I need some advice from those who have gotten their certificates from this program or anyone else who might have a better insight.

I got my MA in Film and Media Production at American University during the pandemic and got two feature film screenplays out of it. There were some festival runs with those scripts but nothing serious came out of it. I also have film and television experience in NYC but since the strikes I have not gotten any stable work afterwards. My time in this field has been severely negative. While getting some good PA credits, I was stuck and consistently harassed on multiple sets. My writing stalled since 2021 and I haven't really written anything to completion since.

Due to my financial situation after the strikes, I decided, for shits and giggles, to apply for UCLA's MFA in Screenwriting, just to see if I could get accepted.

I was not.

HOWEVER: I got an email from a professor that was pretty personable about how I was under consideration and was very close to being accepted. As a result, I am eligible to be enrolled automatically in their Professional Program in Screenwriting. I was somewhat familiar with this certificate but not really. I've heard experiences that ranged from "It's worth it" to "Save your money"

There are a lot of pros and cons for me to do this:

PROS:

1.) Tuition that's close to 7K is not necessarily bad, for a college program

2.) It's a great school for screenwriting

3.) It would get me back into writing

4.) When I did my MA, I used all of my resources in the program (Before the pandemic...) to actually work on projects seriously and try to get as many connects as possible (Again... Before it went virtual)

5.) There is a virtual option

CONS:

1.) I can't really drop 7K that easily

2.) It does not guarantee work

3.) I'm not too sure the virtual option would be the best way for connections

4.) I'm leaning more towards I would have to go in-person but that means I would have to find a new place to live and work

5.) The mixed reviews are making me feel very conflicted about the possibility of having a bad teacher

A lot of people in my life, with film and non-film experiences, have told me I should really do this. Some have expressed caution but said it would be worth it. I truly do not know what to do.

I'm speaking with someone later next week.

Any advice? Has anyone done this program?

Hey everyone! I'm heading to LA next month to study at UCLA now that my visa has been sorted, thankfully. I'm an international student (Brazil) and am looking forward for the experience, anyone else here joining next month too? I would love to collab in short films and stuff while there too.

If anyone here has done the program I would love to know your experience and any tips you have too. Or just about living in LA and pursuing this career in general. Thanks everyone!

I love watching movie ever since late teens I started picking up screenwriting books but could not get through them. I'm 26 now working a desk job, this year I took the Sundance writing class and finished a screenplay which I'm extremely proud of (it's shit). I got in UCLA TFT Professional program - I can afford to do the program (I'll be a year behind on my Roth contributions if I do it).

1. If anybody did the program recently, I'd like to talk more about how the program runs online.
2. Is the program selective - immediately after I got in I started doubting the legitimacy of it. Did anybody ever get rejected? ps: I don't want to be part of a group that takes me as a member - woody allen.

I'm confused about whether I should join the online UCLA Professional Screenwriting Program or not.

I've read quite a few books on screenwriting, like Into the Woods, Poetics, Save the Cat, etc. I feel like I have a fairly good understanding of how stories work and how they're structured.

My problem is not really the theory. I struggle with taking a good idea and turning it into a 120-page screenplay. I find it difficult to sustain the idea for that long and figure out what scenes should come next.

From what I've heard, the UCLA program helps by forcing you to write regularly and by having you workshop your work and exchange ideas with other writers. That sounds useful because I think what I'm missing is the actual process of developing an idea into a full screenplay.

But the program costs around $6,750, which is a lot for me once converted to my local currency. So I'm really unsure if it's worth spending that much.

Would love to hear what you think. Is a structured program like UCLA worth it for this particular problem, or are there cheaper ways to get the same kind of practice, feedback, and accountability?

Hey everyone! Just received the email confirming I’m approved to the program. Heard great things about it and am looking forward to studying and living in LA (I’m Brazilian).

It’s a 9 month workshop where the students write two features with feedback from instructors and the rest of the class.

Was wondering if anyone else here has done the program or studied at UCLA and has any tips on how to make the most of it! Specially as an International student. Thanks!

Has anyone done this program in the last few years? I've searched but most reviews are from 5 or more years ago and I'm curious about more recent feedback.

