Writers University courses?

Randall_Oelerich

Randall_Oelerich

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(EDIT: I just called WU, spoke to someone, their courses uses a message board, instructor lecture postings, assignments, instructor feedback on assignments. But I talked to Karl Iglesias yesterday by email back and forth, and his ucla course is 10 weeks, 10 assignments, 15 students, whereas his WU course is 4 weeks, 4 assignments, 4-6 students. I decided to sign up for his UCLA course, which starts Jan 6.)

Has anybody taken a course from Writers University?
http://www.writersuniversity.com/
Their site does not say much about how the courses are run, if a message board is used, or if live chat is used, very little info on infrastructure for the courses. I am thinking of taking one or more courses there, specifically Karl Iglesias's course on dialog that starts up soon. Cheaper ($200) than UCLA ($525).
 
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Honestly, if you need a course to teach you screenwriting, then you might as well not even do it. Really, you either have it or you don't. Save the money and start writing.
 
Some throughout history would argue that teachers who have attained can impart knowledge and wisdom to students wanting to learn. Even Plato had a teacher-- Socrates. Even Aristotle had a teacher-- Plato. Stephen Hawking went to college, and even had a physics tutor to help him along his path of learning.

So with all due respect I would argue there is much to be learned from screenwriting mentors and teachers; what I like about UCLA is the teachers walk the talk, they have had their screenplays produced into movies. My instructor last semester, and again this semester, is Scott Myers; he wrote K-9 (Jim Belushi), Trojan Wars (Jennifer Love Hewitt), Alaska, and now has his own production company. Another of my instructors had a movie made starring two A-list actors, wrote an HBO pilot, and has other projects in development with Disney.

I have written three feature screenplays, but the average is eight before a sale is made; I am hoping to either trim that number down a couple of notches, or make my eighth script a blockbuster, learning from the Platos and Aristotles at UCLA and elsewhere.
allieminute said:
Honestly, if you need a course to teach you screenwriting, then you might as well not even do it. Really, you either have it or you don't. Save the money and start writing.
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i agree with you Randall, obviously you dont take a class to learn how to be creative but you go to learn the proper formatting and a million other little things, it never hurts to have more education
 
i'd definitely have to agree as well. there are far too many little technical things involved in screenwriting to know without being taught in some regard. also, getting feedback from people who know what they're talking about is a huge plus. i took screenwriting classes to keep me actively writing (i need to sign up for another one). nothing's worse than having an unfinished script and a lack of motivation to finish it.
 
Plus the classes offer excellent opportunities for networking. First day of Karl's class on Dialog and I am already meeting and emailing some other serious writers. Then my best friend discovered another artist through an email mailing list for artists who wrote him back and she is a producer; and my friend's step bro in law turns out to be the former head writer for many years for All My Children. All opportunities for networking.

jc10182000 said:
i agree with you Randall, obviously you dont take a class to learn how to be creative but you go to learn the proper formatting and a million other little things, it never hurts to have more education
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exactly, just the connections you make, will make it worthwhile. you dont want someone not to read your script because you dont know to write a script format wise. it happened to the guy who wrote 500 Days of Summer, he decided to break some of the rules of traditional formatting. a lot of readers wouldnt even finish the script, its a great script but if you cant get them to finish it... and this is coming from a guy who is already in the biz.

jc
 
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