Meet the Instructor

Mr. Chris Screws is a Visual Arts teacher with 20+ years of teaching experience in Jefferson County Schools.  He graduated from Birmingham-Southern College earning a BFA(Bachelor of Fine Arts) with a concentration in Painting and completed his Masters in Arts Education at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

Mr. Screws has always been interested in the entertainment industry, whether it's television, movies, theatre, theme parks, or haunted houses.  The Special Effects Academy was created out of student interest due to our involvement with Insanitarium Haunted Attraction(founded and owned by Justin McElroy).

Since 2012, Mr. Screws has been trained and mentored by highly experienced professionals in various avenues of practical effects for the entertainment industry.

• Allen Hopps (Haunted Attractions)

• Kyle Vest (Haunted Attractions & Television)

• Todd Debreceni (Film, Television, & Stage)

• Bryan Reynolds (Film & Television)

• Robert Kurtzman (Film & Television)

• Darla Wigley (Film, Television, & Haunted Attractions)

• Ben Rittenhouse (Film & Television)

• Ted Haines (Film & Television)

• Stan Winston School of Character Effects