Screenwriting Education Resources

SUSAN W. MILLER, M.A, Special to The Times
November 12 2004

Question: I am an aspiring screenwriter, and I have seen and heard about so many script consultants and screenwriting seminars that I don't know where to turn. What resources would you recommend for me to use to improve my work?
— Mitch

Response: Screenwriting is different from "traditional" jobs. Education and training don't necessarily make you more employable. Producers don't care about your educational background, the seminars you have taken, or the names of consultants you've worked with – they only care about the commercial viability of your script.

To complicate matters, objective criteria on what makes a script commercially viable doesn't exist. In addition, the competition among screenwriters is fierce.
Consequently, educational services for screenwriters have developed into a booming cottage industry. However, many of the services are quite expensive. You may be better off by accessing the free resources on the Internet, reading books on screenwriting, and independently studying produced screenplays.

Free Online Resources and Books

Wordplayer.com: wordplayer.com

This web site, run by successful screenwriters Terry Rossio and Ted Eliot ("Pirates of the Caribbean," "Shrek"), is an invaluable resource for aspiring screenwriters. The site features 45 columns on various aspects of screenwriting – including choosing a concept, selecting names for characters, and utilizing plot devices. The message boards are an additional resource.

You can obtain screenplays from the following web sites:

Scriptcrawler.net: www.scriptcrawler.net

This searchable online archive of film, TV, and radio scripts is organized by title.

Drew's Script-o-rama: www.script-o-rama.com/snazzy/dircut.html

This online archive of film scripts is also organized by title.

In addition, many local libraries keep a stock of how-to screenwriting books. Here are some examples:

"Screenplay," by Sid Field

"Adventures in the Screen Trade," by William Goldman

"Writing Screenplays That Sell," by Michael Hauge

"How To Write a Screenplay In 21 Days," by Viki King

"Story," by Robert McKee

"Making a Good Script Great," by Linda Seger

If you exhaust the resources of your local library, you could utilize the following research library.

Margaret Herrick Library: Center for Motion Picture Study; 333 S. La Cienega Boulevard; Beverly Hills, CA 90211; (310) 247-3000; www.oscars.org/mhl/; Contact: Linda Harris Mehr, Director x201; E-mail: lmehr@oscars.org

This library provides non-circulating reference and research materials. It is regarded as one of the most complete collections of film-related materials ever assembled. The library houses approximately 8,000 screenplays.

Seminars/Instructors

What follows is a list of the better-known screenwriting seminars. For schedules and locations you can visit the web sites below:

Robert McKee: Story seminar $325 or $545: www.mckeestory.com
Syd Field: "The Matrix of Character Preference" $395: (310) 656-8070, Ext. 17; www.sydfield.com
John Truby: Story structure classes are held regularly in L.A. $295: (800) 338-7829; www.truby.com
David S. Freeman: "Beyond Structure," $350: (310) 394-6556; www.beyondstructure.com
Writer's Boot Camp: www.writersbootcamp.com/index.asp

Training Options and Costs

If you feel that you would benefit from more formalized training, many Los Angeles-based schools offer screenwriting courses. For example:

UCLA Extension: 10995 Le Conte Avenue; Los Angeles, CA 90024-2883; (310) 825-9971; www.uclaextension.edu

UCLA Extension offers a variety of screenwriting courses and an 18-unit certificate program in screenwriting. Coursework includes an advanced feature film workshop, writing science fiction for film and television, and finishing your work in progress. The cost per course ranges from $345 to $495.

Moreover, the following universities in the Los Angeles County area offer graduate programs in screenwriting:

University of California, Los Angeles: Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media; 103E East Melnitz; Box 951622; Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622; (310) 206-8441; www.ucla.edu

UCLA offers a two-year Master's of Fine Arts in Screenwriting. Admission requirements include at least a "B" grade point average in the last two years of study. Additional admission criteria include statement of purpose, three letters of recommendation and samples of creative writing. Annual tuition and fees for graduate programs are $7,478.50.

University of Southern California: USC School of Cinema-Television; Attn: Writing for Screen and Television Program; University Park, LUC 301; Los Angeles, CA 90089-2211; Phone: (213) 740-3303; Fax: (213) 740-8035; Email: writing@cinema.usc.edu; www.usc.edu

USC offers a full-time, two-year Master's of Fine Arts in Writing for Screen and Television. A total of 44, or 46, or 48 units are required, depending upon which electives are selected. Admission requirements include a minimum grade-point average of B (3.0) and a GRE score of at least 1000. Additional admission criteria include personal statements, and letters of recommendation. Tuition fees are $1,074.00 per unit.

California State University, Northridge (CSUN): Dr. Ken Portnoy, Graduate Coordinator; Radio-TV-Film Department; 18111 Nordhoff Street; Northridge, CA 91330-8317; Phone: (818) 677-7810 or -3192; rtvfgrad@csun.edu; www.csun.edu

CSUN offers a two-year, 32-unit Master's of Arts in Screenwriting. Admission requirements include a minimum grade point average of 3.0, and an above normal verbal score on the Graduate Record Examination. Additional admission criteria include a statement of personal goals and objectives, and the submission of an original screenplay, but other creative work may be considered. Part-time is $652 per unit and full-time tuition is $985 per unit.

— • —

Susan W. Miller, M.A., is a National Certified Career Counselor, a Certified Vocational Evaluation Specialist and holds diplomate status on the American Board of Vocational Experts. She heads California Career Services, a private practice career counseling firm in Los Angeles.

E-mail career questions you'd like answered in this column to info@californiacareerservices.com or visit California Career Services at www.californiacareerservices.com.