Stage 32 4 Part Class: Mastering Pacing and Tension in Your Screenplay

Learn from Karina Wilson, former story and development analyst for IM Global, who shaped narratives on over 30 Hollywood films including Paranormal Activity and Insidious!

Walk away with actionable exercises and case studies that sharpen your pacing, tension, and suspense skills!

Mastering pacing and tension is the secret to transforming a solid screenplay into an unforgettable page-turner. In this exclusive Stage 32 4-part interactive class, you’ll learn how to expertly control your story’s rhythm and intensity—making every scene irresistible and impossible to put down. Discover how to build suspense, raise the stakes, and deliver emotional payoffs at just the right moments—skills that captivate readers and audiences alike from the very first page. This class takes place live over Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in the world and interact directly with your instructor and fellow likeminded writers!

Too often, screenplays either drag through endless exposition or rush past vital emotional moments. Writers can struggle with when to release tension or how to pace dialogue and action effectively. Dense descriptions bury key beats, or internal conflicts don’t align with external stakes. Many scripts miss subtle tools like moral dilemmas, subtext, and breadcrumbing, which are essential for layered suspense. This class helps you avoid those pitfalls and harness pacing and tension to elevate your storytelling.

Your host Karina Wilson brings nearly a decade of experience as IM Global’s in-house story consultant, shaping some of Hollywood’s most successful thriller and genre films, including Secret in Their Eyes and The Circle. She’s a recognized horror expert who’s taught at UCLA and featured widely for her genre insights. Karina’s global perspective and deep storytelling expertise make her the perfect mentor for writers aiming to master pacing and tension in their screenplays!

You will walk away from this 4-part interactive class with a comprehensive understanding of pacing, tension, and suspense—how to manipulate narrative rhythm, escalate stakes, and time reveals for maximum impact. Across four sessions, Karina will guide you through genre-specific pacing techniques, building internal and external tension, crafting suspenseful scenes, and integrating these elements into a cohesive, dynamic screenplay. You’ll also complete practical assignments and analyze case studies to apply these tools immediately.

This interactive Stage 32 class is held on Zoom and goes substantially more in depth than a Stage 32 webinar. Best of all? As soon as you sign up you will be linked on email with Karina and given a questionnaire to fill out and send back to her. You will have access to her for the duration of your class by email to ask her any questions you have about your craft or career - it’s like having a mentor on demand! And, if you can't make a live session, don't worry! All class recordings will be available 48 hours after each session and you will be able to view them in your Library on your Stage 32 profile. Finally, you can expand your network with like-minded creatives - you'll have a dedicated lounge for interactive support and discussions with your fellow classmates!

PLUS! You will receive the following handouts to help you:

• Building Tension, Pacing, and Suspense Exercises

• Case Studies with Examples and Viewing Links

Praise for Karina from past students: 

"She delivered on the topic and gave an informative lecture. I took many notes on how to immediately improve the horror script I'm writing now. That was my goal!" - Martha C.

""Karina is a master of all things horror and story! She knows more about crafting an effective horror story - from the plot to the villain and the scares - than anyone I've ever worked with or learned from. I can see why she's in high demand in the industry!" -- Mark L.

"Karina is passionate about horror and has a lifetime of great experiences and information!" -Cooke Q.