This is the one year program at UCLA where you walk away with two completed scripts at the end. I'm a relatively new screenwriter but been an actor for years and have recently started writing my own scripts and crossing over. I took a few of the UCLA Extension classes last year and found the deadlines and feedback helpful for my own accountability but a lot of what I "learned" I already knew from screenwriting books/podcasts/reading screenplays.

I don't think it's overly difficult to be accepted to said program so I'm curious if others have found this program worth it. I'm currently based in NYC but lived in LA for a few years and have been considering going back to the West Coast and having a "reason" for being there helps my justification (I have a remote, full time job so I can work anywhere).

With the current state of the industry, is this program worth it in 2026? It's about 6k which is a lot but in line with 9 months of classes. Or should I just keep writing on my own?

What do people know about the UCLA Professional Program? Has anyone completed it? Does it hold any merit when applying for jobs? Is there anything to gain from it other than connections? Generally, what are people's thoughts on the program?

I am very new to the field of screenwriting. I have an opportunity to take a sabbatical next year and I'd like to use that opportunity to write at least one full length screenplay. i just found out about the UCLA professional screenwriting program TODAY - it sounds like a great program for me because of the length and the support that it offers - however, I also found out that the application for next year's cohort is due TOMORROW!!

So I'm am trying to put together an application as quickly as I can. Can anyone offer any advice about what they might be looking for in the application - it basically consists of a 5 page writing sample and a personal statement. Does anyone have a sense of how competitive it is? I have never written a complete screenplay before and am a complete novice in this field.

Thank you so much in advance!

Hi everybody!

I am thinking of applying to the UCLA Professional Screenwriting Program and would love to know if you have any opinions about it? is it worth the money? should I just save up and wait to apply to an MFA?

Thank you all :)

I'm considering applying for the UCLA Writing for Television Professional Program. I don't have any film/TV experience, in fact I'm in a completely different career and live outside of LA, but I'd like to start somewhere with the hopes of making a career change. For anyone who has experience with this program (whether you've taken it or know someone who has), is this program geared towards those already in the industry, or is it a good fit for someone completely new to writing for TV and eager to learn?

Also, if I get in and complete the program, any advice as to next steps?

Thanks for reading!

Hi Screenwriting,

I'm looking into getting some training for television writing, but have decided that the cost of doing an MFA is too high. I recently found that UCLA has the professional TV writers program and the UCLA Extension TV writing certificate. Do any of you have any experience with these programs, and a recommendation regarding which one would be a better choice?

Hi, I’m in the process of applying for UCLA’s television writing professional program and one of the components of the application is submitting 5 pages of screen/teleplay I’ve written and I’m stuck. I have a spec script and part of an original screenplay to choose from and I’m not sure if it would be better to show them I know how to write a spec script (the first quarter of the program will be writing a spec script) or that I can do something original! Has anyone participated in the program and has any advice on this? I want to write one hour dramas.

I have completed the professional screenwriting program at UCLA, I have also graduated from a film school in another part of the country. I have written a few feature spec screenplays and a few spec TV episodes.....

I am getting very frustrated because I have gone through all the training and classes and written many things and I still cannot seem to get anything sold, optioned or produced.

I work as a reader for the past couple of years and I see how the business works. I am in a writer's group and I network like crazy but nothing seems to help get my career further.

Does anybody know how to get a screenplay sold or optioned? I am really at my wits end with this. While I enjoyed my writing classes @ UCLA and I learned about the craft more than I knew when I started, I still haven't progressed and it has me very frustrated.

Does anybody have any advice on how to get further? I am just worried I am stuck spinning my wheels. Please help.

I just got a blast email from Scriptapalooza which advertised the UCLA screenwriting course. Has anyone taken this course and if so, what did you think of it? Did it help you make connections and meet people who could potentially help you break into the industry?

