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...
*****Antagonist's True Nature*****
The Antagonist, who ultimately is not unlike the Hero, reveals himself. In the Bond Franchise, this is often where the villain reflects on his motivations.
Mirror Image. It often turns out that the Antagonist is known to the Hero; is a shadow or mirror of him or similar. In Spiderman (2002), the Green Goblin reveals himself to Peter Parker - he is Harry's father. In Return of the Jedi (1983), Vader takes off his mask to reveal his true self to Luke. In Scooby Doo, we always knew the Antagonist was amongst us.
Deceit. But the Antagonist (normally) is naturally evil and intends on certainly vanquishing the Hero. He (or she) commits a deceit that will result in the Hero's death (or wrestle control from him). In Spiderman (2002), the Green Goblin deceives Peter and plans the final kill.
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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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