Screenwriter's Corner

7 Responses to “The Nature of Conflict”

1. 
   Jackie Wolf-Enrione Says:
   July 7th, 2010 at 3:45 pm

   Conflict is the motivating force behind a good screenplay. Conflict drives this writer to continue telling her story. One cold day in January , 2010 in the Tarrytown Post Office, a chance meeting inspired me to take an obscure character in my story, and make him my lead. And in six short months, a story I had been struggling with since 2000, literally and remarkably wrote itself in six short months.
   A recent interview sent me back to include a vital aspect of the tangled web. Threading the story line throughout while maintaining conflict to its logical conclusion or resolution is a challenge. Well. This has been a an incredible journey. I’ve grown fond of my main characters. Next week for beTter or for worse, . Sending this out to the person who was the catalyst, making my screenplay come to life. No guts no glory!

2. 
   Anthony Says:
   March 10th, 2011 at 11:08 pm

   Syd,
   I have two of your books and I agree with your observations about the shift in both screenplays AND novels due to technology. That is why I am using your structure and guidelines to help me write my (first) novel.I think I am missing one of the 10 types of external conflict. I listened to this a few times but I am only getting nine. Would you be kind enough to tell me which one I missed. I have:

   *weather
   *natural disaster
   *machine (breakdown)
   *physical impairment/illness
   *war
   *economic misfortune
   *imprisonment
   *the ability to adapt to current times
   *the law/breaking the law

   Thanks for helping those of us who may not be “naturally gifted” to understand the craft and giving us a framework to improve!

3. 
   Syd Says:
   March 18th, 2011 at 12:17 pm

   Hi Anthony:

   I think the only one you’re missing in external conflicts is: “the ability to survive.” Take a look at Cold Mountain for a good illustration of that along with many of the other conflicts. The film is a real lesson in studying the conflict in a script.

   Good writing,

   Syd

4. 
   Anthony Says:
   April 5th, 2011 at 12:37 pm

   Thanks Syd!

5. 
   Will Says:
   April 25th, 2011 at 8:01 am

   I guess that I should broaden my taste in movies. Most of the films I prefer to watch are the old black & white movies such as ‘What Ever Happened to Baby Jane Hudson?’, ‘All About Eve’, the ‘Battle of Britain’, etc., etc. (It’s my mother’s fault.) But I suppose a would-be screenwriter could learn just as much about conflict, internal or external, from the “oldies” as he or she would learn from contemporary cinema. Or am I on the wrong track altogether?
   These podcasts, your books and video tutorials are excellent. Thank you very, very much.

6. 
   Syd Says:
   August 14th, 2011 at 1:25 pm

   Hi Will:
   Conflict is conflict – we can learn from the old as much as from the new. Just make the distinctions of whether it’s an internal conflict or an external conflict!

   Syd

7. 
   Keith Says:
   January 2nd, 2012 at 3:45 am

   Just getting started! I’m a former US Submariner and later an Air Force Special Operations Intelligence Analyst. I want to start writing action/thrillers similar to Clancy or Flynn. I have tons of personal experience as a “spook in the shadows,” but not sure how to “weave” the story. Any suggestions?

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