How to Write the Main Conflict of the Story — The Engine of a Narrative

you think I'm an idiot a story can be about anything but all stories have one thing in common conflict I'm sorry I accept your apology if there's no conflict there's no story so what's the point therefore every writer needs to understand how to create this backbone of Storytelling this is how to build conflict [Music] consider our fight beun before we start fighting subscribe to Studio binder and click the Bell to stay up toate on all our videos there will be spoilers for The Following movies time to meet our [Applause] foe story scholar Christopher Vogler writes

conflict is the soul of Storytelling it's the spark that ignites The Narrative fire put simply conflict is when two oppositional forces come into contact saying every story has conflict doesn't mean that every story must have a climactic battle or even an argument conflict is something that happens when something prevents a character from achieving their goal screenwriter Aaron sain describes conflict as the combination of intention and obstacle he explains somebody wants something and something is standing in their way of getting it no two battles are the same but all conflicts can be put into one or

more of three categories inner conflict personal conflict and extrapersonal conflict let's dive into these different types of obstacles beginning with inner conflict Express concern over the latest increase in heating oil prices inner conflict can provide some of the most subtle yet compelling obstacles for a narrative it refers to when a character must confront problems within themselves that are preventing them from reaching their goals you are a toy you Wen the real Buzz Light you're you're you're an action figure by definition then inner conflict calls for a multi-dimensional c someone whose interior is complex and filled

with contradictions world's greatest superhero now the world's greatest Coy Buzz has it all blocking risk Communicator calling buz inner turmoil can often come from a character coming to terms with their identity in Moonlight shyron struggles to accept his own sexuality which results in him putting build up a tough exterior that becomes an obstacle to finding companionship you don't know me I don't know you in a conflict can also work in concert with other forms of conflicts in a woman under the influence Mabel is clearly struggling with her own demons but they are exacerbated by the

external sexism she contends with he's got something in that bag don't be concerned about he's going to try to imprison me with something in that bag don't be concerned about this bag am I right don't be concerned about am I right Nick am I right Nick another common form of inner conflict is the moral dilemma a famous example can be found in Sophie's Choice where the protagonist has to decide which of her children to save internal conflict often comes from a character's backstory a wrong kid died in Wild Cheryl str's backstory provides the primary obstacle

she must overcome as she hikes director Jean Mark valet cuts to scenes from her earlier life presenting the sequences as memories strade has to reckon with what if heroin taught me something what if all those things I did were the things that got me here what if I was never [Music] redeemed what if I already [Applause] was in the planet of the ape series kobra's conflict over whether or not to follow Caesar is informed by the cruelty he experienced at the hand of humans human human work human work internal conflict is ideal for character-driven stories

where a filmmaker is interested in investigating a specific person and their life rather than an intricate plot but it can be present in any kind of film of course conflict can also exist outside of a character own head as it is in personal conflict I'm happy to finally meet you cousin personal conflict refers to obstacles created by other characters this is the way Mufasa looked before he died the most obvious version of this obstacle is the antagonist the person diametrically opposed to the protagonist their goal is in direct contradiction with the main character the story

revolves around the protagonist trying to best them your destiny lies with me Sky Walker or be one news to be true no hello put that phone down get me the radio tower put it down but personal conflict doesn't have to be so black and white romance stories for example typically make use of the personal conflict between the two love interests hello lad please I'd appreciate it if you could concentrate on our mission and give your libido a rest in licorice pizza for example Gary and Alana rarely get along actresses get naked in movies all the

time what's wrong with that because there's too much nudity in pictures right now Gary annoys Alana and Alana baffles Gary but this friction makes their reunion in the film's finale much more climactic they are willing to overlook each other's perceived shortcomings oh my God personal conflict is also often prevalent in movies focused on family where different characters who may disagree are forced to interact with one another because they're related so what are we going to do excuse me in the Royal Tenon bals Wes Anderson examines multiple different personal conflicts between different family members ch's antagonistic

relationship with his father hey are you listening to me yes I am Royal's destroyed relationship with his ex-wife ethelene and Richie's forbidden romance with Margo these conflicts in addition to the numerous conflicts with family friends work together to create a kaleidoscopic story which examines the very nature of family objection your honor damn it why don't you leave the objections to me Royal because I started the corporation when I was a minor so my father was the primary signatory on most of my accounts he also stole bonds out of my safety deposit box when I was

