From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters....

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero's Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more...

Sample Movie Deconstructed: Jurassic Park (1993)

FADE IN: context: the raptor eats a man.

Backstory: the law suit; the amber.

Introduce Heroes and their capabilities: Alan and Ellie are lead archaeologists.

References to the Antagonism: Alan references the raptors; how dangerous they are…."show them a bit of respect…"

Heroes Inner Challenge: "kids, you want to have one of those…!" Alan doesn't want kids but Ellie does.

Meeting the Supernatural Aid: John Hammond arrives.

Call to Adventure: "come to my park for a weekend…."

Refusal: "we're very busy, we've just dug up a…."

Pulled to the First Threshold: "I can compensate you by fully funding your research for a further three years…"

Meeting Enemies / the Shape Shifter / Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: the Dodgson arranges for embryos to be taken out of the park.

Journey to the First Threshold: on the helicopter.

Meeting Allies: Ian Malcolm.

Ally's Capabilities: Ian is a Chaos Mathematician.

View of the World of the First Threshold from a distance: "there it is…;" view of the park from the helicopter.

Danger on entry: the fast drop.

Developing Characters: how they buckle up.

Unique World of the First Threshold: the waterfall; the huge drop.

Physical Marker of entry: the gate.

Threshold Guardian: the gate.

Warning of Entry into the First Threshold: danger, 10,000 volts; "is everything safe…"

Time Pressure: "in 48 hours, I'll shut you down…"

Meeting the Magical Creatures of the First Threshold: Alan, Ellie et al see the dinosaurs.

Backstory: Hammond tells them how it's done….blood…cloning…DNA…Amber…

Foreboding of the Journey: "life cannot be contained; life finds a way…;""you bred Raptors!"

Threat of the Antagonism: the dinosaur eats the cow; contained within an electric fence; they show intelligent behaviour.

Developing characters and relationships: Hammond et al all having dinner.

Resistance to the Physical Separation: Malcolm thinks it's too dangerous; Ellie is worried how they will be controlled.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: the kids arrive.

Developing the Inner Challenge: Tim follows Alan around.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: the storm is approaching.

Threshold of the World of the Transformation: the gate into Jurassic Park.

Developing the Shape Shifter: Dennis has financial problems.

Foreboding: "God kills dinosaurs, Man kills God, Man makes dinosaurs, dinosaurs kill Man…""can't just suppress 65m years of gut instinct."

Developing characters and relationships: Malcolm and Ellie in the car.

Inner Challenge: Tim still followin

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: they have to stop the tour.

Time Pressure: the storm approaches.

Pushing toward the Physical Separation: Dennis prepares to take flight.

Developing characters and relationships: Malcolm and Alan in the car; "I'm always on the lookout for a future Mrs Malcolm."

Physical Separation: Dennis runs; the power is turned off.

Trial 1: Tyrannosaurus Rex attacks; Alan saves the kids.

Journey to Trial 2: "be good enough to bring back my grand kids…"

Shape Shifter's Reward: Dennis is eaten.

Trial 2: Alan saves Tim.

Trial 3: The T-Rex chases Allie, Ian et al in the jeep.

Inner Challenge conquered: Alan comfortable with the kids in the tree; "what will you do now…?""I guess we'll have to evolve…"

Challenges confronted: Hammond and Ellie talking around the dinner table.

Comedic Element: the bronto sneezes.

Developing the Antagonism: Alan finds the eggs; they're breeding.

Foreshadow of the Sword: they rebooted and now they have to go and manually turn on the breakers.

Developing the Antagonism: the T-Rex and other dinosaurs are roaming free.

Meeting the Oracle: looking at the architectural drawings; they have to manually turn on the power.

Danger to the Sword: all the gates are open.

Threshold Guardian: the raptors are hunting Ellie and the gamekeeper.

Time Pressure: Ellie being guided to the power generator; Alan and the kids climbing the fence.

Near Death Experience: Ellie pursued by the Raptor; the gamekeeper eaten by a Raptor.

Reward: Timmy is alive; Alan and Ellie meet again.

Atonement with the Father: the kids are hunted by the Raptors in the kitchen.

Apotheosis: the Raptors are intelligent enough to open doors.

Ultimate Boon: Lex gets the system back online.

Refusal: the Raptors break through the glass; Hammond shouts "No!"

Magic Flight: Alan, Ellie and the kids run from the Raptors.

Rescue from Without: the T-Rex turns up and eats the Raptors.

Crossing the Return Threshold: they're not going to endorse the park.

Master of the Two Worlds: Hammond looks over his World.

Freedom to Live: Alan agrees to have kids.

FADE OUT:

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

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Kal Bishop

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