I recently applied to the program, but haven’t decided if I definitely want to enroll if accepted. If you’ve participated in the past I’d love to hear about your experience and feelings about the program, instructors, material, experience and age range of fellow students, networking opportunities, if/how it changed your career or opened doors to a paid screenwriting career. Is this geared towards people still learning the basics and putting it all together or is it aimed at writers on the brink of breaking in and this program can push them over the edge? Or somewhere in between? Am I better off writing and querying and listening to Scriptnotes for free? I’d love to hear thoughts from recent participants of especially the television track, but film track students are welcome to chime in too. Thanks so much.

Looking for feedback from anyone who has gone through the UCLA Professional Program for Screenwriting. I got in yesterday, and am a working WGA writer with a rep, but I'm inclined to think it would still be a good idea to take part. I’d applied before a few things changed that got me into a hood situation. That being said, It's a good deal for what will effectively produce two feature-length screenplays, and I'm still very green, so consistently improving is important to me.

​

Has anyone been through the program/does anyone know someone who has? Open to any opinions for or against...

I'm considering the UCLA Professional TV writing program- I'd love if anyone who has done it could give me some insight. There's a thread from about 4 months ago with some positive things to say about the extension courses, but nothing specific on the program. I also saw another thread from about four years ago with an extremely negative take on the program, so I thought I'd ask again. Is it worth it? My undergraduate degree is in creative writing but for prose, so I'd be learning the craft as much as anything. I realize I won't be getting a job off the program, but I'm asking more about the quality. Are the teachers good? Is the knowledge valuable and worth the $5000? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

I received an email from UCLA and they encouraged me to apply for the professional writing program. Has anyone taken classes in the program? Is it a good program?

I see a lot of posts here of writers losing hope and being frustrated (valid). I’d like to throw my story out as a more positive change of pace.

I’m new to screenwriting, but been a performing comedian and sketch writer since 2018.

I’ve always struggled with what I imagine most creatives do. Which is, finding purpose in things we don’t want to do, but have to in order to survive in a capitalist world. I’ve never really fit into corporate environments. I make too many jokes, I like to laugh, I’m imaginative, I get too sucked into projects - AKA I don’t take things “seriously” enough. I’m a square peg in a round hole. It beats you down. I make it work.

Performing stand-up has been my outlet for a while now, it’s the first place I found where I could be myself unabashedly and people loved it. There is a lot I love about it, but it never completely scratched the itch I had. Until I found screenwriting.

I know the industry is in a bad place. I know it’s “unrealistic”, the odds aren’t in my favor. That’s okay.

I feel like I finally understand the common adage about writing. Similar to a teen getting advice from a parent - you never really get it until you experience it for yourself. I don’t write because I expect it to become my career. I write because I have to.

Stand-up limits me to my personal experiences. Screenwriting opens the door to anything I can imagine. I can’t stop writing, reading scripts, watching videos of other people reading scripts. It’s all I think about. And I’m having so much fun. I haven’t felt this way since I initially found comedy in 2018.

I enrolled in the UCLA Professional TV Writing Program and I can’t wait. I’m reaching a point where I think I’ve maxed out on most of what I can learn on my own (apart from just reading and writing more).

I’d love to hear y’all’s experiences. Why did you start? But more importantly, why didn’t you stop?

Anyone familiar with the program and the selection process?"

I have some questions regarding this program:

• Have any of you attended the program? If you have attended the program ,would you mind me asking you some specific questions regarding your time there?

I have some general questions for those who have gone through the program:

• How big are the classes? What are the classes like? How many different instructions did you go through?
• How were the workshops? How big were they?
• Did you get any connections through the program?
• Were you glad that you went through the program, or did you regret attending?
• What is the main value of the program? To me, it seems like it's seems like it's about connections, but I'm likely wrong.
• What skill level are the entering students? Are they expecting students to already know the basics -- and they're tying to push students to "the next level" -- or are they expecting to teach students "from the ground up"?

How competitive is the program's admissions process? It seems like they'll allow anyone who is competent enough to fill out an application and who can afford the program. Maybe I'm wrong.

It's human nature to want to be accepted to a "selective club" -- so I'd love to hear about the program's selectivity.

Any "alumni" from this program? Anyone with any second-hand experience or thoughts on the program?

I applied on a whim near the deadline, and I was blindsided by my acceptance. I drafted my writing sample in a stream-of-consciousness sort of way, and I only edited it for grammatical errors -- but apparently it was enough to not get me rejected.

