Review posted on Tue 10 Mar 2009
Course(s) Taken: Film and Television: 130A

Arrogant, pretentious, and self-centered. But that's why I love him.

Review posted on Mon 05 Jan 2009
Course(s) Taken: Film and Television: 130A

Go to class. Its only 1 hour of the week. He gives out assignments during class and if you don't go to get the assignments your grade will drop a letter grade. Nothing is graded. If you turn everything in on time you will get an A. Nothing else to it.

Review posted on Fri 12 Dec 2008
Course(s) Taken: Film and Television: 130A

Before taking this class, you must ask yourself whether the easy A is worth sitting through 10 weeks of class to obtain an hours worth of information you already know. Step wisely. Walter is also a vain motherfucka.

Review posted on Sat 01 Dec 2007
Course(s) Taken: 130C

If you actually show up to class, you'll find that Walter seems to think he's a physicist, a sex therapist and the hottest thing in Hollywood to boot! He just rambles on for an hour about anything but screen writing. It was kind of depressing. I took this class hoping to learn about screen writing, not for an easy A. Turns out I'll probably get the A, and no knowledge of screen writing from him at all. If I had to take this class all over again, I'd read the books, get the homework from my TA class, go to TA class (that's where you'll actually learn anything) AND NEVER SHOW UP FOR WALTER'S CLASS.

Review posted on Sun 11 Feb 2007
Course(s) Taken: 130a

Take him. Get your easy A. Show up to class at your convenience. However, whom you get for your discussion TA is very important. I had Phil Guidry, and I felt it made this class well worth it. I learned I lot from Phil; Richard is a good guy, and its a nice, relaxing class, but , as far as technical screen writing, well, there wasnt much instruction. Just practice your scripting...

Review posted on Sun 26 Feb 2006
Course(s) Taken: None

You know what...fuck all you guys Richard Walter is Danny's dad and his seed is better than all your Dad's seed. He is amazing and godlike. Worship him as you would Allah. Or Jesus. Whatever.

Review posted on Sun 29 Jan 2006
Course(s) Taken: FTV 130A

Just as others say on here, Walter doesn't really teach screenwriting. He is very amusing, and teaches you some about Hollywood itself, and the type of characters (such as himself) it produces. It was amusing to just sit in his class and listen to him ramble, and it's definitely an easy A. I do wish he would have taught us more about screenwriting, because I did want to learn.

I do think he gives you some tools to teach yourself if you choose to (I liked Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters). However, his own books are a waste of time to read. I feel like if you know what you're getting into then it can be an amusing break from your busy day, but if you go into it expecting to come out a better screenwriter then you'll be disappointed. There are a few nuggets of knowledge that he passes on, but those could be summarized in about three sentences.

Review posted on Thu 15 Dec 2005
Course(s) Taken: FTV 130A

This class was a great break from real academia, and I'm very glad I took it. Getting an A was no problem. Bravo, Professor Walter.

Review posted on Thu 08 Dec 2005
Course(s) Taken: FTV 134A

Not that bad really. If you're interested in this stuff then you should enjoy it. No it's not exactly a rigerous class, but it's pretty fun. The assignments are kind of dumb sometimes and the structure and homework could be revamped. He says some very worthwhile things and he makes himself generously available to student writers regardless of their status as a graduate MFA candidate or even people not in the undergrad program. He seems well aware of the patheticness of the undergraduate program how only about half a percent of this University has access to these types of classes. he's very generous and helpful. I don't know why all these idiots are baggin on a guy whoes nice, generous, helpful, and probably the easiest A you'll ever get. Ungrateful bastards. Walter is great.

Review posted on Sun 02 Jan 2005
Course(s) Taken: film & tv 130a

people who rate walter low overall are retarded. yes, it's true he's no good of a teacher. he doesn't care. and i don't even know if he holds office hours (god knows if you need to go for this course you're dumb. or seeking rec letters, one or the other) but the point is, we all took this course for a easy 2 unit A. never hurts to add those on to a bad quarter. :) and that, my friends, is where walter supercedes all other professors at ucla. guaranteeing a's. he's actually quite entertaining too. he tells you first day of class you don't need to attend lecture to get an a (mind you, he says 'a'.) and you don't. but it conveniently fit in my schedule, fun and it was a break from all the other stress of academia. if I could do it all over again, i\260\330d take walter\260\330s class 7 times a week to fill up the quarter full of a\260\330s. happy hunting!