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: Shine (1996)

Grown David

FADE IN: Context: Meeting the Hero: Adult David speaking to himself in his way.

Loop: Meeting the Hero: David let into the bar and driven home.

Referencing the Antagonist: Daddy (Peter).

Young David

Hero's Capabilities: David is going to play the piano.

Meeting the Antagonist: Peter says he will play Chopin.

Chosen by the Mentor: Rosen spots David's talent.

Hero and Antagonist relationship: he's my son.

Hero's Ordinary World: David at home with family.

Antagonist's Backstory: when I was a boy I had a violin.

Pushed to the First Threshold by the Mentor: Rosen arrives.

Call to Adventure: David could be very successful with the right music teacher.

Refusal: Herald pushed out of the house.

Elixir: Rachmaninov; the hardest piece in the world.

Foreshadow of the Journey: one day you will make me very proud; we are going to win.

Pushed to the First Threshold: David's father takes him to see Rosen.

Threshold Guardian: Rosen won't teach him Rachmaninov, but will teach what he thinks is right.

Grown David

Foreshadow of the Resolution / Hero's Ordinary World: Sylvia takes grown David into his room.

Young David

Successfully Crossing the First Threshold: David wins the prize; offered a scholarship in America.

Hero's Ordinary World: David at home again.

Resisting the Physical Separation: David's Dad has no money to send him to America.

Foreshadow of Mentor's Magical Gift: We'll raise it through a Bar Mitzwah.

Mentor pushes the Physical Separation: Rosen tries to convince David's mother.

Developing Characters and Relationships: if you want to go to America you have to be fit and strong like me.

Magical Gift: Raising the money at the Bar Mitzvah.

Developing the Antagonist: Peter at home, discussing 'these people' with his wife.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: looking at pictures of David's achievements.

Hero's Romantic Challenge: the girl in the library.

Meeting Mentor 2: Katharine.

Interdiction: Peter doesn't allow David to go to America.

Developing the Antagonism: Peter beats David.

Mentor and Antagonist Confrontation; mentor Hawk and Antagonist Interdiction: at the synagogue; Rosen bangs on the door.

Hero and Antagonist confrontation: it is a terrible thing to hate your father.

Grown David

David looking at the letter to America.

Young David

Mentor's Guidance: David plays for Katherine.

Punishment for Refusing the Journey: David loses the competition.

Mentor's Guidance: David gets a scholarship for the Royal College of Music in London.

Interdiction: "…and you think you can do as you please…"; Peter beats up David; w

ill never speak to him again if he goes.

Breaking the Interdiction: David leaves.

Goodbye to the Old World: Peter burns the pictures.

World of the Transformation: London; Royal College of Music.

Mentor spots a Hero: I see genius in him.

Meeting Mentor 3: Cecil Parkes.

Outer Cave / Mentor's Guidance / Transformation 1: Cecil guides David.

Middle Cave / Transformation 2: Meeting Allies: David's pals.

Link with the Old World / Developing Characters and Relationships: David sends tape recordings to Katherine.

Pulled into the Inner Cave: the competition; David wants to play the Rach 3.

Preparing for the Inner Cave: learning the Rach 3 under Cecil's guidance.

Severing links with the Old World: Katherine dies.

Inner Cave Reward: With Cecil in the Mausoleum.

Inner Cave: David plays the Rach 3 to a standing ovation and falls.

Returning to the Old World: Daddy I'm home; Peter puts the phone down.

Grown David

World of the Sword: Susie comes to see David in the Institution.

Foreshadow of the Sword: David is drawn to the piano.

Resistance to the Sword: the nurse drags David away.

Pushed Forward: David sits at the piano.

Guardians of the Sword: Peter meets Beryl at the piano; Beryl takes David home; Beryl can't handle David and he moves into his room.

Seizing the Sword: David at his own piano in his own room; learns to play again.

Loop: back at the bar.

David's own piano is locked.

Seizing the Sword: David enters the bar and plays the piano to applause; David becomes a local star.

Near Death Experience : Peter turns up; "..goodnight Daddy.."

Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Gillian arrives.

Goddess' Challenge: she's due to be married to an investment advisor.

Atonement with the Father: pictures of Roger writing to Cecil; watching Roger in concert.

Apotheosis: Gillian leaves; David asks Gillian to marry her; ask the stars.

Ultimate Boon: Gillian asks the stars; the marriage; the celebration; in bed.

Crossing the Return Threshold: time to go…first concert in years.

Master of Two Worlds: David gets a rapturous round of applause at his concert; Rosen, family et al are there.

Freedom to Live: Daddy dies; he doesn't feel anything.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop

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