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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: Amadeus (1983)
FADE IN: Context: screams; the antagonist's regret / Inner Challenge.
Meeting the Antagonist: Salieri.
Foreshadow of the Journey: Salieri thinking back [flashbacks].
The Ordinary World: Austria; snow Mozart's era.
Meeting the Herald: the priest.
Refusal: Salieri playing the piano; "..leave me alone..."
Call to Adventure: "...all men are equal in God's eyes..."
Antagonist's Backstory: "...you must know this...""...it was very popular in its day..."
Foreshadow of the Journey: Salieri conducting the opera [flashback].
Introducing the Hero's Capabilities: "...that was Mozart..." playing for the King as a young boy.
Pushed to the First Threshold: "...for Gods sake confess...give yourself some piece..."
Threshold Guardian: Salieri's father; "...my father did not care for music..."
Conscious decision to embark on the Journey: "...please God..."
Threshold Guardian overcome: Salieri's father dies.
First Threshold:
Outer Cave: New World; the King's court composer.
Middle Cave Threshold: the door.
Middle Cave/ Meeting Allies: meeting Amadeus and Constanze.
Romantic Challenge: "...will you marry me..."
Push to the Inner Cave: "...Mozart is not here..."
Pull to the Inner Cave: "..they've started without me..."
Inner Cave: "...that's Mozart! That giggling, dirty minded creature crawling on the floor..." Mozart playing for the Pope.
Push to the Physical Separation: "...if I don't satisfy, you can dismiss me..."
Developing the Hero and Antagonist: "...on the page it looked simple, almost childish..."
Pushed to the World of the Transformation: Pope sends Mozart to Vienna.
Meeting the Mentor, Allies and Enemies: the King and his councillors.
Physical Separation:
Developing the Antagonist: Salieri playing the piano.
Developing the Hero: Amadeus trying on wigs.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Mozart meets the King, Salieri et al.
Trial 1:
We're going to commission an opera from you...
Resistance to the Trial: an opera set in a harem in Turkey.
Polarization: Mozart toys with Salieri's tune.
Developing the Antagonist: "..why did he create the lust and then deny me the talent..."
Antagonist's Romantic Challenge: meeting Salieri's crush.
The Turkish opera is a success.
Developing Characters and Relationships: the King congratulates Mozart; "...but there are too many notes..."
Romantic Challenge: "..my landlady, she's the fiancé of Herr Mozart..."; when do you marry?
Romantic Challenge: Salieri realises that Mozart has had his girl. At that moment I knew, the creature had had my darling girl; for the first time in my life I began to have violent thoughts.
Pulled back to the Ordinary World: Amadeus' father persuades the Pope to give him one more chance.
Interdiction: take no further steps towards marriage.
Breaking the Interdiction: Mozart gets married; moves to Vienna.
Trial 2:
The King wants a musical tutor for her niece.; Salieri blocks it
"...why must I submit sample of my work just to teach a 13 year old girl.."; "..well I won't..."
Developing Characters and Relationships: Constanze brings samples of Amadeus' work to Salieri.
Developing Hero's Capabilities: Salieri looks at Mozart's work...it's miraculous; Salieri walks away.
Foreshadow of the Resolution: "...from now on we are enemies...I will ruin your incarnation..."
Trial 3:
Foreshadow of the Resolution: Papa arrives in the dark costume.
"...What is your financial situation? They say you have debts..."
Foreshadow of the Sword: "...that one will..."
Developing Characters and Relationships: Papa meets Constanze; out on the town.
Foreshadow of the Resolution: Papa's mask.
Pulled Back: "...I want you to come back to Salzburg..."
Polarization: Mozart mocks Salieri's music.
Foreshadow of the Resolution: "...that's right, mock me..."
Meeting the Oracle: Mozart working on Figaro; Lorl (the maid servant) arrives.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Mozart working on Figaro, Constanze and Papa arguing.
Ideal: Lorl visits Salieri; "...next time they're out of the house, let me know..."
Seizing the Sword: Salieri sees that Mozart is working on the 'Marriage of Figaro."
Pushed to the Near Death Experience: Salieri tells the King's counsel that he is working on Figaro.
Resisting the Near Death Experience: Mozart tries to defend himself in the King's audience.
Near Death Experience: Herr Director rips out the ballet.
Battle with the Serpent: Mozart begs Salieri for help.
Reward: the Emperor attends rehearsals; the pages are put back in.
Atonement with the Father: Figaro is marvellous; the King yawns; the audience don't like it; "...why don't they come..."
Apotheosis: Salieri's opera is exceptional with Mozart's help; "...the best opera yet written..."; Mozart congratulates Salieri.
Ultimate Boon: Mozart father dies; Mozart writes Don Giovanni; Salieri sees a way to kill Mozart.
Pushing to the Resolution: Salieri dresses up and asks Mozart to write a Requiem for the dead.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Salieri discusses how exactly to kill Mozart with the priest..
Pulled Back: Emanuel's version of Don Giovanni; commissioning it for the masses.
Pushed Forward: Foreshadow of the Magic Flight: "...I want it [the money] here in my hand..."
Refusal: Lorl doesn't want to go back.
Pushed Forward: Salieri turns up in the mask.
Pushed Forward: Constanza pushes the Requiem; here is a man with real money.
Magic Flight: Mozart gets drunk and Constanza leaves.
Rescue from Without: Salieri takes the sick Mozart back home.
Crossing the Return Threshold: Constanza feels she must come back.
Master of the Two Worlds: Mozart tells Salieri what to write.
Freedom to Live: the burial; Salieri watches himself become extinct; returns back to his room in the institution.
Learn more...
The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/CreativeWriting.html
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.
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://www.managing-creativity.com/CreativeWriting.html
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