Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.
[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].
<b>THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY</b>
<b>THE HERO'S JOURNEY:</b>
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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).
d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.
and more...
*****Herald's Journey*****
The Herald is the bringer of the Call to Adventure or better, The Call to Transformation. But his (or hers) can be a minor story in itself. The Herald often demonstrates certain characteristics, including:
Sent by the Township. In Armageddon (1998), Nasa sends the special agents to bring back Bruce Willis.
Time Pressure. The Herald is usually under extreme Time Pressure to bring the Call to Adventure to the Hero. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Mrs Irwin is rushing home. In Armageddon (1998), there is only so much time before the meteor strikes.
Pursued. The Heralds are often pursued. In Star Wars (1977), the 'droids are followed by stormtroopers.
Multiples and Death en route. It is not unusual for the Heralds to travel in pairs or groups. In Troy (2004), many riders seek him. Often this demonstrates the urgency and danger of the Journey, as not all Heralds survive.
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Go to http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html for more info on the 188+ stage Hero's Journey....
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