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)].
THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY
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) 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...
*****The Purpose of Allies*****
Allies exist, not because the Hero needs friends, but to serve particular story functions, the most important of which is to help develop the Hero and help him (or her) through the Transformation:
Reflect the Hero's Character. In Casablanca (1942), Ferrari offers Sam a pay rise to leave Rick's Bar. He refuses.
Demonstrate that the Hero is superior from Ordinary Men. In Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Sundance is a loveably fearsome character yet is loyal to Butch.
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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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