm on the right path. Keep plugging at it and good luck!
Ok, since I don't want to deviate from the original question. Here's the thing: you can always go to imdbpro for a reference to what is already out there. I'm more of the old school thought, write what you know. When someone says, I want to see this on screen, it begs the question, who else do you think wants to see that? Explore the quadrants. Are you aiming for young adults and teens? Horror fans? Suspense fans? Folklore is great. Yet, as to whether it captures attention, I would have to say if it's well known. I would hold on to the ANNAS idea as your passion-proj. Is there a lore that is a bit more well known that you have a fancy for as well? Horror has universal presence. However, folklore as of late doesn't hold attention. There was a movie a few years back about a marionette. Suffice to say not sure how that one got made except I think some SAW folks were involved. I would strongly advise that you do research on the people behind similar films including UK big wigs with their own production companies. All in all, you need an attached 'playa' on this one to be frank.