From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at http://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: Shrek (2001)
FADE IN: context / foreshadow of the Journey: open book; once upon a time there was a lovely princess....
Meeting the Hero in his Ordinary World: Shrek in the swamp.
Hero's capabilities, status, reputation: "this is the part where you run away."
Meeting the Loyal Ally and his character: the Donkey.
Loyal Ally's Inner Challenge: "I don't have any friends."
Foreshadow of the Journey / Hero's True Nature: Shrek saves Donkey ; the soldiers run.
Hero and Loyal Ally relationship: Shrek wants Donkey to go away.
Hero's Inner Challenge: "I'm an Ogre, doesn't that bother you?"
Developing Hero's Inner Challenge: having dinner alone.
Call to Adventure: Fairy Tale creatures forced to seek protection from Shrek in the swamp.
Journey to the First Threshold: Shrek and Donkey go to see Lord Farquaad.
Meeting the Antagonist, important characteristics, nature: meeting Lord Farquaad; short; evil; torturing the gingerbread man.
The Antagonist's Challenge: to become a real king.
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: the mirror tells us that Princess Fiona is locked up in a castle.
Antagonist's Ordinary World / viewing the First Threshold form a distance / reminder of Antagonist's characteristics: the castle; "do you think he's compensating for something?"
Threshold Guardian: the guard runs away and the turnstiles.
Observing the World of the First Threshold: "it's quiet.."
Rules given by an Authority Figure: the puppets in the information desk repeat the rules.
Inner Cave: Shrek battles the Knights.
Forced into the Physical Separation: Shrek gets his swamp back if he brings back the princess.
Physical Separation: crossing the sunflower field.
Developing Hero and Loyal Ally relationship / Foreshadow of the Transformation: onions have layers.
Entering the World of the Trials: crossing various landscapes.
Viewing the World of the Trials from afar: Shrek and Donkey look over the top of the mountain.
Foreboding: Donkey is afraid.
Warning: the skeleton.
Dangerous crossing: the rickety old bridge; lava lake.
Resistance to the Crossing: Donkey doesn't want to go further.
Pushed into the Road of Trials: Shrek forces Donkey across.
Geography: Donkey finds the stairs and Shrek finds out where the Princess is.
Trial 1: battling the dragon; Donkey flirts with the dragon.
Trial 2: Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Shrek grabs Fiona; their relationship developed.
Trial 3: Escaping the dragon.
Meeting the Oracle: Fiona wants a kiss to fulfil the fairytale prophecy.
Resisting Seizing the Sword: Shrek won't take off his helmet.
Forced toward the Sword: Fiona tells Shrek to take his helmet off.
Resisting the Journey to the Sword: Shrek carries off an indignant Fiona.
Foreshadow of the Atonement: referencing Farquaad.
Foreshadow of the Romantic Challenge's Inner Challenge: Fiona afraid that the sun will go down.
Seizing the Sword: Shrek reveals why he wants to be alone by the fire: "everybody things I'm just a big ugly ogre."
Reward: Fiona makes breakfast.
Near Death Experience: Robin Hood battle; Shrek has an arrow in his butt.
Foreshadow of the Atonement: "if you wanted to be alone, all you had to do was ask.."
Reward: Attachment: candy floss and balloons.
Resisting the Return: "Donkey must be sick..."
Atonement with the Father: Fiona and Shrek fall for each other; Shrek cooks weed rat by the fire.
Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: "she's a Princess and I'm an ogre."
Apotheosis: Donkey finds Fiona; she's an ogre by night.
Ultimate Boon: Shrek brings Fiona a sunflower.
Refusal: Shrek mishears Fiona; Donkey promises not to tell; "I tell him, I tell him not..."
Time Pressure: Fiona wants to get married today.
Magic Flight: Shrek calls Farquaad and goes home; pursued by rejected Donkey.
Rescue from Without: Donkey comes back and tells Shrek that Fiona wasn't talking about him.
Crossing the Return Threshold: flying back on the dragon.
Time Pressure: "can e quickly get to the 'I do's."
Resistance: Donkey convinces Shrek to wait until sundown.
Pushed Forward: Shrek impatient.
Master of the Two Worlds:
Antagonist reveals himself: Farquaad only want to marry you to be king.
Romantic Challenge reveals herself: Fiona turns into an ogre.
Hero and Antagonist battle: the dragon eats Farquaad.
Freedom to Live: Shrek conquers his Inner and Romantic Challenge: "I love you;" love's true from; Donkey and the Dragon together.
Celebration and Ceremony: the marriage.
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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