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]
HERO'S JOURNEY TIP OF THE DAY: HERO'S VALUE RECOGNISED
The least glamorous aspects of the Hero's Journey and Transformation turn out to be where the some of the greatest value lies. Take, for example, the general stage of the Rescue From Without. There is a very distinct process that the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters use to bring the Hero back into the "battle."
One aspect of this micro process is the moment where the Hero's Value is recognised.
In Erin Brockovich (2000), Ed Masry and Kirk Potter realise that they're messing the case up and that they need Erin.
In The King and I (1956), Lady Thiang tells Anna that the King needs her.
In The Quiet Man (1952), Mary Kate recognises Sean's place in the house.
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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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