Lesson 13

[mark.napier2022@gmail.com napier]

Napier Delivers Insights Through Conflict

***FYI, content I am posting has been registered (as a Treatment) with the Screenwriters Guild and copyrighted through the Library of Congress. When I am done with the script, it too will be registered and copyrighted. I understand what we post here is to be treated as such in the same manner.

The additional layering adds more depth, substance and emotional opportunities to reach the audience, in addition to entertaining.

ASSIGNMENT
1. With your list of the New Ways / Insights you want audiences to experience, go through these steps:
Step 1. What is the New Way / Insight you want to deliver?
Step 2. What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?
Step 3. Brainstorm ways you might deliver the insight through the conflict.
2. Come up with at least five (5) different ways you can use conflict to express an insight.
Argument provokes the truth, uncovers a secret, brings out true nature, uncovers emotional issue
A. CONFLICT (1), UNCOVERING A SECRET: Following the Protagonist’s discovery of child pornography on two CIA Top Secret computers, upon return to Station 2 days later he happens to bump into the Station’s Chief of Communications at his cubical:

….”Hey!…I see xxxx is back in town and I know he is part of your team!” The Protagonist nods his head in agreement and says yes. The Chief says…”I’ve known him for 20 years and I was chatting with him this morning over breakfast. You know its odd?!?!?….I’ve not seen him act this way since the time he downloaded pornog……. (he stops in mid word). … Is that what this is about?”

Not saying a word, the Protagonist simply nods his head yes. The Chief of Communications shakes his head in astonishment and disappointment then slowly turns his back to the Protagonist not saying anything further and continues working on this computer.

INSIGHT (1), UNCOVERING A SECRET: The Protagonist’s investigation not only reveals a predator, but ‘a repeat offender’ that CIA has not taken action against. [Opening Scene and ACT 1]

B. CONFLICT (2), BRINGS OUT TRUE NATURE: When the Antagonist has learned of the Protagonist whereabouts he pays a special visit to Falcon Base. During his briefing and guidance to base he riminess to Falcon Base personnel that following the 9/11 Islamic terrorist attacks that he was so filled with hate and anger that all he wanted was vengeance (as he looks at the Protagonist) — a subliminal message to the Protagonist that he was next.

…”Ironically, how as many as 3,000 Taliban prisoners of war would be placed in train box cars and left in the desert to die….. Lucky thing I wrote that up….Hahahahahah! “

INSIGHT (2), BRINGS OUT TRUE NATURE: Reveals just how vial and evil the Antagonist is and his intended veiled threat to the Protagonist. [ACT 2A]

C. CONFLICT (3), FALSELY ACCUSED: The Protagonist ignores the Antagonist’s first attempt to falsely accuse him of overcharging the CIA $14,000 (a felony) that normally the Agency would prosecute. Having addressed his concerns with investigators of the impending and expected retaliation he is not questioned, investigated, charged nor prosecuted. As time passes the same ruse is used again and his home office refuses to contact investigators to establish his bona fides and attempts to contest the decision to Blacklisting him is ignored. Injustice prevails.

INSIGHT (3), FALSELY ACCUSED: Believe half of what you see and nothing what you hear; until you verify the information and consider the source of that information. [ACT 2A]

D. CONFLICT (4), SUICIDE ATTEMPT: The Protagonist writes his suicide letter as he prepares to end his life:

“During the Great Recession of 2009, I have been Blacklisted by the CIA for reporting Child Pornography on two Agency Top Secret Computers, my HIV diagnosis screamed at me over the phone by my Army Reserve unit who is discharging me, sued by the IRS for back taxes who took his last $600 shoving me penniless into the streets homeless. … I want the following placed on my grave marker and nothing else….”

The Protagonist recites to himself out loud his epitaph that has been figuratively handed to him after 26 years of devotion to the U.S. Government:

“For Outstanding Service and Loyalty to Country
Stigmatized and Slandered
Betrayed and Dishonored
Impoverished and Homeless
Discarded and Forgotten
Blacklisted by a Grateful Nation!”

(Tony Bennett’s song: “Who Can I Turn To – When Nobody Needs Me” plays in the background.)

INSIGHT (4), STIGMA – DISCARDED AND FORGOTTEN: Even at the darkest of hours in your life, Devine intervention seems to mysteriously present itself to give you hope. [ACT 2A]

E. CONFLICT (5), STREET JUSTICE – A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE: The Protagonist having previously conducted a thorough surveillance of the Antagonist’s neighborhood to include ingress and egress routes and blind spots he can use to his advantage waits for the prey to return to his lodging. The neighborhood is heavily foliaged with trees and woodland debris, so the Protagonist makes use of a ‘ghillie suit’ lined with a space blanket to further reduce thermal imagery to further mask his surreptitious mission of evening.

Suddenly, the Protagonist sees the Antagonist approaching in his car and engages his network of WIFI jammers effectively disrupting cell phone, security camera, GPS, drones and his garage door. The network covers an area as few as 30 to 1500 meters needed to disrupt the respected targeted devices. As the Antagonist wheels into his driveway of his Fairfax County home in Virginia late that evening after dark he exits his car wondering why his garage door is not opening. Apparently dressed on a last-minute errand before the evening is wearing a pajama top and leisure jogging pants. The Protagonist wastes no time and approaches from behind immediately incapacitating the Antagonist using a dart gun filled with ‘GHB’ — commonly known as a date rape drug “G.” The next scene is the Profound Ending the next morning when the audience sees the visual display the Antagonist is found in.

INSIGHT (5), STREET JUSTICE – A TASTE OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE: Payback is a bitch!

3. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” (place at top of your work). The additional layering adds more depth, substance and emotional opportunities to reach the audience, in addition to entertaining.
4. Post to the forums at https://www.screenwritingclasses.com/forums/
Subject line: (Your name’s) Delivers Insights Through Conflict (place in first line)

***FYI, the content I am posting has been registered (as a Treatment) with the Screenwriters Guild and copyrighted through the Library of Congress. When I am done with the script, it too will be registered and copyrighted. I understand what we post here is to be treated as such in the same manner.***

[Beverley]

Day 12 Assignment 2

Beverley Wood’s delivers insight through conflict

What I learned from doing this assignment is that it’s impactful to deliver insight through conflict and many things can create conflict, loved that list. I am also starting to think differently about the purpose of conflict and action – this is very good thank you.

My five for I Know You’re Out There Somewhere

Matt refuses to believe she is real and turns on his heels and leaves when they argue about it and she tries to present evidence (3X) and she realizes this is going to be harder than she ever thought.

She gets him to close his eyes in one argument and remember the special times, his insight is that it’s not the big things, it’s the small things.

Lauren and Matt argue again about the necessity of her leaving and when he deflects the conversation to his butterflies, which will emerge from their cocoons on the full moon (which is when she has to leave), she realizes its soon, very soon…

He tells her during another scene that if she can’t stay, he will go with her. She realizes what he means (will take his own life) and cannot live with that so goes back to her urn, forever

He argues with kim when he tells her that he wants to go with Lauren but she walks him through Lauren’s journey and he knows he is trapped and has no choice.

He drinks mushroom tea (set up earlier) sees god, and understands why she has to leave.

[Diane Keranen]

Subject line: Diane Delivers Insights Through Conflict

What I learned doing this assignment is that many of the conflicts in my screenplay are presented without enough clarity or conflict. I learned that when characters interact, we need to feel the conflict they feel on this transformational journey.

Five different ways I can use conflict to express an insight:
Step 1. What is the New Way / Insight you want to deliver?
The New Way is to respect the veteran’s combat-trauma can’t be ignored.
The insight is that combat-affected veterans can’t “get back to” their old life as it was because they know the horrors of war aren’t balanced by the celebration of honor/sacrifice/heroism.
Step 2. What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?
Misunderstanding. Loss. Stakes raised. Argument. Plan goes wrong.
Step 3. Brainstorm ways you might deliver the insight through the conflict.

1. Angry Outburst: Conflict uncovers a secret — Ten-year-old Jake anticipates playing video war-games with Matt, his father, when he finally gets back from war. When Jake repeatedly asks Matt to play, Matt’s stress overcomes him and he yells at Jake, “Killing is not a game.” That’s a secret of the Old Way. Matt storms over and rips the game console and jams into the trash can. Jake, wide-eyed, takes it in. “No more of these games. Do you hear me?” (Jake could go different ways after this. He could consider the actual killing, like the rabbit he shot, is the not-a-game that Matt refers to and therefore more grown up and this could reinforce the Old Way; or, Jake could struggle with the difference between real killing, game killing, or killing altogether and continue a transformative journey to the New Way.)

2. Loss: Conflict brings out the true nature — Claire presses Stewart to fulfill his promise that they would live together again when the time was right. After 30+ years of trying to get back together, Claire demands that Stewart see how now is the right time. Her reasoning is that Stewart, who is uncertain that he can actually help his son, can help Matt have a home rather than the apartment they’ve been renting and she points out that the emotional hurt of being kept her at a distance is worse than any “what if’ risks Stewart insists upon. Their true nature is their persistent love for each other.

3. Stakes raised: Conflict uncovers a secret — Matt gets away from the party, crowds, and fireworks. Matt’s stress level is high. He goes to the place where Gavin, Jr died. Matt talks to the long-dead fellow soldier, “I understand why you did this,” and “I get it, this is one of my options. The stakes are raised because, until this point, we know Matt is trying to build a normal civilian life, but when he hits a wall at every attempt, his secret comes out.

4.Plan goes wrong: Conflict uncovers an emotional issue —One ending of this story has Matt taking his own life. Stewart and Claire have been getting closer as she is moving back to the cabin. After Matt dies, Stewart is at his woodshop burning the project he and Matt were working on together. Claire shows up at the cabin and approaches Stewart tentatively. He half turns to her and stops her in her tracks with a stern, “Don’t.” She pauses. He says to her in a no-nonsense tone, “Just go.” It’s a final emotional cut-off from the only other person he truly loves. The plan for Stewart to help his son has failed. He trusted Claire and now Matt is dead because he allowed himself to get close to his son. Stewart’s emotional fracture—initiated by untreated post-war trauma and the inability to reconcile the pre-war self and post-war self—is now complete.

5.Power struggle: Conflict brings out the true nature — Sara (Old Ways) and Matt (taking on the New Ways) get into a big fight about which way is best. Sara wants Matt to “forget about all that and leave it behind” so he can be good father and husband. Matt wants to work through the trauma so he can be a more genuinely good father and husband rather than putting on a façade of good-father just to check off the boxes of what Sara (Old Ways) believes should happen.

[Angela Booth]

Angela Booth Delivers Insights Through Conflict

What I learned doing this assignment is that writing the scene can work backwards, delivering a powerful moment and then crating the situation to allow that to happen.

1.New way/Insight

Georgia: I’m not the only one who can care for the kids.

What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?

a. Argument about what to have for dinner and who is making it.

b. Misunderstanding about who is cooking – he/she goes out to get ingredients from the shop, not realising the other has plans.

Ways to deliver the insight through conflict

a. Verbally: The kids love my recipe. Trust me.

b. Action: Kids finishing the food and asking for more.

2.New way/Insight

Jodie: I can do this on my own.

What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?

a. Power struggle over who will attend AGM as the Director.

Ways to deliver the insight through conflict

a. Both are busy and have to juggle commitments. Jodie finds a way to deliver on both her promises and get to the AGM on time.

3.New way/Insight

Tiff: I’m going to work for myself.

What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?

Public humiliation: Argument with manager at work.

Ways to deliver the insight through conflict

Manager at work refuses to give her access to a spreadsheet she needs to complete a task. Tiff argues with her until the penny drops and she realises she doesn’t have to work for this woman if she doesn’t want to.

