The Hero's Journey is that the template upon that the overwhelming majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero's Journey:
? Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has relating to what a story is and how it should be told.
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? Offers the author more structural elements than merely 3 or four acts, plot points, mid point and thus on.
? Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, permits an infinite range of varied stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It's compelling that screenwriters have the next chance of manufacturing quality work after they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
Take into account 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 Greenback Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all primarily based on the Hero's Journey.
Developing the Antagonism
The stage of the Hero's Journey where s/he undergoes a transformation (the Road of Trials) is also most usually where the antagonism is fully developed. The rationale for this can be practical:
To create the transformation appear feasible (in such a relatively short area of your time), a stage system is used. Typically the hero completes the transformation in 3 stages (trials). As an example, in The Matrix (1999), Neo 1st learns martial arts by simulation, then within the dojo with Morpheus and then finally he has to jump the building.
Usually, to extend the percieved time period between stages, different archetypes are developed in between. Most usually this can be the antagonism - or to be specific, that that blocks the hero's Seizure of the Sword (as a result of this is often the next stage).
For instance, in Gladiator (2000), whilst Maximus is learning the art of the gladiator, we get to understand Commodus and his plans to grant the folks the Games. In Star Wars (1977), it's whereas Luke is being trained on the ways of the Force by Obi Wan that Governor Tarkin destroys Alderran.
Author Resource:-
Jerald Torres 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:
