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: X-Men (2000)

FADE IN: Context: every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward (narration).

Antagonist's Backstory: Magneto as a young Jewish child, pulls the fence open, trying to prevent his mother from the gas chamber.

Introduce the Sword [as Ally]; Capabilities and Inner Challenge: things happen when Rogue touches people.

Intro Hero's Romantic Challenge: Jean Grey talks about the new stage of evolution.

Intro Shape Shifter: Senator Kelly.

Polarization between antagonists and protagonists: Senator Kelly argues with Jean Grey.

Meeting the Mentor: Xavier overlooks the debate.

Meeting Antagonist: Xavier in the crowd.

Polarization between antagonists and protagonists: Xavier tries to convince Magneto to give humans a chance.

Meeting the Hero and his Capabilities: Wolverine winning in the cage.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the conference at Ellis Island on the TV.

Hero meets the Sword: Wolverine sees Rogue in the bar.

Pushed into the Journey: "get outta my bar..;" the fight in the bar.

Refusal of the Call: Wolverine doesn't want to give Rogue a ride.

Overcoming the Refusal: Wolverine thinks again.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Wolverine and Rogue in the car.

Referencing the Hero's Inner Challenge: the army tag.

Developing Hero's Capabilities: Wolverine thrown out of the car; he heals quickly.

Pulled into the First Threshold: Sabretooth attacks; rescued by Storm and Cyclops.

Developing the Antagonism: Sabretooth reports to Magneto. Magneto's Capabilities: he can manipulate metal.

Hero and his Romantic Challenge: Jean Grey touches Wolverine.

Resisting the First Threshold: Wolverine doesn't know where he is, he tries to flee.

New World of the First Threshold: Wolverine unfamiliar with his surroundings; sees the X-Men uniforms.

Guided by the Mentor: Xavier mentally speaks to Wolverine.

Meeting Allies: Xavier introduces Storm and Cyclops.

Resisting the First Threshold: "get out of my way, Cyclops."

Pulled into the First Threshold by the Mentor: Xavier mentally speaking to Wolverine.

The World of the First Threshold: "what is this place?"; the X-Men school.

Backstory of the Antagonist: Xavier references Magneto's past.

Time Pressure: give me 48 hrs…

Developing the Shape Shifter: Senator Kelly is kidnapped.

Developing the Hero and his Romantic Challenge: Jean Grey x-rays Wolverine.

Developing the Hero's Capabilities: Wolverine has an indestructible alloy fused to his skeleton.

Developing the Antagonism [Inner Cave]: Magneto metamorphosis Senator Kelly into a mutant.

Developing the Hero's Romantic Challenge, Inner Challenge and Romantic Competitor: Jean reads Wolver

ine's mind when Scott turns up.

Developing the Hero's Inner Challenge: Wolverine dreams about his operation.

Developing Hero's and Ally's Capabilities: Wolverine stabs Rogue, who absorbs his gift for healing.

Developing the Shape Shifter: the Senator becomes a jellyfish.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the Ellis Island conference on TV.

Pushed to the Physical Separation: Mystique convinces Rogue to leave the school.

Mentor provides Magical Gift; Hero in the Inner Cave: Xavier introduces Wolverine to Cerebro.

Resisting the Physical Separation: Xavier thinks it is too dangerous for Wolverine to go.

Physical Separation: Wolverine takes Cyclop's bike.

Developing the Antagonism: Mystique modifies Cerebro.

Confronting Inner Challenges: Wolverine talks to Rogue in the train.

Trial 1: the attack in the train station.

Trial 2: Magneto versus the police.

Trial 3: Magneto versus Xavier.

Meeting the Oracle: Xavier reads Senator Kelly's mind to find out what they want with Rogue.

Shape Shifter's Reward: Senator Kelly melts away.

Resisting the Journey to the Sword: Cyclops doesn't think Wolverine is fit for the uniform.

Obstacle to the Sword: Cerebro knocks out Xavier.

Pulled toward the Sword: Jean Grey knows where Magneto is going.

Developing the World of the Sword: Magneto prepares Rogue for the sacrifice; Wolverine et al overview the map of the conference.

Journey to the Sword: Wolverine et al on the jet.

Threshold Guardian: Mystique and Toad block the way.

Time pressure to the Sword: Sabretooth blocks the way and Magneto begins using Rogue's power.

Seizing the Sword: Wolverine rescues Rogue.

Marker of Change: Rogue has white stripes in her hair.

Near Death Experience: Wolverine sacrifices himself to save Rogue; his wounds open.

Reward: Xavier recovers; Wolverine recovers; Wolverine kisses Jean.

Atonement with the Father: Xavier tells Wolverine about his past.

Apotheosis: Senator Kelly rescinds the Act; it's Mystique.

Refusal: Rogue doesn't want Wolverine to go.

Ultimate Boon: Wolverine will be back for his tag.

Magic Flight: Wolverine of the bike.

Master of the Two Worlds: Xavier comes to see the imprisoned Magneto.

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, MBA

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