Building Conflict
in Screenwriting

Conflict is the driving force behind engaging and compelling narratives in screenwriting. It's the friction, tension, and obstacles that characters face on their journey, making the story dynamic and relatable. As a newbie screenwriter, mastering the art of building conflict is essential for crafting scripts that captivate audiences. In this blog entry, we'll provide a step-by-step guide on how to effectively build conflict in your screenplay.

Define Your Characters' Goals and Motivations

Start by understanding what your main characters want. What are their goals, desires, and motivations? Conflict often arises from characters pursuing conflicting or overlapping objectives.

Create Diverse and Well-Defined Characters

Populate your screenplay with diverse characters, each with their own values, beliefs, and backgrounds. These differences can lead to natural sources of conflict.

Establish Relationships and Dynamics

Explore how characters relate to each other. Friendships, rivalries, love, and family dynamics can all generate conflict. Consider the history and past experiences that shape these relationships.

Identify External and Internal Conflicts

Distinguish between external conflicts (e.g., a villain, a natural disaster) and internal conflicts (e.g., self-doubt, moral dilemmas). Combining both types can create depth.

Introduce Obstacles and Challenges

Throw obstacles in the characters' paths that hinder their progress toward their goals. These challenges can be physical, emotional, or societal.

Utilize Miscommunication and Secrets

Miscommunication and hidden secrets are potent sources of conflict. Characters withholding information or misinterpreting each other can lead to dramatic tension.

Escalate Conflict Gradually

Allow conflict to escalate gradually throughout your screenplay. Start with minor conflicts and build toward more significant challenges as the story progresses.

Use Turning Points

Incorporate turning points in the story where conflicts intensify or take unexpected directions. These moments keep the audience engaged.

Explore Moral and Ethical Dilemmas

Present characters with moral or ethical dilemmas that force them to make difficult choices. These decisions can lead to inner conflict and external consequences.

Provide Resolution or Unresolved Conflict

Decide whether conflicts are resolved by the end of the screenplay or if some conflicts remain unresolved, leaving room for sequels or contemplation.

Let's consider an example of building conflict in a screenplay:

Character 1: JOHN, a successful businessman.
Character 2: SARAH, an environmental activist.

Conflict Scenario:

Steps to Build Conflict:

• Define Goals: John's goal is financial success, while Sarah's is environmental preservation.
• Diverse Characters: John represents business interests, while Sarah is an activist.
• Relationship Dynamics: They have a father-daughter relationship, but their opposing views cause tension.
• External Conflict: The factory project is an external obstacle.
• Miscommunication: John and Sarah have never discussed the project in-depth, leading to miscommunication.
• Escalation: As Sarah learns more about the project's impact, her conflict with John intensifies.
• Turning Point: Sarah organizes a protest against the project, leading to a showdown with John.
• Moral Dilemma: John must choose between his business interests and his daughter's values.
• Resolution: The conflict culminates in John reconsidering the project, providing a resolution to the conflict.

In Conclusion

Building conflict is an art that requires a deep understanding of characters, their motivations, and the dynamics between them. By following these steps and creating conflicts that resonate with your characters and story, you can craft screenplays that are rich in tension, emotion, and engagement. Conflict is the engine that drives your narrative forward and keeps your audience invested in the journey of your characters.

Happy writing!

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