From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk/

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...

EXAMPLE: Shameless 03.07 (Frank and Sheila get married) - [Hero's Journey, basic]

FADE IN: Intro characters: now I'm not saying the Chatsworth Estate is the Garden of Eden…

Loop: Frank's stag night in the pub.

Time Pressure: two days to the wedding.

A Story: Frank wakes to find the builders in the garden; Sheila gives Frank £8k; the builders don't negotiate for half.

Inciting Incident:

B Story: Veronica's IVF failed; argues with Carol.

C Story: Debbie needs some bridesmaid dresses.

A Story: the builders want to dig the garden.

Call to Adventure:

B Story: how is Veronica going to tell Kev?

A Story: Sheila tells Frank that the ex is buried in the garden.

Refusal:

A Story: Frank tells Veronica and Kev that the ex is buried in the garden.

B Story: Veronica avoids Ken's questions.

C Story: Debbie gets a boyfriend (Brian).

Belly of the Whale:

B Story: Sheila tells Veronica she's buried gold with him.

C Story: Debbie asks Carol to steal her some dresses.

Physical Separation:

C Story: Debbie asks Brian to get some dresses.

A/B Story: Veronica convinces Frank to help her dig up the body.

Trials and Transformation:

D Story: Lip wakes up late; Mandy is annoyed that he wasn't there for him.

D Story: Lip talks to Ian about letting Mandy move in; he doesn't want to be like his dad.

C Story: Debbie rejects a dress from Brian: wrong colour.

Seizing the Sword:

A/B Story: Veronica and Frank arrange a party for Sheila.

C Story: Debbie accepts a dress from Brian; his dad works at the printers; she wants more.

A/B Story: it takes a lot to knock Sheila out.

A/B Story: Veronica digs and Frank talks; they find the gold and two skewers inside the body.

Time Pressure: one day left.

Rebirth through Death:

A/B Story: Frank freaked out in the pub; Veronica convinces him not to go to the police.

A Story: Lilian interferes and Sheila finds out that Frank has been digging.

C Story: Debbie refuses more dresses.

Reward:

D Story: Lip show

s Mandy his clean bedroom; living together won't solve their problems.

C Story: Brian negotiates a kiss on the mouth.

Atonement / Apotheosis:

B Story: Veronica finds out the gold's fake.

C Story: Brian doesn't want to kiss Debbie.

A Story: Frank hides in the bathroom; Sheila knows he knows.

B Story: Kev knows Veronica has heard from the hospital.

Ultimate Boon:

A Story: Frank wants the money; Veronica tells him it's fake; he can't stay at their place; she throws him out.

B Story: Kev finds out what Veronica's been up to and she tells him it was for another baby; it's OK.

Refusal:

A Story: Sheila wakes up find Frank missing; searches at Veronica's; Frank hides in the camper.

A Story: Veronica tries to persuade Frank but he refuses to marry a murderer.

A Story: Sheila tells Veronica why she murdered her ex; he was a monster.

Magic Flight:

A Story: Veronica tries to persuade Frank; but he runs home for some peace and quiet.

Rescue from Without:

A Story: Frank gets the joint cheque book.

Crossing the Return Threshold:

A Story: Frank nicks the boys bike and races to the police station.

Hand to Hand Battle:

A Story: Sheila confesses to the police.

Ultimate Antagonism:

A Story: Frank arrives and drags Sheila away.

Master of Two Worlds:

A Story: Frank convinces Sheila he will have a broken heart.

Freedom to Live:

A Story: Frank and Sheila get married; Lip and Mandy together; all challenges resolved.

FADE OUT / Afterlife: Frank never divorced the first wife so technically it's not legal.

Learn more…

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

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author's name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

Tell Your Friend