NYISA WORKSHOPS

How to Write an Award-Winning Screenplay

Workshop Description:

What makes a screenplay award-worthy? Two key elements: crafting a compelling story that translates powerfully to screen—and writing it with precision. Then comes the second crucial step: knowing where and how to submit it.

In this workshop, Emine Dursun—an experienced festival director, jury member, screenwriter, and script doctor—shares essential tools, insights, and insider strategies from both sides of the table.

The workshop is divided into three focused chapters:

  • What to Write?

    Discover how to shape a strong story idea—this is the creative core.

  • How to Write It?

    Learn the technical aspects of screenwriting, including industry-standard formatting and structure.

  • Why This Story?

    Explore the deeper motivation behind your screenplay and how to communicate its purpose and emotional drive.

Each section is tailored to reflect the criteria used by leading screenplay competitions such as The Nicholl Fellowship, BlueCat, NYISA, and others.

Bonus:

All participants will receive: A Certificate of Completion and Free feedback on one screenplay

Schedule:

Every Weekend: Flexible time slots between 8 AM – 8 PM (2-hour session)

Location:

Sessions are typically held at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, NYC.

(Exact time slot will be arranged with the instructor.)

Price: $340 (per 2-hour session)

Advanced Screenwriting Development Program – ASDP: “Character Creation”

Description:

A focused, compact workshop dedicated to building and deepening character development in screenwriting. This session primarily explores:

  • Principles of effective characterization

  • How characters engage with and shape the plot

  • Consistency and believability in character behavior

  • Character relationships—with other characters and the audience

  • The impact of character on dialogue

Dates: Every Weekend

Time: Any time between 8 AM – 8 PM (2-hour session)

Location:

Sessions are typically held at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, NYC.

The listed price covers a 2-hour session. Exact time will be arranged with the instructor.

Pricing: $340

All participants will receive a certificate of completion and free feedback on one screenplay.

Advanced Screenwriting Development Program – ASDP: “Building a Strong Structure”

Description:

This compact, hands-on workshop is designed to help screenwriters master the foundations of a solid story structure. The session focuses on:

  • Core principles of narrative structure

  • The “math” behind effective storytelling

  • Key steps to building a strong, cohesive structure

  • Practical exercises to apply what you’ve learned

Dates: Every Weekend

Time: Any time between 8 AM – 8 PM (2-hour session)

Location:

Sessions are typically held at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, NYC.

The listed price covers a 2-hour session. Exact time will be arranged with the instructor.

Pricing: $340

All participants will receive a certificate of completion and free feedback on one screenplay.

Advanced Screenwriting Development Program – ASDP: “Efficient, Moving Dialogue Writing”

Description:

This compact workshop is designed to help screenwriters craft dialogue that is powerful, efficient, and emotionally resonant. The session focuses on:

  • Core principles of strong dialogue writing

  • How dialogue reveals and supports characterization

  • Maintaining consistency and voice

  • Using subtext effectively

  • Transforming content through dialogue

Dates: Every Weekend

Time: Any time between 8 AM – 8 PM (2-hour session)

Location:

Sessions are typically held at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center, NYC.

The listed price covers a 2-hour session. Exact time will be arranged with the instructor.

Pricing: $340

All participants will receive a certificate of completion and free feedback on one screenplay.

“How To Write An Award-Winning Screenplay”

Description:
To have an award-winning screenplay, you have to figure out two main points: To create a suitable story to convert to a screenplay and write it down with no mistakes and then find a decent festival/competition to submit to.

In this workshop, Emine Dursun explains the important points and tricks from both sides as an experienced festival director, jury member and as a screenwriter/script doctor.

There will be two chapters
–  What to write? This is the creative part.
–  How to write? The technical part – mostly about the formatting.

These parts will be told according to festival criteria most commonly used.

They’ll also focus on some of the criteria of the important competition, such as the Nicholls Fellowship, Blue Cat, NYISA, etc.

***All the attendants will have a certificate and free feedback for their screenplays.

Dates: Every Weekend
Time: Any time btw 8 AM- 8PM (2 hr)

Location: Price posted is for a 2 Hour Session. Exact time slot to be arranged with the instructor. Usually at the Alice Tully Hall or at the Producers Club – 358 West 44th Street New York, NY, 10036

Pricing: $200

Advanced Screenwriting Development Programs – ASDP, “Character Creation”

Description:
It’s a compact workshop for character creating and developing. Mostly focusing on,

–  Principles of Characterization.
–  Engagement with the plots.
–  Consistency.
–  Connections with others and the audience.
–  Effects to dialogue.

Dates: Every Weekend

Time: Any time btw 8 AM- 8PM (2 hr)

Location:
Price posted is for a 2 Hour Session. Exact time slot to be arranged with the instructor. Usually at the Alice Tully Hall or at the Producers Club – 358 West 44th Street New York, NY, 10036

Pricing: $200

***All the attendants will have a certificate and free feedback for their screenplay.

Advanced Screenwriting Development Programs – ASDP, “Building A Strong Structure”

Description:
It is a compact workshop for creating and building a strong structure and developing it. Mostly focusing on,
–  Principles of the Structures.
–  The math behind the story
–  Steps of the strong Structures
–  Practicing.

Dates: Every Weekend
Time: Any time btw 8 AM- 8PM (2 hr)

Location:
Price posted is for a 2 Hour Session. Exact time slot to be arranged with the instructor. Usually at the Alice Tully Hall or at the Producers Club – 358 West 44th Street New York, NY, 10036

Pricing: $200

***All the attendants will have a certificate and free feedback for their screenplay.

Advanced Screenwriting Development Programs – ASDP, “Efficient Moving Dialogue Writing”

Description:
It is a compact workshop for creating powerful, efficient and moving dialogue. Mostly focusing on,
–  Dialogue Writing Principles
–  Engaging with Characterization
–  Consistency
–  Subtext
–  Transformation of the contents.

Dates: Every Weekend

Time: Any time btw 8 AM- 8PM (2 hr)

Location:
Price posted is for a 2 Hour Session. Exact time slot to be arranged with the instructor. Usually at the Alice Tully Hall or at the Producers Club – 358 West 44th Street New York, NY, 10036

Pricing: $200

***All the attendants will have a certificate and free feedback for their screenplay.

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