journey

[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk and our isolation and identification of more than 188 stages of the Hero’s Journey that you need to know about…]

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 are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

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) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more…

The Final Conflict

The Final Conflict is the stage of the journey between the Crossing of the Return Threshold and the Master of Two Worlds. It is where significant challenges are conquered and, amazingly, often completely overlooked.

This stage of the journey includes many important elements, including:

a) Punishment / Interdiction. Often there is a punishment / interdiction / risk of Crossing the Return Threshold or engaging with the Challenge / Enemy.

b) Allies. Often the hero will meet with allies beforehand and their relationships will be developed / the relationship challenges resolved.

c) Magical Gifts. The magical gifts / weapons that may be used against challenges / enemies will be made explicit.

d) Consequences. The consequences of not engaging will be made explicit.

e) Dissonance. A cathartic, dissonance releasing, often humorous moment will precede the battle.

f) Reiteration. Mentors will reiterate the challenges and methodology of the Final COnflict.

g) Engagement. The battle will be engaged in.

h) Celebration. A celebration will confirm the hero’s victory.

i) Challenge Resolution. One of the other challenges will be resolved postthe battle.

Learn more

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

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

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://www.clickok.co.uk/

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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…

Impossibility.

One element of the most successful stories and screenplays is that the task / transformation is or seems to be impossible (and this is made explicit in a specific sequence). In fact, it may seem downright suicidal. This is one of the elements of a Hero - an Ordinary World person could not succeed.

The “Impossibilty Sequence” may or may not be part of the “Devolved State” state sequence - where it is demonstrated how far the Hero has to go / how much a Hero is a “Fish out of Water.”

This is seen in some of the most successful stories of our time:

In Dances with Wolves (1990), John is told that going to the frontier is madness; the Indians are dangerous.

In Never Ending Story (1984), Bastian doesn’t believe the book is special and can open a door to a new world.

In The Godfather (1972), that Michael could become Don was unlikely.

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/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

Share This

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…

SITUATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL STORYTELLING

It’s important to get away from this idea that all stories are different.

On a situational level all stories are. For example, Gladiator (2000), Alien (1979) and The Godfather (1972) all are situationally very different.

But on a structural and subconscious level, they’re all the same.

And I don’t mean basic structure, like three act structure (of course stories have a beginning, middle and end). And I don’t mean plot points etc either (Plot Point 1 and 2, Midpoint etc).

I mean, sequence by sequence, the vast majority of successful stories [we haven’t found one that doesn’t] follow the same process that pushes the Hero and Major Characters through the process of Transformation and Challenge Resolution.

What this means is that you, as a writer, must confidently understand this structure (our 188+ stage Hero’s Journey), use it to establish your structural outline and then superimpose your situation over it.

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/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

Share This