Screen writing classes at UCLA?

[jessegrillofilm]

I was wondering what experiences people have had with classes at UCLA? I am going to go to a seminar there on Saturday and was planing on taking time off work and taking about 4 creative writing classes in fall. Does anyone recommend the program and were there screen writing classes that you enjoyed?

[Medievalist]

It depends entirely on who teaches the classes--look for the books the creative writing people have published.

Carolyn See is a fine teacher; I heartily recommend her for writing or lit classes.

[Smiling Ted]

Yeah, I can recommend the Extension classes. All of the teachers are working writers. Of course, this isn't a guarantee of teaching ability; the trick is having enough time and energy to evaluate the first classes of two or three, and getting into the best one.

The other benefit is the students - you'll usually run into at least one or two who have something functioning between their ears.

[kullervo]

I've got my MFA in screenwriting from UCLA. They also offer online classes and a non-degree program called the Professional Program that shares some professors with the MFA. It's the same basic technique, but slower and less rigorous. I don't know anything about the Extension because there was no overlap between it and the MFA.

For a couple of years when I was there the MFA was getting the majority of its new students from the PP. There were a few issues with that, and they scaled back a bit, but the PP is probably still a good start for people wanting to get into the MFA.

[Plot Device]

An alumni of USC (got his MFA in film at USC) whom I know and frequently chat with said the Extension is awesome.

If a USC grad is saying that the UCLA Extension is awesome, then it MUST be awesome!

[odocoileus]

A lot will depend on the instructor. It's worth investigating the track record of the instructor and recommendations from former students. I found Peter Russell's Story Analysis class to be useful and informative.

The tuition can be fairly steep, so it may be worthwhile to find cheaper alternatives, esp. for basic instruction. IMHO, not enough people make use of the community college system in LA. For basic instruction, you can't beat the price.

eg, One the best things you can do to learn screenwriting is to write, shoot, and edit a short film. You can do that cheaper in the community college system than just about anywhere else.

[Julie Gray]

The UCLA extension writer's program is EXCELLENT. I can't recommend it enough. And here is a great blog (http://www.uclaextensionwritersprogram.blogspot.com/)as well.

[Medievalist]

There's a lot of overlap between UCLA Extension faculty, regular faculty, and classes taught at UCLA summer programs (which are quite affordable) and SMCC.

Research the instructors -- and check the various online rating sites, though take their "reviews" with a pound or so of salt.

[Prevostprincess]

I recently ran into a couple (they also live in a bus - talk about coincidence) who are taking the UCLA extension for screenwriting and raved about it.

If you go to the website, they are having a free, online "open house" June 3-5, I believe, that you can register for.