photo via Go Into the Story
Real conflict is critical to getting your script past the first round of readers in a competition. All competition specs have an idea and an intent. Few of them deliver an emotional experience of that intent because writers avoid the serious conflict it takes to build an inevitable crisis.
Conflicts need to be a cage match. A dirty fight, a power play, a catastrophic failure of the plan. Spec writers tend to get squeamish about running their characters through that mill, or they hold them to finishing school codes of conduct that prevent the conflict the story needs to keep escalating.
Common cheats in place of serious conflict are:
- Wimpy arguments. Squabbling is as annoying to read as it is to listen to. To ramp your argument into real conflict, take the gloves off. No Queensbury Rules, no Geneva Convention, no therapeutic fair fighting techniques. Speak unvarnished truth. Hurt relationships, not just feelings.
- Toe stubbing. Busywork obstacles are inconveniences, which are dull to read. To create suspenseful obstacles, make them costly enough for the protag to consider giving up. If he fails, he could lose his house, his life, his livelihood, his dream. Build big risk in.
- Resolution. Prematurely resolving unfinished business with an apology or a compromise lets out all the tension. Keep the fires burning hot beneath those grudges. It’s emotional jet fuel.
-ANNIE LABARBA @annelabarba
nywift
Related Posts
Meet the New NYWIFT Member: Mohana Rajakumar
Welcome to NYWIFT, Mohana Rajakumar! Mohana is a South Asian American scholar, novelist, screenwriter, and stand-up comic whose work regularly explores feminist themes. Some of her most notable literary accomplishments include winning the She Writes New Novelist Award in 2011 for her coming-of-age novel An Unlikely Goddess and the Best Indie Book Award for Romance in 2013 for Love Comes Later. She co-wrote and appeared in the short film Me Against the World, directed by Kali Bailey, which appeared in NYWIFT’s “Women in Film Night” at the 2022 Montauk Film Festival. Mohana has resided in Qatar since 2005. She spoke to us about working across various art forms, her writing process, and the special honor that comes with writing a banned book!
READ MORE6 Tips for Hooking a Reader in the First Pages of Your Pilot
The first pages of your pilot need to be solid — as in, a representation of your very best work — and they need to establish us in the world succinctly. Last year, NYWIFT Member and WWFC Co-Founder Katrina Medoff read hundreds of pilot scripts submitted for Women’s Weekend Film Challenge’s inaugural pilot accelerator, and she saw some general themes emerge for how to make the opening of your pilot stand out. Read on for her six tips, and learn how to apply to the next WWFC pilot accelerator.
READ MORE5 Exercises for Strengthening Your Pilot Script’s Cold Open
The first scenes of your pilot need to capture the reader’s attention, because you never know how far a busy Hollywood exec (or their assistant) will read before losing interest. You need to introduce your characters and story, show off your writing skills, and give the reader something they haven’t seen before — it’s a lot of pressure! Women’s Weekend Film Challenge Co-Founder NYWIFT Member Katrina Medoff offers some exercises to make those crucial first pages shine.
READ MORENYWIFT Member Spotlight: Arlette Thomas-Fletcher
NYWIFT member Arlette Thomas-Fletcher is a multi-talented filmmaker and production executive. She has handled every creative and technical aspect of media production during her decades-long career, writing, directing, and producing her own projects and those of others. Arlette is a published author and has several books on Amazon, including her children’s book Dreamer’s Journey, which was just released. She is currently working on an animated series called The Cat Faced Cat.
READ MORE
