One of the most important things you can do in a scene is find the conflict. Whether it is a monologue (internal conflict) or a scene with a partner (external conflict) there is always something that is at stake for the character you are playing. Think of it this way, if there is no conflict in a scene why are you watching it? People do not want to see everyday activities, they want to see drama.
With that being said, the question of how to find the conflict arises. First off let's define what conflict is. Conflict is two opposing forces trying to get what they want at the same time. For instance, one character wants a bag of money and the other character wants the same bag. This creates dramatic tension as both the characters will try by whatever means necessary to get that bag of money! What makes the scene interesting is the conflict between the two characters and the bag of money. If they both decided to share the bag of money and went happily on their way, there would be no reason to watch. It would be absolutely and excruciatingly boring.
People watch movies and plays to be transported away from reality. They watch it because it is often times much more interesting than their everyday life. If you do not find what your character wants in the scene then you might as well not even be in it. It will be boring and unentertaining without knowing exactly what forces are opposing you and how to overcome them. However, if you know what your objective is and you know how to attain it, it will add brilliant dimensions to an otherwise dull and pointless character. Think about scenes that really stand out in film or theatre and what makes them so great. Usually it is the tension between the two characters over something very important at stake. Don't take my word for it, just watch some of the great films and the conflict that gives them life.
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