From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters 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...

Sample Movie Deconstructed: Platoon (1986)

FADE IN: text: "rejoice O enjoy young man in thy youth..."

Introduce Hero arriving in a New World: the body bags; "alright cheesedicks, welcome to the nam...;" "the faces of the returning soldiers..."

Overview of the New World: the jungle near the Cambodian border.

Pushed Forward: "hurry up..."

Warnings: "what are you afraid of?"

Meeting the Antagonism: Barnes: "you are one sorry sonofabitch Taylor,"

Meeting the Mentor:: Elias: "you're humpin' too much stuff, I'll hump it for ya but next time, ask me first."

Meeting Allies, Developing Characters and Relationships: the men during rest break...

Developing the Hero / Reflecting on the New World: Taylor: "I hate it here..."

Hero's Status: he's a new guy and nobody cares about the new guys.

Danger of the Journey: "if you're gonna get killed n the 'nam, it's better to get it in the first few weeks..."

Meeting the Shape Shifter: O'Neill.

Pushed to the First Threshold / Developing Characters and Relationships: Barnes decides who will go out.

Guided by the Mentor: Elias takes care of Taylor.

Journey to the First Threshold: dark, wet, foreboding, dangerous.

Hero's Backstory: Taylor narrates about his Mom, Pop, Gran, the men etc..

Physical Deformation on entering the First Threshold / beginning of the Transformation / Resurrection: Taylor is hit.

Developing the Antagonist: "take the pain," Barnes kills a defenceless enemy.

Polarization: Barnes et al versus Taylor and Elias et al.

Polarization: O'Neil puts Taylor et al on toilet duty.

Meeting Allies / Developing Characters and Relationships: Taylor volunteered; smoking...etc.

Inner Cave [protagonists]: entering The Underworld and smoking marijuana.

Developing the Mentor's familiarity with the Inner Cave: Elias shares smoke through the rifle barrel.

Inner Cave [antagonists]: Barnes' barracks.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Barnes, O'Neill, the Lieutenant etc.

Rest Break: music in the protagonist's Inner Cave.

Resistance to the Physical Separation: the bunker complex; "lets get outta here.."

Pushed to the Physical Separation: the bunker explodes; men dies.

Foreshadow of the Atonement Barnes stares Taylor down.

Pushed to the Physical Separation: a man is strung up.

Physical Separation: the village sequence; Taylor makes an innocent dance; killing the innocents; Elias and Barnes fight; they torch the village.

Trial 1: saving the girl from the gang rape; taking sides.

Polarization: Elias reports the illegal killing; the men take sides.

Foreshadow of the Sword: thinking about killing Elias.

Hero and Mentor Relationship: Taylor and Elias talk about the stars; losing the war.

Developing the Hero and the Situation: Taylor narrates; the civil war amongst the men.

Danger of the Journey: the leech, "don't drink that asshole, you're going to get Malaria..."

Danger of Trial 2 developed: the fire fight; the bombs.

Meeting the Oracle and the Knowledge of the Sword: Elias needs three men to circle around.

Trial 2: Taylor risks his won life to rescue Gator.

Antagonist developed: Barnes admonishes the Lieutenant.

Journey to the Sword: Elias goes down by the river.

Trial 3: Taylor "gets two of them fuckers..."

Journey to the Sword: "I'll go get Elias..."

Threshold Guardians of the Sword: Elian Elias shoots the enemy as he glides through the jungle.

Resisting the Sword: Taylor runs after Barnes and Elias.

Seizing the Sword: Barnes shoots Elias.

Night Sea Journey: they are getting out with the helicopters.

Rebirth through Death: Elias Elias is alive; pursued by the enemy; dies.

Foreshadow of the Atonement (+growth): this time Barnes looks away.

Atonement with the Father: Developing the threat: "Barnes has been shot 7 times and he ain't dead yet..." Barnes enters The Underworld; Taylor and Barnes fight; Barnes pulls a knife..."I shit on all of you..."

Apotheosis: "people like Elias get wasted and people like Barnes make up the rules...what can we do about it."

Ultimate Boon: King is going home.

Developing the Antagonist: Barnes makes the soldier walk.

Refusal of the Return / Shape Shifter Decides: Barnes won't let Red stay out of this one.

Magic Flight: King flies away.

Rescue from Without: the ambush starts.

Crossing the Return Threshold: Taylor decided not to DD; Taylor takes control; saves his partner from the hole; kills the enemy.

Final Antagonism: Barnes almost kills Taylor.

Master of the Two Worlds: Taylor survives and kills Barnes.

Freedom to Live: Taylor goes to hospital; Red gets 2 nd platoon.

FADE OUT: Taylor in the helicopter.

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

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

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.