FORWARD

The 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, 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 Apocaplyse 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.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.screenplay-structure.com/ or http://www.story-structure.org/ for full details)

*****Guardians of the Sword*****

The Sword if a metaphor for an Expansion of Consciousness. Taking the Sword is no easy feat. It is at least guarded and rests behind two anti-chambers.

Guardians of the Outer Chamber prevent the Outer Chamber being breached.

Outer Chamber. The Hero et al breach an Outer Chamber.

Guardians of the Inner Chamber prevent the breaching of the Inner Chamber. In Dances with Wolves (1990), John cannot be seen with Stands with a Fist, as she is in mourning. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1984), Nazi soldiers block the way. In Out of Africa (1985), bulls block the way.

*****Ordinary Self*****

Whether the Hero et al arrive from an Ordinary World or arrive through the process of swift Exile, the Ordinary Self must be made explicit. This is because stories are all about Transformation and the Ordinary Self is an initial benchmark. In Straw Dogs (1971), David is a Mathematician.

*****Greater Antagonism*****

The Greater Antagonism is developed or further made explicit (post Trial 3 and the conquest of the Outer Challenge). The Hero has come a long way but he (as well as the audience) are reminded that this has yet to be conquered: In The Matrix (1999), Neo learns about Agent Smith. And that no one has ever beaten an agent in battle. In Gladiator (2000), while Maximus is learning the gladiator art, we learn more about Commodus.

*****New World of the Transformation*****

It is not unusual for the New World of the Transformation to be made explicit and developed before the hero engages in the Trials and Transformation. In Walk the Line (2005), Johnny moves straight from succeeding at the audition to singing in front of a crowd, where he meets June Carter. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus is brought into Proximo’s World.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

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

188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from http://www.heros-journey.info/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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