WC - Conflict (Lesson)

Conflict

Introduction

“All Drama is conflict. If you know the need of your character, you can create obstacles to fulfill that need. How he/she overcomes those obstacles is your story. Conflict, struggle, overcoming obstacles, both inside and outside, are the primary ingredients in all drama- comedy , too. It is the writer’s responsibility to generate enough conflict to keep the reader, or the audience, interested. The job of the screenwriter is to keep the reader turning pages. The story always has to move forward, toward its resolution.”

- Syd Field, Chapter 2 Screenplay: the Foundations of Screenwriting

Importance of Conflict in Writing for the Camera

 

The previous quotes are all correct, of course. How could one follow the dramatic structure presented in Freytag’s pyramid without an inciting incident that forces the main character to act? The rising action is a series of obstacles that force more and more decisions leading up the point of no return (Climax). None of this is possible without conflict. It is also true that for the plot of a play or movie the conflict must be extreme enough to merit interest. In the presentation below, let’s dive into this notion of the conflict as the essence of drama and how to effectively incorporate conflict into writing. 

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Conflict Review Activity

 

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