Kal Bashir's 188 stage 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.
[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, Bioelectric impedance from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocalypse Now (1979)].
THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY
THE 188 STAGE 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).
d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.
(simply go to rel=nofollow http://www.heros-journey.info/ for the complete 188 stage Hero's Journey)
ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:
*****Ordinary Self*****
There are certain aspects of the Hero's Ordinary Self that are commonly made explicit, including:
Innate Capabilities. Once we meet the Hero, we learn of his or her capabilities. Often Hero's have supernatural abilities, which in the modern day translates into them being exceptional at something. In War of the Worlds (2005), Ray Ferrier is excellent at his job - which we know by the way he sensitively handles the load he is lifting at work. In Gladiator (2000), we discover that Maximus is an excellent swordsman in battle.
Challenge Feasibility. One purpose of demonstrating the Hero's Capabilities (above) is to demonstrate that the challenges he (or she) will face are surmountable. In Gladiator (2000), we believe that Maximus can quickly become a gladiator because we are [early on] exposed to the fact that he is capable in battle and with a sword. In Return of the Jedi (1983), we do not believe that Luke is a Jedi because we were not exposed to the completion of his training. This is a major failing of this movie. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), we believe that Indy is capable of hunting for the Ark because we initially see him retrieve the treasure in South America.
*****Resisting the Physical Separation*****
There is always resistance to the Physical Separation. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Where's the car? The car jams between the other two.
*****Inner Challenge Reminder*****
Post Trial 3, the Hero is often reminded of remaining challenges. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis gives Alma the kids and Pop throws Jake the keys.
Learn more�
WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!
The Complete 188 stage Hero�s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.heros-journey.info/
188 stages of the Hero's Journey can also be reached from http://www.story-structure.org/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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