123ArticleOnline Logo
Welcome to 123ArticleOnline.com!
ALL >> Education >> View Article

My Hero Needs A Problem! Inner And Outer Conflicts

Profile Picture
By Author: Henry Perry
Total Articles: 35
Comment this article
Facebook ShareTwitter ShareGoogle+ ShareTwitter Share

One of the things you need to establish really quickly when writing a film script is what is your hero's goal. In order for the reader to have any interest in your script they want to know what it's about - what does the hero (or protagonist) want to do? Save the world, get into college, win their true love's heart, win the fight?
Without that clear drive, it's hard to engage with a character, or care about what happens to them. But there has to be more to it than that. In addition to their obvious goal, there also needs to be something deeper, a flaw or defect that they need to overcome.
They thus need both an Inner Conflict and an Outer Conflict.
Outer Conflict: This is the one most people are able to nail - getting the girl, winning a contest, robbing a casino, et cetera. However, you still need to establish it early, you have to ensure that it is difficult to achieve, and that the protagonist really wants it. Half-hearted or wishy-washy heroes are no fun.
Inner Conflict: The protagonist's inner conflict is just as important, and typically will have to do with the hero's flaw or lack of something. ...
... It will usually involve something personal, such as overcoming shyness, becoming more social, or learning to work with other people.
For these two to really work they should come together at the climax of the story, where the protagonist faces their biggest challenge. At this point, they must typically be forced to overcome their Inner Conflict in order to achieve their Outer Conflict, their external goal.
A great example of this is the Disney classic Lion King. The Outer Conflict is obvious - Simba must defeat his evil uncle, Scar, in order to claim his heritage as leader of the pride. But in order to do this he must overcome his Inner Conflict - he feels responsible for his father's death, and so has run away from his responsibilities. It is only once Nala has challenged him to take up the challenge that he is finally able to exorcise his demons and return home to challenge - and defeat - Scar.
Alternatively, look at an Indy film like Little Miss Sunshine. Again, the outer goal seems obvious - get Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant - but it is only through dealing with their inner conflicts that the family can come together and get her there. Thus Richard and Sheryl have to work out their marriage, Frank has to get over his lost love, and Dwayne has to get over the fact that he cannot succeed in his goal of joining the Air Force.
By the end of the story they have all dealt with their issues to come together as a family, and it gives them the strength to walk out of the pageant, triumphant as a family.
When the hero's inner and outer conflicts come together in that way, you have a script that readers will love.

cheap custom papers

Total Views: 305Word Count: 500See All articles From Author

Add Comment

Education Articles

1. Best Servicenow Training In Ameerpet | Hyderabad
Author: krishna

2. Mern Stack Online Training | Best Mern Stack Course
Author: Hari

3. Salesforce Crm Online Training | Salesforce Crm Training
Author: himaram

4. Oracle Fusion Financials Online Training At Rainbow Training Institute
Author: Rainbow Training Institute

5. Microsoft Fabric Certification Course | Microsoft Azure Fabric
Author: visualpath

6. Microsoft Dynamics Ax Training Online | Microsoft Ax Training
Author: Pravin

7. Aws Data Engineering Training Institute In Hyderabad
Author: SIVA

8. Top Skills Employers Seek In International Business Management Professionals
Author: jann

9. Unlock The Power Of Integration With Oracle Integration Cloud Training At Rainbow Training Institute
Author: Rainbow Training Institute

10. Emerging Trends In Salesforce Devops For 2025 And Beyond:
Author: Eshwar

11. How Digital Evidence Is Secured And Managed By Iso 27037 Consultants?
Author: Danis

12. Patient Reported Outcomes Clinical Research – A New Era 2024
Author: Aakash jha

13. Transform Your Home: 7 Must-have Dyslexia Support Resources Every Parent Should Get!
Author: Bradly Franklin

14. The Key To Your Pet’s Health And Happiness
Author: Sumit

15. How To Streamline Administrative Processes In Schools: A Comprehensive Guide
Author: Revamp

Login To Account
Login Email:
Password:
Forgot Password?
New User?
Sign Up Newsletter
Email Address: