[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: We often hear that there has to be conflict in every scene. Can we break down what this really means?
Eric Conner, New York Film Academy Instructor/Podcaster/Writer/Filmmaker: I think the idea of conflict in every scene it’s like Well where does the scene go? That’s part of it right. Does the scene arc? If it’s just information, information can be pretty dull.
Then it’s like Okay, well then where’s the conflict in the information? Maybe the information creates the conflict. A character realizes he just got a huge inheritance but the problem is now other people nearby are going to want that money, so now all the sudden that scene has conflict in it. I think like conflict means it has some energy to it.
Conflict by the way is every genre, horror/comedy. I mean think of comedy is conflict because comedy is always about wrong turns, problems right. Drama is that too.
I think yeah, without conflict you run that risk I say like That’s a flatline. If your EKG shows that, that’s not good. If your script shows that, also maybe not the best thing.
There’s a great moment, I’m going to old school again, I am so sorry. I swear I’ve seen recent films but The Natural about an older baseball player, also Robert Redford, director of Quiz Show. There’s this great moment I love that it’s just the team is winning. We have this nice little moment that I think you could argue doesn’t have much conflict in it, where it’s just them practicing but they’re happy and they have changed their attitude. Even though this moment doesn’t necessarily have much conflict in it, it does show a change of the character of the team. Even without conflict it does have an arc, it’s part of the arc of the team’s character.
Then it also has an important moment where for the first time they watch Roy Hobbs played by Robert Redford pitch and you realize he is a natural born pitcher but you also see it hurts him when he pitches because…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
About:
Eric Conner has taught hundreds of aspiring storytellers at the New York Film Academy (LA), the Writer’s Store, the Animation Guild and Starcoach – China. At NYFA, he’s interviewed dozens of entertainment professionals including Django Unchained producer Reginald Hudlin and John Wick director Chad Stahelski and wrote/hosted the podcast The Backlot.
He recently produced the feature length documentary Other Voices (Aswat Acherim), available on Amazon. His work has also been featured on the Howard Stern Show, On Demand Cable, Entertainment Tonight and Ranker.com. Eric has been a Burbank Cultural Arts Commissioner since being appointed by the City Council in 2019 and recently joined the board of the Burbank International Film Festival.
As a writer he’s adapted projects based on Knott’s Scary Farm and the NY Times bestseller Vampire Kisses. You may have seen Eric appear regularly on the Geekscape podcast, perform as plant victim Mr. Mushnik in Conundrum’s Little Shop of Horrors or share his true tale of being a woefully underprepared Santa Claus at JAM Creative’s Jingle Tales. He’s also worked with HollyShorts for several years as a film judge and moderated multiple panels / Q&As at their annual festival.
A rare native Delawarean, Eric lives in Burbank with his wife Lauren, sons Alex & Judah and their chaotic canines Fezzik and Iggy Pup.
CONNECT WITH ERIC CONNER
About New York Film Academy:
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA’s global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
Nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
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