The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
• Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
• Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
• Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
By understanding exactly what elements make up each major stage of the Hero’s Journey, screenwriters can easily build a screenplay from the ground up.
Some elements of the Call to Adventure include:
Hero’s Back-story. When the Hero is pushed into the journey very early on, or when it is necessary, some back-story reveals necessary information.
• In Midnight Cowboy (1969), Joe Buck sets off for New York almost immediately - his inner challenges and back-story are revealed through flashbacks.
• In The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Andy Dusfresne goes to jail almost immediately - the reasons for the sentence (his wife was murdered) are quickly made explicit.
Hero’s Capabilities. Once we meet the hero, we learn of his capabilities. Often hero’s have supernatural abilities, which in the modern day translates into them being exceptional at something.
• In War of the Worlds (2005), Ray Ferrier is excellent at his job - which we know by the way he sensitively handles the load he is lifting at work.
• In Gladiator (2000), we discover that Maximus is an excellent swordsman in battle.
Hero’s Status. Defining the hero relationship to others is common:
• In Spiderman (2002), no one wants to sit next to Peter Parker on the bus.
• In Forrest Gump (1994), no one wants to sit next to Forrest on the bus.
• In Beverly Hills Cop (1984), other officers try to interact with Axel Foley - they follow him around.
Hero’s True Nature. We learn of the hero’s true nature (which if negative, may be an inner challenge).
• In Gladiator (2000), Maximus takes time to feel the tall grass.
• In War of the Worlds (2005), Ray walks away from other workmen as they ask him favours - illustrating selfishness.
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://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/