The Craft of Horror Cinematography with Roy Wagner, ASC
3 Topics • 6 Lessons
A free, self-paced masterclass with cinematographer Roy H. Wagner, ASC (A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, House M.D.), who shares the tools of the trade he has learned over more than 50 years: rules, setup, the rule of three, shadows, place, point of view, camera movement and frame placement, paired with a StudentFilmmakers Magazine reading and two graded quizzes.
What you'll learn
- Why every horror film needs rules, and what happens when a film breaks them
- Roy Wagner's "rule of three" for building scares
- Why the setup matters more to a horror film than any other part
- Why the shadows can be a greater friend to a filmmaker than the light
- How a location can become a character, and how a few shots can create isolation
- How point of view, camera speed and direction, and frame placement unsettle an audience
- Why trusting the audience, and showing less of the monster, makes a scarier film
How the course works
- Start Here: goals, the course path and your instructor
- The Masterclass: Roy Wagner's 60-minute session with a chapter guide and field notes
- Masterclass Quiz: 25 questions, 70% to pass, up to 3 attempts
- The Reading: Creature from the Black Lagoon: The Gill Man Turns 60 by Scott Essman
- Reading Quiz: 25 questions, 70% to pass, up to 3 attempts
Lessons unlock in order. Plan on about 2 hours.
Level: Beginner · Format: Self-paced, free · Instructor: Roy H. Wagner, ASC