Cheap Scares!

This is a step-by-step guide to creating and selling a horror movie, from rough outline to film distribution, with an emphasis on storytelling and marketing. Chapters cover screenwriting, freelancing as a writer, collaborating, budgeting and pitching projects to industry decision-makers. Interviews with J.B. Bookwalter, Roy Frumkes, Larry Fessenden, Scooter McRae, Brett Piper and others all convey today’s realities. Production stills, sample screenplay pages, and sample budgets are included. Fully indexed.

Gregory Lamberson is a novelist and filmmaker specializing in horror entertainment. He wrote and directed the cult classic Slime City and worked as the production manager on I Was a Teenage Zombie and as Frank Henenlotter’s assistant director on Brain Damage. He lives in Cheektowaga, New York.

Gregory Lamberson
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 292
Bibliographic Info: 92 photos, index
Copyright Date: 2008
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3706-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5202-6
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii

Preface: Who the Hell Does This Guy Think He Is?      1

Introduction: So You Want to Make a Horror Film      5

1. J.R. Bookwalter: The Filmmaker Next Door      9

2. Strange Bedfellows      24

3. Justin Wingenfeld: The Inside Man      29

4. Screamwriting 101      38

5. Robert Craig Sabin: Going Hollyweird      48

6. This Gun for Hire      60

7. Devi Snively: Trippin’ from Festivals to the AFI      65

8. Development Hell      76

9. Jerry Gold: Brief Legal Briefs      85

10. Making a Budget      96

11. Roy Frumkes: Producing Screams and Laughter      103

12. Pre-production      126

13. Larry Fessenden: The Art of Horror      137

14. Production      154

15. Scooter McCrae: Micro-Budget Maverick      163

16. Directing      181

17. James Lorinz: Acting Scared      186

18. Post Production      199

19. Brett Piper: Renaissance Man      206

20. Distribution      221

21. Stephen Biro: Unearthing Films      232

22. Promotion      242

23. Paige Kay Davis: Marketing Mayhem      250

24. Justin Channell: New Blood      261

25. The Martini: Last Words      270

Index      273

Finalist, Bram Stoker Award—Horror Writers Association
“Lamberson knows his stuff and he’s not afraid to tell readers how it is, warts and all. Articulate, brazen and seasoned, the man pulls no punches making CHEAP SCARES an essential resource for indie filmmakers…a must have…indispensable…turns the low-budget film industry inside out and gives us a revealing glimpse at the inner workings of the beast”—Fear Zone; “as both an advocate of independent film and a potential mentor for those daring enough to follow in his footsteps, Lamberson truly deserves to be heard”—Rue Morgue; “must have”—horroryearbook.com; “terrific”—filmsinreview.com; “a useful tool for aspiring moviemakers”—Video Watchdog; “It’s the best book on filmmaking I’ve ever read”—Desmon Reddick, Dread Media; “Wanna make a movie? This A to Z essential tome is the new filmmakers’ bible. Forget the others, they are already outdated. Both inspirational and bitter sweet, this book gives you the hard line on what it takes to make a successful go at being a filmmaker in the new age. Lamberson lays out the mechanics for any budding filmmaker seriously intent on making a critical dent, and maybe even a buck, creating their opus.”—Debbie Rochon, Fangoria Radio Host and Cult Movie Actress; “Thinking of making an Indie horror movie (or any genre of movie for that matter)? Read this book. Lamberson has fought in the trenches for over two decades. This book’s the Real Deal: written by someone who knows the truth. A must-read for any prospective filmmaker.”—Philip Nutman, Author/film journalist/co-screenwriter/associate producer Jack Ketchum’s The Girl Next Door; “It’s an axiom that’s proven time and time again in Hollywood—that the best horror films, and the most unique voices, almost always come from outside the Studio System. Want to prove you’re one of them? Read Greg Lamberson’s Cheap Scares!—it’s chock full of the tools and insight that’ll help you on your way.”—Stephen Susco, screenwriter of The Grudge and Red; “When I was a kid I wanted nothing more than to be involved in the movies. So I made my own. I struggled with the lack of information that was out there and greedily drank up all that I could. I wish this book had been in my arsenal at the time. It would have saved me a lot of grief. Greg Lamberson has already been down the road and he can tell you like a father what happened to him along the way.”—Mike McCarty, Author and KNB FX Artist.