I signed up for UCLA screenwriting classes! :)

[Randall_Oelerich]

Okay it is just the UCLA extension program, for writers, but I just discovered the UCLA online program yesterday and signed up for two online screenwriting classes. I was surprised at how simple the process was-- almost as easy as buying some book at Amazon. I'll be an online student in Crafting the Thriller, and Transformation: The Protagonist's Arc. What a great opportunity for those of us who do not live in the LA area. Ten years ago this would not have been possible.

 

[Charli]

Good Luck to you!

 

[CineMischief]

Hey Randall-

You're gonna learn a lot. Don't let the "Extension" part fool you: the instructors that teach these classes are amazing, WORKING PROFESSIONALS. You're going to have a great time. Happy writing

 

[Marc Villafan]

Okay it is just the UCLA extension program, for writers, but I just discovered the UCLA online program yesterday and signed up for two online screenwriting classes. I was surprised at how simple the process was-- almost as easy as buying some book at Amazon. I'll be an online student in Crafting the Thriller, and Transformation: The Protagonist's Arc. What a great opportunity for those of us who do not live in the LA area. Ten years ago this would not have been possible.

Congrats, hope you learn a wealth of information! How much are these classing going to run each? Just for curiosities sake.

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

EDIT: I goofed! David Warfield did not write Stigmata. My brain was thinking on Tom Lazarus (also UCLA extension) because at first i was thinking of take a class with him. Sorry for the error.

$550 or so for the 10 week Crafting the Thriller taught by David Warfield (Stimata [supernatural thriller stars Patricia Arquette], etc); $150 or so for the one week course Transformation: The Protagonist's Arc taught by Scott Myers (K-9, Trojan War [w/ Jennifer Love Hewitt], etc). Seems reasonable, and I was utterly amazed at how easy it was to register online, and that in one ring of calling their phone help a friendly human answered the phone to quickly answer my question during the checkout registration process.

I have an indie thriller (supernatural, horror) pretty much sequenced, hoping the course will help me elevate its quality a bit, and I am sure I will learn more, and have some fun networking with other students and the teacher.

... How much are these classing going to run each? Just for curiosities sake.

 

[Eximious]

I'm sure you'll learn some new skills and hone some old ones, but I imagine that those classes will be worth their price in networking alone. Tell us how it goes.

$550 or so for the 10 week Crafting the Thriller taught by David Warfield (Stimata [supernatural thriller stars Patricia Arquette], etc); $150 or so for the one week course Transformation: The Protagonist's Arc taught by Scott Myers (K-9, Trojan War [w/ Jennifer Love Hewitt], etc). Seems reasonable, and I was utterly amazed at how easy it was to register online, and that in one ring of calling their phone help a friendly human answered the phone to quickly answer my question during the checkout registration process.

I have an indie thriller (supernatural, horror) pretty much sequenced, hoping the course will help me elevate its quality a bit, and I am sure I will learn more, and have some fun networking with other students and the teacher.

 

[Randall_Oelerich]

At least it is not that much $; if it goes bad it goes bad. But just a month or so ago I spent $750 for 3 hrs of phone conversation consultation with a certain screenwriting 'guru' and to be honest I felt a bit cheated -- it became obvious within minutes that he had not read my story summary (4 pages) prior to the conversation as we had agreed he would do; he was apparently winging it on the fly, and thus was all over the map not understanding the antagonist, etc. So I would rather spend that same $ on a couple of UCLA extension classes, see how that goes; if it goes good I will take more classes through UCLA.

I'm sure you'll learn some new skills and hone some old ones, but I imagine that those classes will be worth their price in networking alone. Tell us how it goes.