Start writing the film you’ve been thinking about.

Every film, every series, every scene begins on the page. Before the camera, before the actors - there is the writing.

In this 2-day intensive, playwright and screenwriter Don Duyns introduces the fundamentals of writing for film and television.

The focus is not on production or directing, but on the craft of building a story that works on screen.

You will develop your own short film or TV idea (approx. 10 minutes) and turn it into a draft screenplay - learning how structure, character, and dialogue function specifically within screenwriting.

What you’ll learn

• What makes a story work specifically for screen

• How to turn an idea into a structured screenplay

• The difference between writing dialogue and writing visually

• How to build characters through action, not explanation

• Common beginner mistakes in screenwriting—and how to avoid them

  
  

How it works

This is a writing-focused workshop.

Each concept is introduced briefly and then put into practice through focused writing sessions. You’ll spend most of the time working on your own script, supported by feedback and guidance throughout.

Expect:

• Hands-on writing blocks

• Direct feedback from Don

• Group discussion and insights

• A focused, small-group setting

  
  

You are expected to actively participate and write during the sessions.

Takeaways

• A short screenplay draft (approx. 10 minutes)

• A solid understanding of screenwriting fundamentals

• Practical tools to continue writing independently

• Individual feedback on your work 

  
  

Who it’s for

• Writers exploring screenwriting

• Theatre makers transitioning into film or TV

• Creatives with a story idea they want to develop

• Beginners looking for a strong foundation

  
  

No prior experience is required, but you should come ready to work on your own material.

Practical info

Bring a laptop or tablet for writing

Price: €219 Early Bird (first 4 spots or until April 27) | €269 Regular

Places are limited — only 10 spots

About the Master

Don Duyns is a Dutch writer, painter, and teacher, widely recognized as one of the most performed playwrights in the Netherlands.

Born in Haarlem in 1967, he studied Theatre Studies at the University of Amsterdam and later trained in screenwriting at the Binger Institute. Over the years, he has built a versatile career across theatre, film, and television.

His plays have been staged by leading Dutch companies including De Theatertroep, Het Filiaal, and the RoTheater, where he wrote acclaimed productions such as Lang en Gelukkig, Snorro, and De Gelaarsde Poes. His work is published by ITFB (theatre) and Querido (prose), and has been performed internationally, including in France and Greece.

Alongside large-scale productions, Duyns also creates and directs more intimate works, such as Groeten uit Den Ilp, a performance exploring the life of artist Anton Heyboer.

In film and television, he has written screenplays for projects including the series Hertenkamp and the film adaptation of Lang en Gelukkig. He is also an experienced educator, teaching writing at HKU University of the Arts Utrecht and the Netherlands Film Academy in Amsterdam.

In 2019, Duyns and director Pieter Kramer were awarded the Proscenium Prize for their significant contribution to theatre.