The Essential Guide to Creating Compelling Conflict in Your Screenplay

Every great story is driven by conflict. It’s the catalyst that propels the narrative forward, keeping audiences hooked and invested in the characters’ journeys. Whether you’re crafting an action-packed blockbuster or a thought-provoking indie drama, understanding how to create and sustain compelling conflict is the key to writing an engaging screenplay.

This comprehensive guide will explore the art of creating conflict, from establishing philosophical clashes between characters to structuring scenes that drive the story forward. By the end, you’ll have a deep understanding of how to infuse your screenplay with the tension and drama that captivates audiences.

Conflict Begins with Character Beliefs

The foundation of all great conflict lies within the characters’ belief systems and worldviews. Before you even begin crafting scenes or structuring your story, you need to understand your protagonist’s core beliefs and how they clash with those of the antagonistic forces.

Think about the character at the heart of your story—what fundamental philosophy or belief system drives their actions and decisions? This could be a moral code, a life philosophy, or a deeply held value. Once you’ve established this, craft characters whose beliefs directly challenge your protagonist’s worldview.

In “12 Angry Men,” juror #8’s belief in the importance of the judicial system and giving the accused the benefit of the doubt clashes with the other jurors’ preconceived notions of guilt. In “The Dark Knight,” Batman’s unwavering commitment to justice and the rule of law butts heads with the Joker’s anarchic belief that society’s morality is a facade.

By creating characters with opposing worldviews, you establish the foundation for philosophical conflict that will drive your story forward.

Building Layers of Conflict

While your primary conflict should stem from the clash of beliefs between your protagonist and antagonist, you can create additional layers of conflict by introducing secondary characters with their own distinct philosophies.

In “Little Miss Sunshine,” the central conflict revolves around young Olive’s journey to a beauty pageant. However, each family member represents a different belief system that pulls Olive in various directions. Her father, Richard, sees the world as divided between winners and losers, while her grandfather rejects societal norms and encourages self-acceptance.

By weaving these additional philosophical threads into your narrative, you create a rich tapestry of conflicting perspectives that adds depth and complexity to your story.

Escalating Conflict Through Progressive Complications

Once you’ve established the core conflict, you need to ensure that the tension escalates throughout your screenplay. As the legendary screenwriting instructor Robert McKee explains, a story must “move progressively forward to a final action beyond which the audience cannot imagine another.”

To achieve this, you need to create a succession of events that continually raise the stakes and force your characters to take increasingly drastic actions. This concept, known as “progressive complications,” is essential for maintaining audience engagement and preventing your story from losing momentum.

In “12 Angry Men,” juror #8 initially voices his disagreement with the others in a relatively mild manner. However, as the story progresses, he becomes more assertive, eventually standing up to the aggressive juror #3 in a heated confrontation.

Similarly, in “The Dark Knight,” the conflict between Batman and the Joker escalates from a tense interrogation scene to a citywide crisis that threatens the very fabric of Gotham’s society.

By introducing greater challenges and obstacles at each stage, you ensure that your characters are pushed to their limits, creating a captivating journey of transformation and growth.

Crafting Compelling Scene Conflict

While the overarching philosophical conflict serves as the backbone of your story, it’s equally important to infuse individual scenes with tension and drama. This is where the concepts of “scene objective” and “super objective” come into play.

As Robert McKee explains, the scene objective is the specific goal a character aims to achieve within a particular scene. The super objective, on the other hand, is the character’s overall motivation that drives their actions throughout the story.

For example, in the scene where Olive orders ice cream in “Little Miss Sunshine,” the scene objective is whether she will eat the ice cream or not. However, the super objective is not just about getting to the beauty pageant on time; it’s also about Olive navigating the competing philosophies of her family members regarding self-acceptance and societal expectations.

By crafting scenes with clear objectives that tie into the broader philosophical conflict, you create organic tension and drama that feels authentic to your characters and their journeys.

Structuring Scenes for Maximum Impact

To ensure that each scene propels the story forward, it’s crucial to structure them in a way that builds tension and culminates in a pivotal moment or revelation. John Truby’s concept of the “upside-down triangle” provides a powerful framework for achieving this.

According to Truby, a scene should begin by framing the overall context and purpose, then gradually funnel down to a single, impactful point or line of dialogue. This endpoint should represent a new piece of information, a significant choice, or an action that advances the story.

For example, in the interrogation scene from “The Dark Knight,” the scene begins by establishing that the Joker’s men have taken Harvey Dent hostage, and Batman needs to find him. As the scene progresses, the Joker reveals his belief system, challenging Batman’s worldview. The scene culminates in Batman obtaining the addresses he needs, propelling the story forward.

By structuring your scenes in this way, you create a sense of momentum and ensure that each sequence serves a clear purpose within the broader narrative.

Conclusion

Creating compelling conflict is the lifeblood of great storytelling. By understanding the philosophical underpinnings of your characters, crafting layers of conflicting beliefs, and escalating the tension through progressive complications, you can weave a rich tapestry of drama that will captivate audiences from start to finish.

Remember, conflict is not just about external obstacles or action sequences; it’s about the internal struggles and clashing worldviews that drive your characters’ journeys. By mastering the art of creating and sustaining conflict, you’ll elevate your screenplay from a mere series of events to a powerful, emotionally resonant story that stays with audiences long after the credits roll.