When I watch tele series, typically they revolve around conflicts and discord. Why are there so few series such as Heartland where the challenge is just dealing with challenges as they occur. I have friends who prefer to avoid all the conflict by watching game shows or survival episodes. My series Jolt: a saga of survival is that of people far enough from a nuclear meltdown to survive: a family separated, the mom with radiation sickness, the dad with traumatic brain injury, the boys on the road. And of a community that comes together to provide food, medical care, and shelter for the forced migrants that overrun their small village. Conflict is not the theme; struggle and progress is. Wouldn't this be of interest to audiences?
Screenwriting : Why conflict? Why not human struggle and progress? by Roberta M Roy
Owner, operator at ALVA Press, Inc. ♦ Screenwriter, Publisher, Author
1 year ago
Why conflict? Why not human struggle and progress?
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Struggle is a synonym for conflict. So is progress, though not as closely as synonymous.
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I agree with E Langley, however, perhaps what you. Roberta are referring to is the mindless and continual shocking, teeth-grinding, jaw tightening action plus the horror and graphic - yuck - that seems to fill the movies and shows these days.
One becomes immune to the blood, guts and gore so that writers have to come up with more blood, flowing more guts showing and more gore oozing to satisfy. With the world possibly facing WW3 perhaps it's not such a bad thing to be used to. - I digress, forgive me.
I write simple mystery with some other-worldly personalities involved. But it's not a tame story, for there are breathtaking moments and even brutal action, so don't think you're going to take a nap in a dark theatre!
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"The Waltons" was a popular show that was low-drama. "Little House On The Prairie" as well.
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Roberta M Roy , Jolt sounds truly amazing. I have no problem with challenges popping up as the story progresses, especially with a series. I think all that matters is that the challenges disrupt the character's status quo. Marian Betts , I feel the same way (cringe) about sensationalized films, especially big budget whoppers. Give me a film like Minari or The Shepherd - both foreign, both exquisitely nuanced and natural, and I'd be happy to return to the big screen.
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Sounds like we've come to associate conflict with physical action only but that's not the case. Conflict can be external tension between two people having a conversation with a slightly different point of view. It can also be internal. It's not only associated with graphic action. Hope that helps.
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There are three styles of conflict
Person vs Self
Person vs Person
Person vs Nature
A conflict is needed to show some resolution.
If you what an Orange and I want an Apple, no one cares. But if we both want the Apple that is interesting. If we need it, whose needs are more.
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Well said, Craig D Griffiths!