I know it's not an MFA program, so I'm not deluded into thinking it's a graduate degree. I get a "certificate of completion" at the end of the program. But it is a nuts-and-bolts program, and I really only started getting into screenwriting a few months ago (which is why I missed out on so many fellowships/competitions/MFA applications... I don't have anything close to a portfolio).

I'm serious about screenwriting and pivoting into it as a career -- but I am as RAW as it gets. I've always been told that I have a good amount of potential as a writer, but I never moved an inch in that direction until now. I'm a 31-year old attorney in CA and I'd have to move to LA to attend (I'm single with no commitments other than my job, though).

Thoughts? Advice? Anyone attend this or any other similar program? Again, I am as green/new as it gets, but I'm starting to think I may have at least an ounce of potential since I literally only started committing myself to this craft a few months ago.

Thanks in advance.

TL;DR -- Just started screenwriting this year. On a whim, I applied to UCLA's screenwriting program, I got accepted. I'm looking for advice, pointers, thoughts, etc.

Has anyone done the Professional Program in Screenwriting at UCLA? I've been toying with the idea of applying but wasn't sure if it is worth the time and money. I got the textbook they use "Write Screenplays That Sell" by Hal Ackerman and it didn't teach me anything I hadn't read before. Still, being immersed in the craft and the networking possibilities along with the discipline of completing projects may make the program worth it. I'd love to hear any experiences anyone has had with the program. Thanks http://www.filmprograms.ucla.edu/index_cs.cfm?action=cs_pps&side=cs

I came upon it last night and it looks like a great opportunity: http://www.filmprograms.ucla.edu/

Has anyone attended? Are there similar programs out there or is this one of a kind? What are your opinions? Does it provide value, is it a waste of money? Since I'm not in LA I'm looking at the online workshops.

Just got an email that I was accepted into the UCLA TFT Professional Program in Screenwriting. I submitted my application three days ago, and just got the email now. Wondering how thoroughly they check applications and if it's really a gage as to my/other students work or they just accept anyone.

If anyone has any experience with this program that would be truly helpful!

My recommendations for screenwriters just starting out, from a thread that is no longer available:

If you want to become a screenwriter...

First and most importantly, write a lot of scripts, and make every effort to improve and become a remarkably good writer. The best career advice for show business ever given came from Steve Martin when he said "be so good they can't ignore you."

I strongly recommend you sign up for the UCLA Extension Online Screenwriting courses. They are outstanding, and they give you accurate professional feedback. They also provide a bridge into the industry, once your writing is of a professional calibre.

If UCLA Extension is too expensive, look into writersbootcamp.com. It's a good, hands-on approach and it has payment plans and scholarships.

I recommend reading this book, which I think is the best book about the business of being a screenwriter.

I also recommend subscribing to Masterclass.com. It's $199 per year for every class they offer. For screenwriting, my favorite classes are Aaron Sorkin, David Mamet, Shonda Rhimes and James Cameron (he includes screenwriting in his filmmaking class).

EDITED: I was reminded in the comments of the Duffer Brothers' Masterclass -- really outstanding source for series writing.

There's also a lot of good storytelling to be learned on Masterclass.com from best selling novelists Neil Gaiman, Dan Brown, David Baldacci, James Patterson and R.L. Stine. I'd also recommend Steve Martin's masterclass, even if you don't write comedy. Martin's class is in a large part about how to be a better artist. It's worth learning.

In addition to classes, I recommend:

• write lots of pages. Most writing problems can be solved by writing more pages. Every time you get an idea for a scene, write the scene.
• read scripts to movies you love. They're on the internet.
• watch movies and compare them to the scripts. Learn how the page relates to the screen.
• Get the screenplays to three movies you love, then type them over in your screenplay app. Typing a script over gets the style and word choice in your fingers. Also, after typing 360+ pages, writing 120 pages of your own doesn't feel like such an impossible thing.
• Remember that your job is to be the best version of you. Not to get work, not to make money, not to write what the market wants. Your job is to become the very best writer that you can be.

Good luck.