Success Stories
Success: Denise Cruz-Castino’s Film Projects
Former student Denise Cruz-Castino has had multiple successes since taking classes with the Writers’ Program. Her first produced movie, 5 Weddings premiered at Cannes in 2018, starred Rajkummar Rao who starred in the Oscar nominated film The White Tiger, with co-stars...
Announcing the 2022-2023 Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship Recipients
Announcing the 2022-2023 Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship Recipients The Writers’ Program joyfully announces the latest recipients of the Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship in Writing. We had many qualified applicants this year, resulting in more grantees than traditionally...
Success: Annie O’Neill Stein’s Debut Novel
Former student Annie O’Neill Stein recently had her debut novel, started in our courses, published. Regrettably, Annie passed away a few months ago. However, her former classmate was kind enough to reach out and offer this success story and tribute to Annie’s work....
Success: John Darbonne’s Reader Gigs
John Darbonne went from student to professional script reader after just one class! John says, “After taking Barney Lichtenstein's script reader course at UCLA Extension, I was able to become a volunteer reader at the Austin Film Festival. From there, the Los Angeles...
Success: Tamika Thompson’s Publications
Fiction Writing Certificate alum Tamika Thompson has had a string of successes since graduating. Of her achievements Tamika says, “Since completing the program, I have had several stories published, some of which I workshopped in class with Stephen Cooper and Reyna...
Success: Monica Furman’s Script Placement
Current TV Writing Certificate student Monica Furman recently had another script she's worked on in our classes receive a competition placement. Monica says, "My workplace comedy, Please Hold, was recently named an Honorable Mention in Barnstorm Media's BOLT...
Success: Tana Douglas’ Debut Memoir
Certificate student Tana Douglas’s debut memoir, LOUD, releases in the US on 9/20. Tana says, “Success is such a personal thing. I was happy with the completion of LOUD and heralded that a success, but to now be in a position where my book has been published in...
Success: Ron Dowell’s Poetry Collection
Certificate alum Ron Dowell recently published a poetry collection, Watts UpRise. Ron says of the work, “Mention ‘California,’ and most people think of sun-kissed beaches, star-studded glamour, and Hollywood success or the Silicon Valley. However, the poems and prose...
Feature Articles
Reasons Fall is a Great Season to Write
One can find reasons to make any time of year a good time to write, just as one can make reasons for any time of year to be a bad time to write. A change in seasons is generally a good time to shift perspective, on life and on creative projects. Here’s a few reasons...
Announcing the 2022-2023 Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship Recipients
Announcing the 2022-2023 Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship Recipients The Writers’ Program joyfully announces the latest recipients of the Phyllis Gebauer Scholarship in Writing. We had many qualified applicants this year, resulting in more grantees than traditionally...
Instructor Interview: Christine Shin
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Christine Shin! Christine is one of three new instructors teaching Feature Film I (Reg# 387923) this Fall. Christine is teaching in our Remote online format on Thursdays, 7-10pm PT starting September 29. She sat down with us to...
Instructor Interview: Heather Scott Partington
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructor Heather Scott Partington! Heather is teaching Writing the Review (Reg# 388537) in our asynchronous, deadline-driven online format starting Wednesday, September 28 this Fall. She sat down with us to offer some insight into...
Instructor Interviews: Malia Márquez and Dan López
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructors Malia Márquez and Dan López! Malia and Dan are both teaching sections of Novel I in our asynchronous, deadline-driven online format starting September 28. They sat down with us to offer some insight into creative life and their...
Instructor Interviews: Rolla Selbak and Jennifer Lee Loy
Welcome new Writers’ Program instructors Rolla Selbak and Jennifer Lee Loy! Rolla and Jennifer are both teaching sections of Feature Film I this Fall. Both are teaching in our Remote Instruction format, with live Zoom class meetings. Rolla is teaching Mondays, 7-10pm...
The Young and The Reckless: Writing for Teens Agent Interview with Jonathan Rosen
Jonathan Rosen is the author of several Middle Grade books, and has spent the last few years working as a freelance writer and editor. He goes into agenting with a knowledge of what it’s like to be on the author side of the trenches, to help guide writers along on...
The Young and The Reckless: Writing for Teens Agent Interview with Karly Dizon
Karly is an associate agent at Fuse Literary building KidLit universes with stories that matter. She first joined the agency in 2016 as a reader for Tricia Skinner and then was promoted to literary assistant soon after. In 2019, she was promoted to associate agent....