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: English Patient (1996)

FADE IN: Context: the diary; the shadow of a small aircraft over the desert sand.

Introduce Hero's Romantic Challenge: Katharine in the aircraft.

Context: During the war; aircraft shot at by Germans.

Hero's Inciting Incident: the aircraft burns up.

Introduce Heroine in her Ordinary World and Capabilities: Hana, "…you're so beautiful nurse…"

Introduce Hero: the burnt Laszlo.

Forced on a Journey: Laszlo found and taken by the Bedouins.

Heroine's Inciting Incident: Hana finds out the captain is dead.

Preparing for the Journey: the Bedouins put ointment on Laszlo.

Call to Adventure: Laszlo can't remember a thing; interrogated to find out of he is a German.

Hero meets the Heroine: Hana gives Laszlo a sip of water.

Journey to the First Threshold: part of the truck convoy

Develop Heroine's Inner Challenge: Hana's friend dies; the mine explodes her jeep.

Resisting the Inner Challenge: Hana is pushed back form the Jeep.

Meeting the Heroine's Romantic Challenge: Kip looking for more mines.

Magical Gift: Jen's Jewellery.

Heroine's Inner Challenge made explicit: "…I must be cursed; anybody who gets close to me gets hurt…."

First Threshold from afar: Han sees the building.

Warning of the First Threshold: it is not safe here; there are Germans and bandits all over, I can't allow it…

Goodbye to the Old Self: Hana says goodbye to friends.

First Threshold: Hana and Laszlo in the building.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Hana and Laszlo talk; she's found some books; it's a very plum plum.

Washing off the Old Self: Hana showers.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Laszlo drops the diary.

[Meeting the] Hero and his Capabilities: Laszlo talks Arabic.

Foreshadow of the Final Confrontation: "…a mountain the shape of a woman's back…."

Hero meets his Romantic Challenge: Kathy arrives.

Developing Characters and Relationships: A thing is still a thing; romantic love, plutonic love etc…

Developing Characters and Relationships: Hana has to move Laszlo.

Developing Characters and Relationships: by the campfire.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Hana reads the book; Kathy tells the 'Kill the King' story.

Warning of the Physical Separation: the crows eat the seeds.

Meeting the Shape Shifter: David Caravaggio arrives.

Conflict with the Shape Shifter: Hana doesn't really want him to stay.

Physical Separation: David walks into Laszlo's room; "…that name mean anything to you…"

Transformation / Trial 1 [passive]:

Resisting the Transformation: Kathy walks away from Laszlo at the market. Symbol of Transformation: "..you should bargain…"

Pushing toward the Transformation: Kathy waiting outside in the white dress.

Pushing toward the Transformation: : "…following me is a bit….predatory isn't it…."

Developing Characters and Relationships: Hana and Laszlo; will you get off my chest.

Heroine frustrated [seeking a transformation]: Hana crying.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Hana and David; I'm one of his ghosts and he wouldn't even know it.

Pushed to Trial 2: I don't think he's forgotten anything, I don't think he wants to forget…

Pushed to Trial 2: Geoffrey Clifton has to leave.

Resisting the Transformation: Laszlo asks Geoffrey Clifton whether it is wise for him to leave his wife alone.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Hana playing the piano; David with the syringe.

Developing the Romantic Challenge [Heroine]: Kip turns up and saves her from the mine under the piano.

Developing the Romantic Challenge [Heroine]: "..I'll marry him…"

Developing Characters and Relationships: Hana washes Laszlo.

Journey to Trial 2: Kathy and Laszlo in the truck.

Developing the World of the Trial: the men praying.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Laszlo finds the cave.

Loop to Opening: Kathy painting the men on the cave.

Foreshadow of the Trial: Maddox touches the Arab boy on the face.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Laszl

o calls Maddox a friend.

Transformation / Trial 2 [dramatic]:

The truck falls.

Resisting the Trial: Kathy in the truck, ready to go back.

Pulled to the Trial: the truck is too heavy; Kathy stays behind.

Resisting the Transformation: Kathy wants to give Laszlo the paintings; he refuses them.

Pulled In: the sandstorm; Laszlo caresses Kathy's hair.

Pulled Back: Maddox almost finds them.

Consciously accepting the Transformation: "would you paste your paintings into my book…, I should be honoured…"

Katherine finds Laszlow's notes about her.

Pushing Forward: Kathy tells Laszlow that her husband is a spy; he won't be back anytime soon; Laszlow touches her face.

Developing Characters and Relationships / Heroine's Romantic Challenge: Laszlow, Hana and Kip; "…you like him don't you…"

Pulled Back: Mrs Clifton, I believe you still have my book.

Trial 3 [proactive]:

Kathy appears in Laszlo's bedroom in the white dress.

Sewing.

Sharing the bath.

Symbol of Transformation: "..I'm against ownership…"

Meeting the Oracle: Hana finds the note about K in Laszlow's diary.

Journey to the Sword: "…say you're sick…""…I can still taste you…"

Seizing the Sword: Laszlow and Kathy have sex in the other room.

Rebirth through Death Experience: Geoffrey Clifton appears; "…have you seen Kathy…"

Developing the Shape Shifter: "..does Moose mean anything…?"; David used to work with Geoffrey; "…paper anniversary…"

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Geoffrey Clifton sees Kathy leave.

Transformed: Laszlo and Kathy in bed; he wants to own a piece of her; "…I thought we were against ownership…"

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Geoffrey Clifton waiting for Kathy in the cab.

Transformed: Laszlo doesn't bargain in the market.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Geoffrey Clifton sees Kathy arrive back the next morning.

Developing Characters and Relationships: David puts on the music.

Reward: Hana sees Kip bathing his hair and gives him some oil.

Foreshadow of the Atonement with the Father: "…what's under your mittens?"

Atonement: David's story; the Germans want Laszlo's maps.

Apotheosis: "..I can't do this anymore…"

Ultimate Boon: Laszlo wants to own Kathy; Hana follows the candles down; Kip takes Hana flying to see the paintings in the church.

Developing Heroine and her Romantic Challenge: Hana and Kip in bed; "…would you look for me…"

Refusal: Hana doesn't want Kip to go and seek out the bomb.

Magic Flight: Hana runs after Kip on her bike.

Inner Challenge Conquered: Kip survives the bomb.

Celebration: It's raining.

Rescue from Without:: Hardy dies.

Refusal: Kip won't come out of the barn.

Refusal: "…Laszlo was never a spy…"

David forces Laszlo to reveal the truth.

Crossing the Return Threshold:

Laszlo says goodbye to Maddox.

Geoffrey crashes the aircraft with Kathy in it.

Laszlo leaves Kathy in the cave.

Laszlo walks back.

Master of the Two Worlds:

Laszlo trades the maps for the aircraft.

Kip packs up the tent.

Laszlo finds Kathy and lies next to her.

Foreshadow of the Freedom to Live: "..am I still here…"

Freedom to Live:

"…I'll always go back to that church..so one day we'll meet…"; Kip leaves.

Laszlow wants all the morphine; he wants to be read to sleep.

Laszlo lifting Kathy's body from the cave.

Hana leaves the building - her Inner Challenge Conquered.

David makes friends with a local girl - his Inner Challenge Conquered.

Loop: Flying back; link to the opening sequence.

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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