You can always apply to UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television and hope to take a very cool screenwriting class with Oscar-winning writer Dustin Lance Black. But few will be accepted for such an amazing opportunity. Instead, head over to the highly respected UCLA Extension, which offers a top-notch Feature Film Writing certificate program. Most of the instructors are Writers Guild of America members, who have the real-life experience and deep knowledge of writing that perfect screenplay. Not to mention the fact that they know how to deal with the showbiz-industry folks to whom you want to sell your script. Teachers including Larry Wilson (screenwriter of Beetlejuice) and Donald Hewitt (English-language screenwriter of the Oscar-winning Spirited Away) will guide you toward writing that dramatically tense scene and creating that snappy pitch that wins over agents and studio heads. 10995 Le Conte Ave., Wstwd. (310) 825-9971, uclaextension.edu. —Patrick Range McDonald

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.