Creating believable conflict between characters in your screenplay
Creating Believable Conflict Between Characters in Your Screenplay
One of the most important elements of any successful screenplay is conflict. Conflict drives the story, creates tension, and keeps the audience engaged. But how do you create conflict between characters that actually feels believable?
Know Your Characters
The first step in creating believable conflict between characters is to really know and understand them. You should have a clear understanding of their motivations, fears, desires, and flaws. These elements will help you identify areas of potential conflict between your characters.
For example, if you have a character who is highly ambitious and driven, and another character who is more laid-back and content with their current situation, you can already see potential for conflict. These characters may have completely different goals and ways of approaching life, which can lead to tension and conflict.
Identify Contrasting Personalities
Another way to create believable conflict between characters is to identify personality traits that are in direct contrast with each other. For example, if you have a character who is very organized and detail-oriented, and another character who is extremely laid-back and carefree, you can already see potential for conflict between these two.
As you develop your characters' personalities, think about the ways they might clash with others. You can use these differences to create interesting and believable conflict between your characters.
Give Them Opposing Objectives
One of the most effective ways to create conflict between characters is to give them opposing objectives. For example, if one character wants to save the world, and another character wants to destroy it, you already have a recipe for intense conflict.
As you develop your story, think about the goals and objectives of each character. If their goals don't align, or even directly conflict with each other, you can use this to create tension and conflict throughout the story.
Create Obstacles and Challenges
To create believable conflict between characters, you should also create obstacles and challenges that get in their way. When characters are faced with obstacles, they are forced to make difficult decisions and take actions that can create conflict with others.
For example, if your main character is searching for a lost treasure, and another character is also after the same treasure, you can already see potential for conflict. But if you add obstacles and challenges, such as a dangerous terrain or a rival treasure-hunter, the conflict between these characters becomes even more intense and believable.
Show the Stakes
Finally, to create truly believable conflict between characters, you need to clearly show what is at stake. The higher the stakes, the more intense and dramatic the conflict will be.
For example, if the conflict between two characters is over something as minor as what to have for dinner, it's hard to create a truly engaging and believable conflict. But if the conflict is over something major, like the fate of the world, then the tension and conflict will be much more intense.
Conclusion
Creating believable conflict between characters is an essential part of any successful screenplay. By knowing your characters, identifying contrasting personalities, giving them opposing objectives, creating obstacles and challenges, and showing the stakes, you can create intense and believable conflict that will keep your audience engaged from beginning to end.