Conflict Outside the Story: Essential Exemplifications and Perspectives Every Cinematic Artist Requires
Whether you're spinning a yarn about friendly neighborhood superheroes or painting a grim picture of dystopian futures, conflict should never be overlooked. It's the adrenaline-pumping core that keeps your audience hooked and emotionally invested in your gripping tales. Let's dive into the world of external conflict, explore its types, learn how to write vivid conflicts, and analyze captivating examples that every screenwriter should know!
External Conflict: The Whirlwind of Dueling Forces
In storytelling, external conflict revolves around the battle between your protagonist and an external force like another character, society, nature, technology, fate, or even supernatural phenomena. Unlike internal struggles, external conflicts are more tangible and often propel the story's plot forward.
Take, for example, the spine-tingling duel between Brody and the colossal great white shark in Jaws. The menacing shark represents a life-threatening force that disrupts the tranquil beach oh-so-perfectly, creating tension and fear among the townspeople.
Types of External Conflict
There are numerous types of external conflicts that thrive in films and television. Each offers unique challenges for characters to overcome, keeping viewers gripped to the very end. Here's a rundown of the six popular types:
- Character vs. Character
- Superman vs. Lex Luthor in Superman
- Hannibal Lecter vs. Clarice Starling in Silence of the Lambs
- Character vs. Society
- Katniss Everdeen vs. The Capitol in The Hunger Games
- Leslie Knope vs. Pawnee's corrupt politicians in Parks and Recreation
- Character vs. Nature
- Tom Hanks vs. the wilderness in Cast Away
- Tippi Hedren vs. the vengeful birds in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds
- Character vs. Technology
- Sarah Connor vs. the Terminator in The Terminator
- Neo vs. the Matrix in The Matrix
- Character vs. Supernatural
- The Losers' Club vs. Pennywise in It
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer vs. the vampires of Sunnydale in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
- Character vs. Fate/Destiny
- Neo vs. the singularity in The Matrix: Reloaded
- Oedipus vs. his fate in Oedipus Rex
Crafting Memorable External Conflict
Once you've chosen the perfect external conflict type for your story, it's time to create an unforgettable, pulse-pounding conflict that will have viewers on the edge of their seats. Following these tips will help you write well-rounded, tension-filled conflicts:
Define the Stakes
Clearly outline what's at stake for your protagonist. The higher the stakes, the more thrilling the conflict becomes.
- Seeking the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
- Saving the planet in Mars Attacks!
Develop a Formidable Antagonist
A powerful antagonist adds weight to the external conflict. Provide your antagonist with their own set of motivations and strengths, rather than a flimsy, one-dimensional evil incarnate.
- Anna Le Queens vs. John McClane in Die Hard
- Maleficent vs. Sleeping Beauty in Sleeping Beauty
Make It Personal
Connect the external conflict to the protagonist by tying it to their history, desires, or beliefs. This creates a deeply personal struggle that resonates with the audience.
- Jim Lovell's rivalry with Caroll O'Connor in Apollo 13
- Ethan Hunt's quest for redemption in the Mission: Impossible series
Escalate the Conflict
Continually raise the stakes and ramp up the tension, pushing your characters to their limits.
- Alien vs. Predator in Alien vs. Predator
- Batman facing off against the Joker, Bane, and the Court of Owls in The Dark Knight Rises
Incorporating these elements into your screenplay will help you develop external conflicts that captivate audiences and drive your story forward.
Unleash the Power of External Conflict in Your Scripts
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- Delve into character-development by creating formidable antagonists, making the external conflicts personal, and escalating the tension, just like the masterful battles waged by Morpheus against his AI adversaries in The Matrix and Gondor's defenders against the onslaught of the dark lord Sauron in Lord of the Rings.
- Storyboard your protagonist's journey as they face external conflicts and overcome various challenges through education-and-self-development, as showcased in the character arcs of Ellen Ripley, who battles against alien entities in the Alien series, and Katniss Everdeen, who fights against a oppressive society in The Hunger Games, demonstrating the power of external conflict in entertainment.
