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]
*****Refusal*****
The Inner, Outer and Romantic Challenges have been conquered. All that remains is the Greater Antagonism. Characteristics of this stage include:
This is essentially a refusal or inability to engage with the Greater Antagonism at this time and results in a Magic Flight (next section) away.
Depending on the story, refusal and disgust is encountered on some level:
Disgust with the New or Old Self: In Y tu mamá también (2001), the boys throw up after having slept together.
Refusal to leave something valuable behind: In Raging Bull (1980), Vickie attempts to leave but Jake refuses to let her go.
Refusal to Return: In Star Wars (1977), Han categorically states that he will not return to the Death Star.
Refusal to Return the Boon: In Jason and the Argonauts (1963), Jason flees with the Boon (the Fleece).
Refusal Feigned: In Get Carter (1971, the superior version with Michael Caine), Carter pretends he does not want to hurt Kinnear.
Refusal to Toe the Line: In Walk the Line (2005), Johnny dives into booze and drugs.
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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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