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 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…

Shape Shifter

One critical element of most stories is the presence of a Shape Shifter. This is an archetype that turns from good to bad or vice versa. This is seen in many of the most successful stories of our time:

a) In The Matrix (1999), Cypher gives away Neo to Smith for the blessing of ignorance.

b) In Gladiator (2000), Lucilla switches from pro-Commodus to pro-Maximus.

c) In Departed (2006), Dignam is initially contemptuous of Billy and a good cop, only to illegally shoot COlin in the closing sequence.

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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