4.New way/Insight

Anne realises she doesn’t have to put up with being treated badly at work or with her family.

What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?

Stakes raised: It’s either her or her sister at the family party, but it can’t be both.

Ways to deliver the insight through conflict

Anne wakes up after a night with the girls to write to her father, telling him she refuses to be treated as a second class citizen. We see the email being written and sent.

5.New way/Insight

Calli learns to appreciate her natural beauty.

What kind of conflict could that insight show up in?

Verbal abuse: The night of the music festival, she appears onstage and suffers verbal abuse from transphobic people in the audience.

Ways to deliver the insight through conflict

Calli’s response to the verbal abuse is to sing beautifully and get a standing ovation.

[Mitch Haraguchi]

Mitch Delivers Insights Through Conflicts

What I learned doing this assignment is that brainstorming conflicts is equivalent to brainstorming scenes. If you come up with a new conflict that works, you can create a new scene that you otherwise would never thought about.

Q: Come up with at least five (5) “different” ways you can use conflict to express “an insight.”

1) INSIGHT: For many Asian people, food is not only a source of nutrients, but it is an essential element that constitutes their ethnic identity.
CONFLICT: Investigation

The Asian man, who lost his memory, has not eaten anything for the past few days, which worries Dr. Foreman. Russell, local sherif, tries to force him to eat but fails.

Foreman: Jesus. Don’t do that.
Russell: Sorry, Doc. I just thought that he needs more nutrients to get better.
Foreman: True, but you shouldn’t force him to eat.
Russell: Why he doesn’t eat it. (bites a potato chip) It’s not that bad.
Foreman: Maybe, it’s not taste he refuses.
Russell: Then what?

2) INSIGHT: Russell’s status quo is beginning to end.
CONFLICT: Loss

Russell takes a phone call early in the morning. After finishing the call, Russell keeps staring at the air.
Jenny (wife): What’s wrong?
Russell: It’s from Doc. The guy woke up. I gotta go.
Jenny: Okay.
Russell stands still and silent.
Jenny: Don’t you need to go?
Russell: Today’s Sunday.
Jenny: So?
Russell: I will miss Mass… I’ve never missed it for the past 30 years…

3) INSIGHT: Russell learns the diversity of Asians.
CONFLICT: Plan goes wrong

Russell and a Filipino woman are sitting in the room where the Asian man is hospitalized.

Filipino woman: I don’t think I can help you?
Russell: Excuse me?
Filipino woman: I can’t help you.
Russell: How come you know it. You don’t’ even try.
Filipino woman: ‘Cause he doesn’t look like a Filipino.
Russell: Then, what does he look like?
Filipino woman: East Asian. Chinese or Korean, maybe.
A few days later, Russell brings in a Chinese man.
Chinese man: Aw, he doesn’t look like Chinese.
Russell: What?

4) INSGHT: Russell learns that Katie is no longer a little child.
CONFLICT: Emotion issue

The Asian man goes missing from the hospital. Katie insists that she can find him on her own.

Russell: No, you should stay here.
Katie: Why? I can help you.
Russell: How? You can’t even drive. Also, it’s a little late. I don’t want to have two people missing.
Katie: Look, I’m fine.
Russell stares at his daughter for some time.
Katie: What?
Russell: What’s your problem?
Katie: ……

5) INSIGHT: Katie finds the Asian man and finds her true feeling.
CONFLICT: Struggle

Midnight. At an empty parking lot, Katie finally finds the Asian man who went missing from the hospital.

Katie: I know why you ran away from the hospital. They are going to make you a vegetable. That’s a horrible thing. I know it. I’ve watched an old movie. Aw, poor my dear…. I’ve got a good idea. I’m going with you. Then, we can live together. In a place where no one knows us. Actually, that’s a great idea. I’m only 14, but in a few years, I can legally get married….

A group of punks appear in the parking lot and approach to this odd couple.

• This reply was modified 8 months, 3 weeks ago by  Mitch Haraguchi.