My opinion: They Don't Stand Behind Their Product…read more I took TV 1 in January. I developed a pilot with specific direction from an instructor at Writing Pad. It was a really good experience. I took TV 2 in Feb, using the same exact draft from TV 1. In the first class of TV 2, the instructor said she didn't understand my pilot, and that I would need to change it anyway because marketing wouldn't know it sell it. I told this is how the instructor in TV 1 specifically told me to do it. I like it, so please only give me notes on how to make this story work. To the best of my recollection, the next 3 classes, the TV 2 instructor didn't to my knowledge read my outline. Each class, I wouldn't get much from her except her demand that I change my pilot for marketing reasons. I called Writing Pad to express my dissatisfaction with a marketing note in a TV Writing Class. This is the first phone call on the image below. The person there said he would look into it and call me back. Almost a week passed. Nothing. An hour before class, I called him. He said he didn't see her doing some other things, but to my knowledge made no mention of the "note issue" I referenced above. I asked him to focus on the "note issue" with the instructor. He said he would. Class started, but I didn't hear anything, so I emailed Writing Pad. They responded with the first text in green in the image attached to say they talked with teacher about the "note issue." The above interaction with Writing Pad didn't sit well with me. A student emailed me the next day, to say that she was dropping TV 2 and she wished to remain in touch. I asked her why she was dropping. Her response is the first email of 3 in the image below. I redacted this and sent it to Writing Pad that same day, Friday, since they had asked for proof regarding the issues I raised on the call. The next day, Saturday, Writing Pad responded with the second email of 3 in the image below, kicking me out of class and seemingly banning me from all of Writing Pad. I can't say why they did this in response to what I see as me simply informing them with proof that other students felt as I did. In response to their email, I told them that my opinion was they were reacting against me to reduce their liability because I had furnished proof. I pointed out the irony that they were saying no teacher at Writing Pad would understand my pilot, when I wrote it at the specific direction of another of their instructors in TV 1. This irony is what makes me feel like they don't stand behind their product. Because their reaction seemed to me unmerited, I reiterated the events through my eyes and told them I would post a review. My intention was to give them the benefit of the doubt to speak for themselves in what I saw as a major overreaction. They responded with the third email, which I see as a veiled threat. You may draw your own conclusions.

I enjoyed the classes I took here. It can be a real mixed bag. Had two instructors I loved and two…read moreI wished I hadn't taken classes from. The owners are very responsive and really care about their school. They have mixers and other events for new writers. The only problem would be that it's hard to figure out who is actually a good teacher and who isn't. There's no real way to find honest feedback about the instructors. It's quite expensive so a misstep in this direction could feel like it's career ending as the bad teachers, and screenwriters in general, can be quite nasty. That can be a problem at any school though. Overall, I recommend this place.

Art Center at Night allows working professionals to take on their creative side at night through…read moretheir courses. I've taken art classes at community colleges before and I do notice a differance in the level of information, communication, and style at Art Center. I took a design and composition class and really do feel I was stretched but not uncomfortably so. The information my teacher provided was well commicated, easy to understand, and most importantly I was able to understand the underlying concepts of what I was learning and apply it to real world design problems. I really like how interactive and collabortative the environment feels. If you're looking for a creative outlet, ACN is a good option. They're expanding so maybe they will have more classes. The neat thing is that some of these courses can be used as credit towards your study if you're admitted into Art Center. Many people here use this as a springboard into Art Center.

Classes in advertising used to be a chance to initiate a relationship with the department chair…read morebefore admission. Disciplines covered include business management, digital media, entertainment design, and graphic design. Don't buy gift certificates to this though, because getting them refunded/reissued takes months. I use this program to sharpen my conceptual skills or update my knowledge base. If you outgrow art classes at community collage, ACAN has challenging and hands-on courses for adults, high school students, and kids that also serve as a feeder to the degree program.

Terry Wolverton is an experienced writer she is a teacher. She is more experienced than any writing…read moreteacher I have ever had. She responds to your work and questions brilliantly and with great care. She is focused and present and seems as invested as you are in your writing (where else can you get that?). She certainly has the skills and knowledge to go with you to the most advanced places as a writer and she is familiar with all kinds of writing and styles too. What more could you ask for? I have heard all her classes are excellent but it was a gift for me to find her class on crafting the story.

Top three reasons why Los Angeles is awesome for writers (despite the lagging lit scene):…read moreavailability of single-origin pourover coffees, access to a bottomless reserve of stories, and this gem of a writing center, Writers At Work. The instructor, Terry Wolverton, offers amazingly insightful writing consultations and has become my secret weapon before submitting to publications and writing contests. She has the uncanny ability to pinpoint areas where your story does not align with your intention or where your intention is not clear. Terry is definitely the developmental editor I would choose to give my manuscript a twice-over before I tried to get it published. Writers At Work, in addition to holding special events and readings, has several ongoing writing workshops for artists working on long-term projects or seeking a local writing community or writers circle: - For poetry: Poets At Work on Saturdays, 10 a.m.-12 p.m. - For fiction or nonfiction: Crafting the Story on Saturdays, 12-2 p.m. - For experimental storytelling: The Art of Prose on Thursdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. - For meditation and "fevered writing": Meditate/Create on Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. (drop in) Writers At Work also offers drop-in Kundalini yoga and meditation classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6-7:15 p.m., to help writers connect to their creativity and flow. Also, there's plenty of non-experimental writing in The Art of Prose, so the main difference between that and Crafting the Story is the workshopping method: In The Art of Prose, feedback is given through a structured and nonjudgmental critique process; Crafting the Story is known for its Wild West, shoot-at-the-hip approach, what most of us have experienced. I have learned to appreciate the gentler critique approach, which encourages the temporary shelving of personal literary tastes to allow a writer's work to grow in its own way. Learning how to give a good critique has been invaluable in deepening and adding dimensions to my own writing. We've workshopped poetry in The Art of Prose too, but short stories, novels, creative nonfiction, memoirs, essays, children's books, and screenplays have been the usual fare. Parking tip: I never bother with the tiny lot; there's always free street parking on the side streets and metered parking in front. :)

A wonderful school and the venue is amazing! The faculty is top notch and really know their craft…read more Highly recommend!

This intimate 94+5 seat theater facility at LAPAC with its eclectic pan-generation crowd of…read morecinefiles was absolutely energizing. The mix of aspiring, established, and student filmmakers was such a departure from the often passive screening crowds that I stayed late for the entire time-overrun generously agreed to by Larry Karaszewski. First, cudos to the moderator/interviewer who had pro-caliber questions which brought out Larry's experiences with Martin Scorsese, Johny Depp, Larry Flint, about research and the degree of involvement of subject characters, the difference in traditional and contemporary 'niche' biographies, and how research can reveal subtle opportunities for unexpected humor. Next, I must admire LAPACs energized students in the audience who brought relevant real-world questions across Larry's oeuvre from Man On The Moon, The People vs. Larry Flint, Ed Wood, Dolomite Is My Name and more. An amazing resource not to be missed - I'll be back for more in this continuing series.

What can I say about Nicole Criona that hasn't already been said by her many clients? She's a gem…read more She's super knowledgeable, motivating, detailed in her suggestions (and broader too when you need that)... and best of all, a deeply compassionate human being. Whatever parts of your story you think are not working, she helps you sort out and get to the bottom of. She's helped me to develop my main character's voice, pretty tricky to do given that it's a white older male (very different from me), and shepherded me from writing my first five chapters over and over again to my latest chapter, thirty-four. I'm almost done with my first draft, and I'm looking forward to my second. I've told her many times: I couldn't have made it so far without her. She gets it. All of it. The prose, the mental trap doors, how to build suspense and empathy within the readers, the whole process, from the first word on the page to getting it out there. If you're thinking about writing a book, by all means, enlist her help from the get-go. My only regret in working with Nicole is that I didn't find her SOONER. It would've cut months out of my process! I've only done private sessions with her, no classes, so I can't speak about those, but holy-moly, is she an expert as a one-on-one coach. She's my creative fairy godmother!!! Thank you, Nicole!

