ucla-extension-writers-studio.JPGIt can be hard for the novice screenwriter to find guidance in the moviemaking world. True, most prestigious film schools offer a screenwriting track for interested students, but what about those people who don’t want to devote years of their lives (and thousands of dollars) to get an education in the craft? For this set of movie scribes, the UCLA Extension Writers Studio is a great option.

For the past 11 years, more than 200 writers from around the world have gathered at the Westwood campus for a four-day intensive workshop led by the distinguished faculty of the UCLA Extension Writers Program. With seminars that include “Writing the Romantic Comedy” and “Revising Your Feature Film Script,” students are allowed to immerse themselves completely in the craft of writing, gaining needed skills as well as a valuable relationship with the larger moviemaking community. Instructor Scott Meyers describes the purpose of the Studio, saying, “In a word: Connections. Writers make connections with other writers. Through constructive criticism, students help each other make connections to their respective stories. And possibly most important of all, at the end of the four days, each writer makes a deeper connection to their creative self.”

The 2007 Writers Studio will be held from February 8-11. To register, and for more information on other Writers Program offerings, visit www.uclaextension.edu/writers.

Sound Off: Do you think it’s better for screenwriters to work intensively on their craft, as with the UCLA Extension program, or to get a more general film education? Let us know in the comments section!

Photo: Screenwriter-producer Keith Giglio teaches a class at the 2006 Writers Studio.

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