Artist Statement

     My name is Amanda and I am aspiring to be a horror/drama film director and producer. My interest in horror films and real life/fictional disasters came to me at a very early age. It started off scaring me and in order to take away my fear, I started researching films and events on the internet and by reading books and from there, it grew into a positive obsession and career goal. Although slasher films may nauseate most people and make them think it influences violence in real life, for me, it is an artistic and creative way of portraying horrific actions displayed on film for entertainment.    
     I also enjoy disasters, fictional and nonfictional. Through film, when an event that has actually happened is portrayed on screen, you can achieve the goal of making your audience feel as if they were actually going through the incident themselves. I'd like for more people to get a better understanding about fatal events such as the Holocaust, or 9/11. To have an idea of what the people at that time went through will most likely give them a different outlook on the past then when they first entered the theater.
     My film-related inspirations have been the films "Jaws" and "Scream" and include directors/producers such as Steven Spielberg, Wes Craven, Tim Burton, Alfred Hitchcock and Joel Silver. Their films have brought the art of film and fear together, becoming a form of entertainment for many viewers. Psychological thrillers, such as "Silence of the Lambs" all the way to films known for it's gore, like "Hostel", all leave me feeling nervous, excited, and overwhelmingly motivated to create a piece of art that will one day be known to viewers as a horror classic. I hope that through my work during this course, I can learn and grow as a filmmaker and that it will lead me to achieving the goal of making a classic horror film. A film that can scare and be enjoyed by people around the world. It is my dream to become the next Hitchcock, with films scaring people long after I'm gone, and remembered by everyone in the film industry.