{"product_id":"how-to-write-a-killer-psychological-thriller-filled-with-twists-turns-suspense","title":"How To Write a Killer Psychological Thriller Filled With Twists, Turns \u0026 Suspense","description":"\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(66, 194, 203); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #42c2cb;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"http:\/\/admin.stage32.com\/vendor\/moxiemanager\/data\/uploads\/15__2__5.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"158\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(49, 236, 227); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn from the writer of \u003cstrong\u003eM. Night Shyamalan\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"caret-color: #42C2CB;\"\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKNOCK AT THE CABIN and TRANSFORMERS ONE!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(49, 236, 227); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWith case studies of PSYCHO, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS AND SE7EN!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"hHq9Z\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv data-hveid=\"CBQQAA\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwik7byxm-KHAxUIKkQIHVLgABAQlcAGegQIFBAA\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"KsRP6\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"MDY31c\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"QpPSMb\"\u003e\r\n\u003cdiv class=\"DoxwDb\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003c\/div\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"\u003eIf you're paying attention to the trades and seeing which screenplays and projects are being sold and produced, you know that psychological thrillers are highly in demand. With films like SALTBURN, MISSING, THE KILLER, JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 4\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003eand many more, the industry sees the upside of keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. But the art of writing a psychological thriller is one of vulnerable characters, deep secondary characters, memorable set pieces, set ups, reversals, and earned twists and turns. There's a formula to it all, and those who master these skills win the day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWriting a psychological thriller and creating and maintaining suspense and high stakes throughout takes an immense understanding of the history of the genre. It's a genre based in Hitchcockian roots. One that needs to have certain elements in order to be effective to keep the audience involved, engaged and on the edge of their seat. While most psychological thrillers start off with a well thought out premise, that's \u003cem\u003eall\u003c\/em\u003e they have. The action starts quickly and then falls flat. In many other cases, the premise is in place, but the writer or filmmaker doesn't know how to get past the jumping off point. You must get your hook in place \u003cem\u003equickly\u003c\/em\u003e - within your first five pages - and that takes skill. You need to truly create compelling characters, especially protagonist \u003cem\u003eand\u003c\/em\u003e your villain, and make them layered in order to support your theme and plot and to assure the audience \u003cem\u003ealways\u003c\/em\u003e knows and is invested in the stakes. To be truly successful at getting your reader's attention, keep those pages turning and set yourself up for an offer of representation, an option, a sale, or financing, you need to understand \u003cem\u003eall\u003c\/em\u003e of the nuances that make a great suspenseful story before you type (or read) FADE IN.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"first\" style=\"color: #3a5161;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA longtime member of Stage 32, Steve co-wrote KNOCK AT THE CABIN, which was directed by M. Night Shyamalan and released theatrically by Universal Studios. It opened at # 1 at the box office, and subsequently #1 on VOD on Peacock. Steve is one of the writers on the Transformers franchise prequel, TRANSFORMERS ONE starring Scarlett Johansson and Chris Hemsworth, which will be released in theaters in by Paramount Pictures. His screenplays have been voted onto the prestigious industry Black List four times, including THE SATURDAY NIGHT GHOST CLUB which he is attached to direct with Brad Fuller (A QUIET PLACE) producing. He sold his sci-fi adventure screenplay, HARRY’S ALL-NIGHT HAMBURGERS, to Warner Bros in a bidding war, with Oscar nominated producer Andrew Lazar attached. His short film, MONSTERS, that he wrote and directed, has amassed over two million views online and screened in over 100 film festivals worldwide, winning 46 awards.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"first\" style=\"color: #3a5161;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNeedless to say, thrillers and suspense are in Steve's blood and the focus of all his writing. And now he's bringing all he's learned along the way to you.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSteve will help you build your suspense from the ground up. \u003c\/strong\u003eHe'll teach you the ultimate tool you need - \u003cstrong\u003ethe Hitchcock Ticking Clock Method\u003c\/strong\u003e which will help you on your way to setting the vital groundwork for your story. You'll learn how to create a compelling protagonist and an enticing villain. Steve will give you exercises you can use to craft your own characters and give you \u003cstrong\u003e5 must have tips on backstory and\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003echaracter confessions\u003c\/strong\u003e to give depth. You'll learn how to \u003cstrong\u003ehook your reader in the first 5 pages\u003c\/strong\u003e and what the \u003cstrong\u003e3 different teasers you can write for your opening.\u003c\/strong\u003e You'll explore the \u003cstrong\u003epower of murder\u003c\/strong\u003e in your script and the \u003cstrong\u003eart of a twist ending\u003c\/strong\u003e. He will show you how to craft your script with producers in mind to give yourself the best chance to have your material attractive to the widest audience possible. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003eSteve will go over how you can incorporate visuals into your story and break down case studies of:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003ePSYCHO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003eTHE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003eSE7EN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 18px;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAnd, finally, Steve will share some advice on how to get your script on the screen by writing it in a producible budget.\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 255, 255);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px;\"\u003eYou will have a fully immersive experience from a suspense expert that will leave you excited, inspired and confident to tackle your next psychological project.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRAISE FOR STEVE:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis webinar was AWESOME!!! I just finished a thriller and now as a result of listening to Steve Desmond, I am ready to do a re-write which I believe will be one of the best screenplays I have ever written. Let's see what happens!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p1\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e- Michelle C.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eWhat a thrilling and insightful webinar, excellent!!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e- Kathleen W.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eSuper helpful information that you don't find in books!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e- Pamela C. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eVery useful information - well structured and clearly presented!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(49, 236, 227);\"\u003e- Sara C.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp class=\"p3\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\" style=\"font-size: 18px; color: rgb(66, 194, 203);\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: #ffffff;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"http:\/\/admin.stage32.com\/vendor\/moxiemanager\/data\/uploads\/18_11.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1280\" height=\"158\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Stage 32","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48055599464755,"sku":"","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/7728\/4659\/files\/image_65c59660ba074.jpg?v=1707447907","url":"https:\/\/stage32.myshopify.com\/products\/how-to-write-a-killer-psychological-thriller-filled-with-twists-turns-suspense","provider":"Stage 32","version":"1.0","type":"link"}