The Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188 stage template.
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.
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).
and more…
PHYSICAL SEPARATION
The steps to a stage of the Hero’s Journey can consist of a number of steps. Take the Physical Separation:
a) A Foreshadow. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Joe sees Jack and Ennis fooling around from the hilltop.
b) A Delay. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack says there’s “…nothing I can do about it down there….”
c) Resistance. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis and Jack hold fown the tent.
d) Thinking of the Return. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis says, “…Fuck Joe…oh yes, what if we need to work here again….”
e) Reasons for Remaining. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), “…you’ll run them sheep off again if you don’t quiet down….”
f) Preparation. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jake brings the tent down.
g) Momento. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack keeps the shirt.
h) Promising to Return. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack asks Ennis, “…you gonna do this again next summer…”
i) Physical Separation. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis and Jack depart.
Learn more…
WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at clickok.co.uk/ clickok.co.uk/
The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at managing-creativity.com/ managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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