SHORT VERSION: Reach out to Nicole if you're ready to finally write that novel you've always…read moredreamed of. You will have your life changed for the better by the kindest, most passionate and genuine person you'll ever meet. LONG VERSION: I have been working with Nicole for a few years now and I can say with 10000% confidence that I would not have been able to write my novel without her. I initially signed up for her one-on-one coaching because I needed accountability to actually get writing done, but through our work together I've gained SO much more. Her feedback is invaluable. Not only have I learned so much about the craft of writing from her (the quality of my writing has improved tenfold, no lie), but she has this amazing gift of tapping into my brain and helping me realize that I already know all the answers to the questions I have about my novel. She's given me a confidence in my writing that I never knew I could have. My favorite thing about Nicole, though, is her ability to encourage me. She knows when I need a gentle push, and when I need a bit of fire lit under my ass. But even when she lights a fire, she manages to do it in such a loving way! I know that she genuinely cares about me and my novel, and I never doubt that she's rooting for me. I'm also a member of the First Draft Incubator workshop which is just as wonderful as private coaching. Each meeting leaves me in such a great mood. Whether we go over craft topics or just spend the meeting with everyone updating each other on our progress and discussing writing, I get so much from each session. Writing is such a solitary act and it's so nice to feel connected to other writers. I wouldn't be the writer I am today if it wasn't for Nicole, and I am forever grateful to her. I look forward to working with her on my second (and third, and fourth, and fifth) novel!

Amazing class! I've taken the lathing class twice and the wood box class. Great place to utilize…read moreand try out tools and new skills without having to own the tools yourself. Love the bud vases we have gone home with. John is clearly passionate about wood turning and teaches you from a pro perspective and walks you through each step, while keeping the class fully hands on. If it were most cost effective I'd be back every month!

I've taken the shop safety class and the intro to cabinetry class so far. The lessons have been…read moreinformative and simple to replicate. The instructor Scott dilegently took us through all the steps and pointed out the many pitfalls and dangers when working with the equipment. Although I would say that the classes alone are not enough for a complete newbie to master all the tools in the shop. Table saws can be intimidating and dangerous tools so it is advisable to plan on commiting extra time to getting comfortable and experienced with the machines if you're a newbie who's planning on getting a membership to use the equipment for solo projects.

I am a non-professional but avid singer. At the time of this writing, I have been attending Piano…read moreBar 101 for more than a year. I'm going to keep doing it because the class not only helps my singing become better, it is simply a very nice group of people with whom to share 90 minutes or so once a week. There are some classmates who are professional-level who are there to polish their craft, and there are others like me who love music and singing, but who aren't going to be giving performances anywhere - except maybe at home in the shower (great acoustics!) and/or at a Karaoke place. The teacher, Ann, is a highly accomplished singer, piano player, and accompanist (being a great piano player does not necessarily mean you can be a great accompanist - she is). She continues to amaze me because I want to sing a very wide variety of songs, several of which we do not have the music for, and/or she has not played before. No matter, she pulls up as little as a chord chart and off we go. Her husband, Geno, is also there to accompany with some background percussion. He is also a very good singer. All of the above is enough reason to attend and polish your own performances, but there are three serious bonuses : Both Ann and Geno just happen to also be very nice people to be around, and the fellow classmates are totally polite and supporting of whatever level of performance you do. The third bonus is that discussions of politics and religion are not part of the experience. The facility is a simple storefront place, 15 or so of us sit around a medium sized room with a piano on folding chairs and stools, it has a restroom, and has a nice sound setup with a microphone. We visit a bit as people show up, then to business. Ann directs us through some basic warmup exercises, do some ear training work, sing some group participation songs from the lyrics book they provide, and then each of us does a solo song at the microphone. The solo is optional, but you should take advantage of it in this safe and successful improvement atmosphere. Just try one of the many in their songbook, or if you already have one you want to start working on, bring sheet music to one you want to try. Or just ask Ann if she can already play what you hope for - she knows many ! I would recommend that you come join us sometime to see if we're the kind of people you want to share some time and your love of singing music with.

We were lucky enough to have Anne Louise as our daughter's teacher for 4 1/2 years. Her dedication…read moreand enthusiasm for her students are infectious and she works really hard to create opportunities for the kids to perform. Can't recommend her enough.

We had the best time at Crafty LA making four everyday objects together. The selection was…read morefantastic -- so many great objects to choose from, and seemingly endless design and color options to make each piece feel truly ours. What really elevated the experience, though, was everything beyond the crafting itself. The studio is beautiful and spotless, the staff were attentive and genuinely kind, and it's clear a lot of care went into the little details: a ceramic magnet to paint while our pieces cured, eclectic snacks to munch on, and a keepsake printed photo to take home. The whole space felt warm and welcoming from the moment we walked in. It's rare to find a place that hits just right in both the craft and the experience around it. We'll definitely be back and would highly recommend Crafty LA to anyone looking for a fun, relaxing activity!

Had such a great time at this craft-making class! The instructor was patient, creative and made…read morethe whole experience really fun. I loved working with the materials and came home with a piece I'm proud of.