The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero’s Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
Inner, Outer and Romantic Challenges
In successful stories, the hero has three challenges (inner, outer and romantic). The process of resolving these challenges and the point of resolution is nearly always the same:
Romantic Challenge: Often resolved first and is the reward given for Seizing the Sword and completing the Rebirth Through Death (Meeting with the Goddess and Woman as Temptress stages). In Dances with Wolves (Academy Award Winner Best Film 1990), John Dunbar marries Stands with a Fist AFTER retrieving the guns from Fort Hayes and battling the Pawnee.
Inner Challenge: Often confronted at the Atonement with the Father stage and resolved in the Apotheosis stage. In Dances with Wolves (Academy Award Winner Best Film 1990), John Dunbar (having conquered his romantic challenge) confronts Kicking Bird with the truth about the White Man – that they will come and they will be “as many as the stars.” In Raging Bull (1980), this is where Jake confronts Joey and finds out that Vickie has been sleeping will the whole neighbourhood.
Outer Challenge: Often confronted and resolved at the Master of the Two Worlds stage. In The Matrix (1999), this is where Neo confronts Agent Smith and wins. It is important to note that there are multiple catharses in the resolution of the outer challenge – clearly seen in the Bond franchise, where the hero confronts the antagonist, the lieutenants and more.
The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/
