Screenwriting Basics

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:

o Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

o Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

o 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.

The Hero’s Journey is also a study of conventions. Before screenwriters can decide whether to accept or reject the conventions, they must appreciate their purpose and value.

Consider this:

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

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

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

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

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

o 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.

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

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

Hero’s Journey and the build up to the ATonement with the Father

The Atonement with the Father is a critical part of any story and the Hero’s Journey in general.

Often, the build up consists of a few phases:

Warnings about the Atonement. In Elizabethtown (2005), Hollie warns Drew about Bill Banyon.

Preparing for the Atonement. In Elizabethtown (2005), Drew and Claire buy the cremation vase.

Second Thoughts. In Elizabethtown (2005), Drew and Claire reconsider and wonder whether being friends wouldn’t be better.

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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Author: Kal Bishop

Related posts:

1. Screenwriting Blog; Hero’s Journey: Warning Before the Atonement
2. Write Screenplay First Draft Easily: Use the Hero’s Journey
3. Screenwriting International: Hero’s Journey and the Inner Cave
4. Film and Screenwriting Course; Hero’s Journey – Polarization
5. American Screenwriting Course; Hero’s Journey – Resistance to the Transformation