OCCC’s Film Genre: Horror course is underway this fall, and it’s as popular as ever. Since it started in 2023, the class, which was developed and is taught by English Professor Greg Daubenspeck, has become one of OCCC’s most popular offerings, often reaching full capacity before it even begins.
Daubenspeck, who holds a Master of Fine Arts in film and television from the University of California at Los Angeles and serves as coordinator of liberal studies at OCCC, designed the class. Since its beginning, the course has been offered every semester and consistently fills up before the class starts, often with a wait list.
“It’s a very popular class,” Daubenspeck said. “Based on the demand, I think it’s something we’ll continue to offer every semester, or at least once a year.”
The class runs during the second eight weeks of each semester, a scheduling choice that was both practical and thematic. Students must complete English Composition I before enrolling, and the later start allows more of them to qualify. The timing also allows the course to take place alongside a spooky holiday.
“I kind of wanted it to overlap with Halloween,” Daubenspeck said.
Film Genre: Horror is part of a larger effort by OCCC’s liberal studies program to expand film and media coursework. Daubenspeck developed the class as part of the film and media studies certificate, which is designed to give students knowledge of film analysis, cinematic history and critical thinking.
Daubenspeck said the certificate opens a variety of career paths. Students may pursue roles in film development, producing, screenwriting, criticism, advertising or digital cinema production.
“You don’t just learn about film in a general sense,” he said. “You learn about cinematic techniques, why they’re used and how they establish mood, tone and theme. That ties directly into the marketability of a film. Whether you want to be a critic, a producer or a filmmaker, having that understanding is essential.”
Horror may not be everyone’s favorite genre, but Daubenspeck argues it is one of the most vital in the film industry.
“Horror is important because it’s one of the most lucrative types of film,” he said. “You can often make a horror movie on a smaller budget, yet it can reach a wide audience. It’s visceral, and it keeps you engaged – like a roller-coaster ride.”
The course is also notable for its accessibility. Students do not have to buy expensive textbooks or streaming subscriptions. Instead, Daubenspeck secured a grant to make the class fully open source. All films and readings are provided online at no extra cost.
“Students just log in, click, and everything is there,” he said. “It’s all included.”
As OCCC continues to grow its film and media studies offerings, Film Genre: Horror stands out as both a popular course and a model for accessible and engaging classes. For Daubenspeck, the success of the class validates his efforts to bring more film studies courses to the college.
“I’ve been pushing for this since I was hired full time,” he said. “To see students respond the way they have, it shows there’s real interest and value in studying film and horror in particular.”
For students who enroll, horror is only part of the lesson. The real takeaway, Daubenspeck said, is learning how to see movies differently.
“You don’t just watch the film,” he said. “You start to understand how it works, and that’s what makes it exciting.”
