Welcome !

Produce, direct, promote and sell your own chilling horror film with real-world advice from award-winning producer/director/writer Danny Draven!  The second edition is completely updated with information on new technology, new exclusive interviews with industry pros, new photos and samples from the production of recent horror movies, new behind-the-scenes video, information on modern distribution methods and delivery and more! From the history of horror and the technique of the scare to pre-production and distribution, this complete, full-color guide to filmmaking uncovers all the insider secrets for creating your own spine-tingling horror film from start to finish.

A newly updated companion website that features:

  • Behind the scenes videos for films films such as Puppet Master, Blood Dolls, Trancers, Subspecies, Reel Evil, Ghost Month and more!
  • A revised collection of horror movie trailers!
  • Sample scripts, schedules, storyboards, agreements and more!

Author Bio

Danny Draven is an award-winning writer, director and producer of genre films. After receiving his film degree from Emerson College, he moved to Hollywood and worked his way up through the ranks until he began producing and directing sci-fi/horror films for B-movie studio Full Moon Pictures (Puppet Master series, Trancers) where he cut his teeth before starting his own production company, Graven Imageworks. He has edited over 80 feature films, including films for Lionsgate, NBC Universal's Chiller TV and the SyFy Channel. He has worked with and been mentored by Hollywood veterans such as Master of Horror Stuart Gordon (Fortress, Re-Animator), legendary cinematographer Mac Ahlberg (Beverly Hills Cop 3), and executive producer Mark Ordesky (Lord of the Rings Trilogy). He is also the author of three published books on genre filmmaking, a member of the Producers Guild of America, and a dog aficionado.

Other featured interviews include:

  • James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring)
  • Robert Englund (Freddy from Nightmare on Elm Street)
  • Robert Kurtzman (From Dusk Til Dawn)
  • Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, From Beyond, Dagon)
  • Tom Savini (Night of the Living Dead)
  • Lloyd Kaufman (Toxic Avenger)
  • Charles Band (Parasite, Metalstorm, Ghoulies)
  • John D. LeMay (Friday the 13th: The Series)
  • David DeCoteau (Puppet Master 3, Sorority Babes in the Slimball Bowl-O-Rama)
  • Debbie Rochon (Tromeo & Juliet)
  • Reggie Bannister (Phantasm)
  • Sam McCurdy (Director of Photography of Dog Soldiers, The Decent, The Hills Have Eyes 2)
  • Nathan Barr (Composer of  Hostel,True Blood, Hemlock Grove)
  • Jim Dooley (Composer of When A Stranger Calls)
  • Chuck Williams (Bubba Ho-Tep)
  • Herschell Gordon Lewis (Blood Feast, Wizard of Gore)
  • H.P. Lovecraft’s Notes on Writing Weird Fiction
  • And many more...

2nd Edition features

The 2nd Edition features all NEW interviews from industry professionals such as:

  • Mick Garris (Sleepwalkers, Bag of Bones, Desperation, The Stand)
  • John Ottman (Composer/Editor of X:Men: Days of Future Past, The Usual Suspects)
  • Mark Ordesky & Jane Fleming (Producers of Lovely Molly, Exists)
  • Kane Hodder (Jason from the Friday the 13th, part 7 to 10, Hatchet)
  • Tibor Takacs (Director of The Gate, Spiders 3D, Megasnake)
  • John Debney (Composer of Predators, Sin City, End of Days)
  • Jojo Draven (Composer of Ghost Month, Reel Evil)
  • Michael Berryman (The Hills Have Eyes, Weird Science)
  • Mike Mendez (Director of The Gravedancers, Big Ass Spider!)
  • Neal Marshall Stevens (Screenwriter of Thir13en Ghosts, Hellraiser: Deader)
  • Chris Alexander (Editor in Chief of Fangoria Magazine)
  • Jessica Cameron (Actress/Director of Truth or Dare)
  • Denise Gossett (Founder of Shriekfest Film Festival)