# BPS 487: The Brutal Truth About Making Horror Movies with Harrison Smith

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast-925738/bps-487-the-brutal-truth-about-making-horror-movies-with-harrison-smith.md
Podcast: [Bulletproof Screenwriting™ Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast-925738)
Published: 2026-09-03T11:30:02+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/bps-487-the-brutal-truth-about-making-horror-movies-with-harrison-smith--74681372
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74681372/bps_487_the_brutal_truth_about_making_horror_movies_with_harrison_smith_mixdown.mp3
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Duration seconds: 4691

## Resource

Success in filmmaking rarely comes from waiting for permission. In this episode, horror filmmaker Harrison Smith shares the lessons he learned from building a career through writing, producing, and directing independent films like The Fields, Six Degrees of Hell, Camp Dread, and Zombie Killers: Elephant's Graveyard. From working at Universal Studios to producing feature films on modest budgets, Harrison explains why experience on real film sets teaches lessons no classroom can replicate and why every filmmaker eventually has to stop studying movies and start making them. The conversation covers independent film production, screenwriting, directing, financing, working with actors, horror filmmaking, investor relationships, film criticism, remakes, networking, and developing stories that stand apart from Hollywood formulas. Harrison also discusses why strong scripts remain the foundation of every successful film, why writers should focus on telling original stories instead of chasing trends, and how honesty, persistence, and reputation become the most valuable assets any filmmaker can build throughout their career. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bulletproof-screenwriting-podcast--2881148/support .

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## Transcript

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