journey

The Hero’s Journey 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.

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 catharsis).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story.

and more…

Belly of the Whale

What is the Belly of the Whale?

The Hero’s Journey (Monomyth) must be analysed on at least two levels, the physical and the psychological - the physical journey stimulates a psychological Trasnformation.

From this perspective, the Belly of the Whale is a number of things:

Physically this place is often dark and contained - representative of the constraints the Hero is under; s/he has not yet undergone the Transformation. For example, in the Godfather (1972), Michael Corleone must face Sollozo and Capt. Mcluskey in the confines of the restaurant.

Psychologically, this is the place where the Hero confronts what he must face / what he must become / what he must do. It is intertwined with one or more of every good Hero’s Four Core Challenges. For example, in the Godfather (1972), Michael Corleone must shoot Sollozo and Capt. Mcluskey in the restaurant (and begin the journey toward his Transformation - a mafioso and recognised member of The Family).

Learn more

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

Managing Creativity and Innovation and related techniques and tools can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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