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]
*****Physical Separation*****
The Hero makes a Physical Separation from the Belly of the Whale and to the Trials Transformation. Characteristics include:
Conscious Decision. The Hero often consciously decides to leave the Belly of the Whale. In Thelma and Louise (1991), Louise asks Thelma is she wants to go to Mexico. She says yes. In Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Lawrence has to go back into the desert to rescue the fallen Arab. In Dances with Wolves (1990), John Dunbar travels to the Indian village. In Raging Bull (1980), Jake has a baby and puts on weight.
Forced Out or Pursued Out. The Hero may be forced out. In Star Wars (1977), Luke et al blast off Mos Isley - pursued by storm troopers. In The Godfather (1972), Michael Corleone bids farewell to Sonny, Tessio, Paulie et al and leaves, out of necessity, for Sicily.
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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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