[Music] 14 workplace stories can take a similar approach to personal conflict relying on the obstacles that arise when different types of people have to work together whether they like it or not hello Peter what's happening the office for example uses personal conflict to propel nearly every episode These are characters who would go out of their way to avoid each other if they didn't have to work at the same company this ab workout is specifically designed to strengthen your core sorry even friendship can provide a source of personal conflict two characters May largely be aligned but

under pressure cracks may form which result in opposing viewpoints now so far we have what appears to me to be a series of victimless crimes about the toe forget about theing toe in booksmart for example Molly and Amy are best friends but things come to a head during their night gone wrong Amy is frustrated that Molly always wants to control her life you forc me to do whatever you want to do this conflict allows for Amy and Molly's friendship to be deepened in the end I'm sorry I'm so controlling I just can't imagine my life

without you sometimes however obstacles are provided by something larger than another person this is referred to as extrapersonal conflict Joe bill it's coming it's headed right for us extrapersonal conflict is any obstacle that comes from something outside of a character or group of characters a common source of this kind of obstacle is nature where a character has to contend with forces far outside of their control in Into the Wild Alexander's goal is to live in the wilderness and the conditions of the Alaskan Frontier provide the challenges another popular form of extra personal conflict is society

itself typically this approach allows a filmmaker to examine a cultural issue in To Kill a Mocking Bird for example Atticus must combat racism and so a quiet humble respectable who has had the unmitigated tarity to feel sorry for a white woman has had to put his word against two white peoples whereas inner or personal conflicts can be pushed aside or resolved extrapersonal conflict is often used to create an immovable obstacle something like a superstorm must Simply Be persevered through forcing characters to change whether they like it or not a filmmaker doesn't have to choose just

one of these three kinds of conflict in fact many movies utilize all three at once let's take a look at one such film hereditary don't you ever raise your voice at me I am your mother Ari Aster's horror film examines familiar Dynamics and grief using all three layers of conflict I I wanted to make a film that served as a vivid family drama before any of the horror elements were even thought about and I wanted all of the scary stuff to grow out of what we established in the first hour of the film you know

you were her favorite right first there is the intense inner conflict Peter experiences after the accident his guilt is overwhelming and weighs on him for nearly the rest of the runtime there is also personal conflict Annie and Peter have simmering conflict before the accident well that's a Croc I'm just asking if you're drinking which provides kindling for the explosive arguments they have after the tragedy all I do is worry and slave and defend you and all I get back is that [ __ ] face on your face this conflict mirrors the tension between Annie and

her mother the two versions of intergenerational conflict add to the dark familial themes throughout the film and then she lived in our house at the end before our hospice we weren't even talking before that I mean we were and then we weren't and then we were she's completely manipulative until my husband finally enforced a no contact rule which lasted until I got pregnant with my daughter and finally there is the extrapersonal conflict the supernatural forces which the family has to contend with these obstacles externalize the conflicts that are already present while delivering on the scares

of the movie Charlie in the end Ari Aster addresses all three layers of conflict Peter has to address his guilt headon while discovering an intergenerational coven that speaks to the personal conflicts that have plagued the family and explains the supernatural phenomena you're right every story needs some sort of conflict because every person confronts obstacles throughout their life it might be an epic showdown or a feeling of an we whatever it is conflict will drive your narrative from start to finish [Music] overcome whatever obstacles are stopping you from writing and get started on your next film

with Studio binder pre-production software you cannot pass until next time don't be conflict adverse face your challenges head on [Music]