Message Board

I've been considering taking an online writing class. I'm not in LA, and there are no screenwriting courses offered at any of th colleges that are near me. I've finished several scripts, mainly using resources like the screenwriters bible and reading lots of scripts. Do you still think I would benefit from a course like this online? And what are some of the best ones? Thanks.

I went through Dave Trottier's online screenwriting class about a year ago. My first time with an online class. I "chatted" with several other screenwriters and got a good, detailed review of a future project. The script went on to win an award at Worldfest so Dave's inputs were good. Cost was reasonable.

I also understand their is a UCLA online course but it is very expensive ($1000s) but I suspect it would be excellent. But "She who must be obeyed" has not allocated that level of funds for my activity.

I'm also taking a class through Gotham Writer's Workshop, which is based in New York City. The summer semester is now over, but you can check out online classes for the fall. The first 10-week class is $395, and each class afterwards is $345 (they also have other courses, including Fiction Writing, so you may want to take up something else also).

I can't speak for the online class, but I can tell you the experience I had in the Screenwriting 1 and now the Screenwriting 2 class has been very positive for me. I learned a lot from the teacher, and I felt it helped to have a 'deadline' to write stuff in. Check them out and see if it's something you want to try.

Thanks for all the responses. I was checking out that link to the UC Riverside classes. I'll look into David Trottier and the New York one, too. Someone said on another board that rather than waste money going to a script consultant, it's better to invest in a good screenwriting class, and I think that's what I'm going to do.

Hi, I teach a screenwriting course online through the SUNY Learning Network, New York state's online college system. Here's a link to SLN: http://www.sln.suny.edu/admin/sln/original.nsf If you want more information about this course, please email me at fordl@sunytccc.edu (the "l" is a lower case L) I'd be happy to discuss the course format, topics covered, and so on. Students complete a step outline and the first act of their screenplay. We use Paul Lucey's book, Story Sense. --L. Ford

Deb. Are you reading this line? What's your opinion of this course? Should an instructor have received option money before teaching how to do it? Another subject:

Are you available for scanning loglines and query letters and giving your opinion? Your vast experience is a valuable resource. Perhaps you should have an online writing course? Best wishes, Grover grovergrant@netscape.net

Deb. Are you reading this line? What's your opinion of this course? Should an instructor have received option money before teaching how to do it? Another subject:

Are you available for scanning loglines and query letters and giving your opinion? Your vast experience is a valuable resource. Perhaps you should have an online writing course? Best wishes, Grover grovergrant@netscape.net

Terrina:

I did UCLA's one-year Professional Program in Screenwriting and it was definitely worthwhile. Mentioning it in query letters has really helped my acceptance rate in terms of getting read. However, it is expensive. Right now, it's $1250 for one ten-week quarter. However, Judy Burns, who used to teach in this program (who I had and was really good) is now teaching an on-line course through University of California at Riverside. That class is much cheaper. It's either $390 or $425 for one class (I saw both prices listed.) I recommend Judy's class and she's been in the business (MacGyver, Star Trek, etc...)

Just my 2 cents ... I did the UCLA program and found it to be invaluable! I had written screenplays before, but the UCLA program is almost like a trade school--it gives you the tools of the trade. I felt I learned everything I needed from the program in order to go out and sell screenplays (except inspiration, discipline and talent --hopefully I can muster those on my own)

The value of the UCLA course is immesurable. I did not take it, however, I do list it on my resume and in my query letters. If I don't sell something soon, I'll be forced to graduate from Yale.

Richard Walters (UCLA instructor)writes that writers should lie a lot. Views and opinions solicited from the excellent writers scanning these pages. Grover