In the most recent playwriting assignment, I have students create their own play structure (Major Dramatic Curve) for a PLAY that takes place in ONLY ONE ROOM and in ONLY ONE TIME FRAME. All of the students give me a simple nod that says, “No problem.” Then they realize that all of their story plots rely on escaping, trapping, exploring etc. In short, there brain is still driven by movie ideas. They realize they cannot image what two people in one place and at one time could do that would produce any conflict much less rising action of more than a tactic or two. Without jail bars, guns, and car chases they are stuck.
Then I bring up their family (and they hate when I do this). I ask them to remember the last time they all set down and had dinner together (hoping for a time when cell phone use was down to 90%) and ask them if they felt their mother had “an agenda” – – and if the mother did not indeed try to pursue this goal through the entire meal, dessert and beyond. Further, I ask if their mother played out tactics that did not involve bars, guns, and car chases. Thankfully, most say no.
Now they get it. Conflict and rising action fills their days. People are always wanting and always willing to play tactic after tactic to get what they want. That’s just living; that’s just plays.