From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.managing-creativity.com/
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: Shakespeare in Love (1998)
FADE IN: Context: text; the glory days of Elizabethan Theatre, two theatres compete…
Ordinary World: the theatre.
Meeting the Shape Shifter and Mentor: Fennyman tortures Henslowe.
Forced into the Journey: a play, a comedy by Shakespeare; Romeo and Ethel….
Meeting the Hero: Will Shakespeare.
Call to Adventure: as soon as I find my muse.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Shakespeare walking with Henslowe; will you lend me fifty pounds…
Developing the Hero's Inner Challenge: with the 'Doctor;' no love life.
Magical Gift: the bangle.
Foreshadow of the Trials: meeting Burbage.
Mentor's Challenge: Burbage the competition.
Misdirection: Rosalind - will you be my muse?
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the Queen watches the play.
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Viola in the audience.
Meeting the Antagonist: Wessex.
Pushed toward the Ordinary World: nurse pushes Viola toward Wessex.
Developing the Goddess: Push to a New World; Viola will have poetry in her life…and adventure…and love.
Time Pressure: Fennyman threatens Henslowe, the playhouses have been reopened; where's the play?
Correction: Rosalind in bed with Tilney; I would have made you immortal.
Pushed to the First Threshold: Henslowe scouts for actors.
Innocent: Christopher Marlowe.
Pushed to the First Threshold: Henslowe auditioning.
Foreshadow of the Journey: Viola auditions.
Resisting the Journey: Viola runs.
The Pull: Shakespeare pursues Viola in the boat.
Time Pressure: Viola's father will settle the marriage tonight.
Threshold Guardian: nurse opens the door.
Developing the Goddess: nurse dresses Viola.
Meeting the Antagonist: Wessex arrives.
Time Pressure: Viola's father arranges her marriage with Wessex.
First Threshold: at the de Lesseps house.
Warning / Foolishness: dream on, Will.
Outer Cave: Both Will and Wessex dance with Viola; Wessex threatens Will.
Middle Cave: Will appears under the balcony.
Inner Cave: Will is inspired and writing prolifically.
World of the Transformation: the new play.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Mercutio, Fennyman in the Theatre.
Push to the Physical Separation: Viola appears.
Push to the Physical Separation: Viola receives letters from Will.
Developing the Antagonist / Outer Challenge: Wessex tells Viola he is to marry her; she will like Virginia etc.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Mercutio, Burbage.
Physical Separation: Will and Viola on the boat; he finds out she is Viola de Lesseps.
Trial 1: the simultaneously developing relationship and the play.
Push to Trial 2: Wessex arrives; Viola must visit the Queen in Greenwich.
Trial 2: Viola's audience with the Queen.
Push to Trial 3: Burbage discovers the note with Rosalind.
Trial 3: Burbage battles Will.
Celebration of the passing of the Trials: in the pub; "..to the admirals men.."
Meeting the Oracle: Henslowe is drunk; "...we'll have to send you back to your wife…"
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Marlowe is dead.
Pushed to the Sword: Wessex tells Viola Will is dead.
Seizing the Sword: Viola declares her love for Will at the church; Wessex runs.
Romantic Challenge made Explicit: Viola must marry Wessex.
Near Death Experience: Will knows how the play ends; Romeo and Juliet both die.
Reward: Will gives the fully written play to Violet; they go to bed again.
Atonement with the Father: Wessex comes for Shakespeare. They fight. Outer Challenge conquered.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Tilney closes the Theatre.
Apotheosis: Viola is a woman.
Denial: I would have been good; I would have been great.
Ultimate Boon: Burbage offers his Theatre; Mentor's Challenge conquered.
Time pressure: The marriage; Viola is leaving on Wessex's waiting vessel.
Rescue from Without: Violet sees the ad for the play.
Magic Flight: Viola disappears from Wessex's carriage.
Crossing the Return Threshold: there is no Juliet; Viola knows every word.
Master of Two Worlds:
[see Final Conflict]
Hero's Inner Challenge Conquered / many of the characters' challenges conquered: the play is a success.
The Queen appears; no one is going to prison.
Freedom to Live: Will and Viola say their goodbyes. Will's next play; Romantic Challenge conquered.
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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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/
