Past Workshop Descriptions

Crafting Fear: The Business of Horror Filmmaking

Horror is one of the most powerful genres for independent filmmakers, where bold creative vision can turn a modest production into a global success. But making a horror film that audiences want to see, distributors want to acquire and investors want to finance requires more than scares, it requires understanding the business of the genre.

In Crafting Fear: The Business of Horror Filmmaking, genre expert Michael Paszt takes participants behind the scenes of developing, financing, producing, marketing, selling and distributing successful horror films. Drawing on his experience in genre cinema and independent production, Paszt explores how filmmakers can build commercially viable projects without sacrificing their creative voice.

Participants will examine what makes a horror concept marketable, how to establish an appropriate budget, package a project for financing and sales, maximize production value and develop effective festival and distribution strategies. The workshop combines industry insights, real-world case studies, group discussion and interactive analysis.

Filmmakers will leave with a practical understanding of how to transform a horror concept into a producible, financeable, marketable and commercially viable independent film.

Past Instructor: Michael Paszt
Location: 1137 Dupont Street, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2A3
Category: Producing
Maximum Capacity: 12
4 hours of instruction $85 /member$110 /nonmember

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