The Hero's Journey is that the template upon which the overwhelming majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are primarily 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 relating to what a story is and how it ought to be told.
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o Provides the writer a lot of structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
o Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite range of assorted stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey is additionally a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher chance of manufacturing 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 just accept or reject the conventions, they need to 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 two (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 primarily 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 primarily based on the Hero's Journey.
Screenwriter Online: Hero's Journey and 3D characterization
A 3 dimensional hero makes for a richer story. Equally, 3 dimensional allies create for a fair better story.
A hero is developed using a variety of techniques: inner challenge, outer challenge, romantic challenge, hero's initial status, hero's capabilities, hero's true nature etc.
It is not therefore abundant that allies are normally less developed, however that there's less time to devote to their challenges (and, for the sake of the story, excess attention paid to them diverts from the core story).
However, it's not uncommon to produce the allies with their own challenge (romatic, outer or inner) and perhpas their own mentor.
In Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), both Li and Shu Lien (the Mentors) have their own inner challenge and a Mentor in Sir Te.
In Gladiator (2000), Proximo (a Mentor) has his own inner challenge in that he must rediscover his Recent Self.
Learn more...
The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and FREE seventeen stage sample and other story structure templates can be found
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Watson Gray has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Screenwriting (Writing and Speaking ), you can also check out his latest website about:
