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...
[simply go to http://www.screenplay-structure.com/ or http://www.story-structure.org/ or http://www.heros-journey.info/ or http://www.monomyth.info/ for full details]
*****Pulled into the Belly of the Whale*****
Pushes and Pulls are an underrated aspect of storytelling. Pushes and Pulls force the Hero et al from one stage of the journey to the next.
Inevitably, the Hero is forced (pulled or pushed) into the Belly of the Whale. In Dances with Wolves (1990), there is an Indian meeting to encourage familiarisation with the strange White Man. In Superman (1978), Clark Kent must leave the farm. In Thelma and Louise (1991), both are forced to flee from the bar after shooting Harlan.
Supernatural Aid Encouragement. If there is a Mentor involved, he (or she) will encourage the journey. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus ensures things progress along.
Time Pressure in some form will push things along. In Star Wars (1977), storm troopers hunt the 'droids. In Titanic (1997), there is an iceberg warning.
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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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