Writing horror for the screen

We will explore a brief history of horror on screen and investigate why, while many other cinematic genres fall out of fashion, horror is still very much in demand. By far the most profitable genre, it's also one of the most flexible, covering tropes from comedy, melodrama and thriller to mutate and create something new.

We will analyse a selection of horror films from Frankenstein and The Mummy through to current politically-charged horror satires like Get Out and The Purge. Through discussion and writing exercises, we will explore where these stories come from, how they work, and how they often tell us as much about our fears.

The Tutor:Clive Ford writes for film and stage. He graduated from UAL with an MA in screenwriting. He currently works as a lecturer at the University of Creative Arts in Farnham and at the University of Bedfordshire where he teaches writing for the screen. He has directed two horror shorts, the most recent of which, 'Cold Call', was selected for the new director's section of Frightfest, screened at Empire Leciester Square and across the globe.

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