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]
*****No Mans Land*****
The Hero has not yet completed his Journey and Transformation - there is still the Greater Antagonism to conquer. This is a final pit stop and may even be a complete return to the Township.
Familiarity. This domain is often a familiar place on some level, but not quite home.
Safe Haven. This domain is a safe haven, for a while at least.
Rest. In this domain, the Hero may be allowed to rest temporarily.
Significant New Self. A complete new wardrobe, behaviour, body language, symbolisms, attitudes, beliefs etc represent a significant change.
Change. Others comment on (make explicit) the Hero's change. Often, change is made explicit relative to another - often the Hero has surpassed a Peer Brother.
Different form Ordinary Men. The Hero is not like anyone else here.
This is a place for worrying about greater things. In Spiderman (2002) Peter is more worried about his aunt in hospital.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Go to http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html for more info on the 188+ stage Hero's Journey....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------