journey

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.

Consider this:

Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

Shrek 2 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

Out of Africa (1985), Terms of Endearment (1983), Dances with Wolves (1990), Gladiator (2000) - All Academy Award Winners Best Film are based on the Hero’s Journey.

Anti-hero stories (Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.

Heroine’s Journey stories (Million Dollar Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.

Hero’s Journey - Rescue from Without and Time Pressure

One oft forgotten element of the Hero’s Journey is the frequent occurrence of Time Pressure to a) engage the hero once again in the challenge and b) to quickly defeat the antagonism.

Time pressure is one of the most effective tools for forcing the hero to return to the adventure: remember that s/he undergoes a period of resistance after the gaining of the Ultimate Boon.

This is most obviously evident in classic good versus evil stories, For example, in Star Wars (1977), Luke et al must quickly face the enemy as the Death Star is fast approaching. Then, there is limited time before the Death Star activates and blows the planet apart.

James Bond always has to act before the nuclear bomb times out.

But this is also common in other, more subtle stories. In Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2004) Frank contemplates whether to comply with Maggie’s request (kill her) or not. Maggie accelerates the issue (implements Time Pressure) by biting her tongue.

Learn more

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/

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