Screenwriting classes and what you thought

eptar32 · 07-02-2009, 08:51 PM

How are the classes here? Are they worth it or can you just get a program and get some books instead to write a script? Are the professors here or TAs offer valuable insight and help you get contacts to get into the business?

nodnarb · 07-02-2009, 10:20 PM

Well you don't have to go to school to become a great writer. Many great writers just honed and mastered their craft on their own. Other than learning the standard screenwriting format and some of the basic fundamentals of screenwriting, it is no different from any other type of creative writing. There are many good screenwriting books (Story by Kyle McKee, Save the Cat! by Blake Snyder to name a couple) with which you can use to better master the craft on your own but if you're not motivated enough to do so then taking some classes might be a good alternative (or supplement). Some people might just be natural-born story tellers and after understanding the formatting requirements can write excellent screenplays.

If all you're looking to do is know the formatting then you can easily learn that on your own from a book. Then you can buy (or download Celtx, free s.w. software) screenwriting software that will make formatting a screenplay extremely easy.
If you're just gonna take a couple screenwriting classes at UCLA then you probably won't make any connections that'll get you "into the business." Even if you did, you'd have to write a good commercial script to get in. However, if you enter the School of Theatre, Film, and Television and specialize in screenwriting then you may get some useful contacts.

UCLA is one of the best schools for the entertainment and media related arts so I find it very likely that the screenwriting classes are top notch and very helpful. Many very successful screenwriters have come from UCLA (including oscar winners Dustin Lance Black writer of "Milk" and Eric Roth writer of "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and "Forest Gump").
So taking some screenwriting classes at UCLA, if you're interested in screenwriting, will likely be very rewarding.
(Disclaimer: I'm an incoming freshman and therefore have no personal experience with UCLA's screenwriting program but have done a lot of research and am interested in screenwriting myself and have read several screenwriting books.)

eptar32 · 07-03-2009, 09:42 PM

anyone else?

UCLA Band Mom · 07-03-2009, 11:55 PM

My son was an engineering major, but he took screenplay writing for one of his GE classes. He said that it was an "Easy A"

GrassBandit · 07-04-2009, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eptar32

anyone else?

not even a "thank you"

drbash · 07-04-2009, 04:45 PM

I agree with Grass Bandit.

Nodbarb gave an excellent explanation that required much thought and plenty of time.

SAY THANK YOU!

Bmop · 07-04-2009, 05:02 PM

I was actually curious about this too, so I'll say it -

Thanks nodnarb, you answered my question.

nodnarb · 07-04-2009, 08:35 PM

=D you're very welcome.

eptar32 · 07-04-2009, 09:14 PM

my bad. thanks nodnarb. i was in a rush, but i wanted to get some answers from people who have taken courses and have interacted with the program itself and can reply about its helpfulness. seems like you know more than me nodnarb considering you have read many books about the matter and i appreciate your response

nodnarb · 07-04-2009, 09:32 PM

No problem. Yeah i figured you were just wanting a response from someone who had actually taken UCLA screenwriting courses. But I thought I'd share some of what I know anyway in case it might help. I'm definitely considering taking like intro. to screenwriting as one of my first quarter GEs or electives. So if you don't end up taking it first quarter (and I do) I'll be sure to post on here how the class went

SFV2008 · 07-05-2009, 01:51 AM

Alright, here's the thing...

The available screenwriting classes to the non-majors are what you would expect... very basic, and easy. The "real" writing classes are saved for the screenwriting majors. If you want an easy A (so long as you actually do the work) then take the classes... if you think you're going to learn much, besides the basics that you can learn from a book, you are wrong.

fiddledd · 07-07-2009, 08:32 PM

Ooo oooo. Something relevant to me!!! (One of the 6 screenwriting undergrads in the entire school...wow...that's kind of sad actually...Huh).

Screenwriting 130A is useless if you know anything about screenwriting/read any basic screenwriting book. It's very basic, but if you know nothing about basic structure, it can be useful. (Great easy A too). 130B is the same slightly useless class but with the added bonus of a discussion that gives you a bit more feedback on your work. It's worth the extra hour, because believe me when I say that check mark on your 10 page 130A assignment is going to be really depressing when you get it back.

130C is an interesting class. If you take it with D Caruso, be warned he will sleep on average 1/3 of the scheduled class time. But he is a very sweet man. The class isn't really for "teaching", more like lists of things D thinks are helpful (but aren't usually, unless you are writing a 1940's love drama). Still, you write every week, and get to reenact your scenes with other students in the class, which I find can be very helpful.

And that's pretty much all you are going to be able to take for screenwriting classes. The grad profs/ concentration profs are very good, but more than likely you will taking the classes with Ackerman, Castro, or Caruso. You aren't going to be making contacts really...130A/B are too large to know the profs, and though Caruso apparently has Julie Andrews over to his house every week for dinner, it is very likely he's not going to remember your name after his mid class nap in 130C.

Good luck, and don't judge us too harshly based on these classes. I could've sworn we have the best MA screenwriting program in the country.

taketothewind199 · 07-08-2009, 12:25 AM

My advice? Take the easy basic ones: 130A, 130B, 130C, during the year. Then over summer, take Screenwriting through UCLA extension. You're actually required to turn in the first ten pages of your script. I took mine online, but I still learned a lot, and ended up with an A+. : D
But don't be tricked into thinking that online = easy. It was still a lot of work, but I learned a ton, and found it really beneficial to have deadlines imposed to make me get stuff done. Also, I learned soooooooo much from reading and critiquing other students' work.