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)

*****Dissatisfaction*****

Part of the Period of Desolation. Before the Hero commits to the Journey and Transformation or is forced to by an Unbearable Antagonism, dissatisfaction and frustration sets in. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Enis asks “…why didn’t we get the powdered milk….”

*****Disgust*****

Disgust is a core part of the Refusal, post the Ultimate Boon. The Hero (or major character) is disgusted by what he (or she) has become or was. It is a reaction to the Transformation so far. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Blanche regrets the path she has chosen.

*****Mentor’s Backstory*****

The Mentor’s Backstory is often made explicit. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde tells Bonnie he cut part of his foot off.

*****Marker of Change*****

Change is in the air and it is illustrated by a marker (before embarking on the Road of Trials). In Dances with Wolves (1990), the buffalo arrive. In Godfather (1972), the exchange of gifts and the chaperones foreshadow a new beginning. In Romancing the Stone (1984), Joan looks at Jack with bedroom eyes.

*****Push to the Crossing of the Return Threshold*****

The Rescue from Without pushes the Hero to the Return Crossing. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), “…is your Daddy the marrying kind?”

*****Conscious Decision*****

The conscious Decision (almost an Accepting the Inevitability of the Journey and Transformation) is a very common part of successful stories and screenplays. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack says hello to Ennis; that they will be spending time up on the mountaion together is inevitable.

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/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

These loans are very popular for home improvements and repairs. As this has to be done periodically it is a good way to finance the cost involved. There are many ways the a home can be improved on and it is good to keep the home up to the current market value for the time that you would want to resell it.

This loan is the ideal solution to pay for a child’s college or university tuition fees or you may want to buy them a car to enable them to transport themselves to the campus. You could possibly have an unexpected medical bill that has to be paid or you need to give your family a holiday which is long overdue. You may want to consolidate your debts and pay them off. This loan will be ideal to pay off the debts and then you would only have one monthly payment to worry about instead of all the debts. There are numerous reasons why you would want to borrow the equity of your home.

The equity is the difference between what is owed on your home and the value of your home. Home owners are permitted to borrow this equity for their own use whenever they require cash. Home equity loans are very popular and are frequently taken whenever the need arises. Banks have you no problem giving them the loans as they are secured against the home and this minimises the risk of them losing money if you defaulted in your payments.

It is always a wise decision to first check out a few things before you decide to take this loan. There are so many money lenders, banks and private agencies that all want your business. Loans are big business to these agencies and banks and the borrower has to safeguard himself by being vigilant and checking out all his options. Make sure that you check the credentials of the loaning institution or agency if you do not want to loan from a bank. Compare all their interest rates, loan fees, monthly payments and duration of the loan. If there is any fine print, make sure that you understand what is meant by it. If not, ask questions. When you are totally satisfied you can decide where you will take your business. Remember that this loan is secured against your home and you do not want to risk losing it to a lender.

Lee Van writes informative articles on various subjects including Home Equity Loans
http://www.homeequityloanwebsite.com

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)

****Trial 2 - Innate Suitability*****

Trial 3 centres around the innate suitability of the Hero to the New World and New Self. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Frank appears and Bonnie gets a photo of herself with Frank (a Texas Ranger) as a trophy catch. Innately Suited for this World: they take photos of the captured Frank.

*****Analysis of the Ordinary Self*****

This is another word for context. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), photos of 20’s and text explain when Bonnie and Clyde were born and that they were vicious criminals.

*****Foreshadow of the Mentor*****

Often the Hero is aware of the Mentor before the actual meeting. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie sees Clyde beforehand. In The King of Comedy (1983), Pupkin knows all about Jerry.

*****Overcoming the Hero Guardians*****

Though the Heralds are blocked from the Hero by Guardians, overcoming them is not the most daunting task. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Joe justtells Jack and Ennis to “get your scrawny asses in here, pronto.”

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/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.

Life insurance is so important for all families to have, especially those with young children. It should be a natural thing to do to make provision for your family in case something unforeseen had to happen to you. You will have peace of mind once you have purchased a policy and you know that you have done your duty towards your family.

It is so easy to check the insurance companies online and read all the information about these policies. You can get a quote online within minutes of waiting and then apply for the policy as well. This can all be done without leaving your chair. When the policy is issued to you within a short while it will be valid as soon as you receive it.

Life insurance is a necessity for all families with young children. This is to protect your children against financial devastation in case the unforeseen happened to you and they were left without the main bread winner to provide for them. This could alter their lifestyles completely. The policy serves as a financial umbrella over them.

Getting an insurance policy is something that has to be done if you are in a position where people depend on you. Whether it is your family or a business partner this financial covering will give you peace of mind as you do not know what the future holds.

Once you are satisfied with this you can apply for the policy online as well. Once you have received it and you are not completely satisfied you are given thirty one days to return it and your premium will be reimbursed. You can then start all over again selecting another policy. The only problem with buying insurance online is that you may only purchase insurance up to a certain value. Anything over this value you will have to purchase from a broker.

Lee Van writes informative articles on various subjects including Life Insurance
http://www.lifeinsuranceswebsite.com

When it comes to family entertainment there’s no substitute for your basement so it’s no wonder you want it to have terrific decorating style. But it can be difficult to make small areas look big on style. Here are some tips for decorating a small basement to have a big impact.

You need to make sure to decorate in keeping with the size of your space. If your basement is cluttered, this will tend to make it seem smaller so you ought to stay away from styles that have a lot of knick knacks.

Another consideration for decorating a small basement is to be mindful of where the furniture is going to be in the room. If you want a design which looks inviting plus enhances your life, think about employing the ideas of Feng Shui when decorating your basement. Making certain doorways are clear of furniture should help make it seem more spacious. Plus, if you can focus the eye on the larger pieces like a big TV or entertainment unit, it may help the room seem more spacious.

Think of furniture and accessories you may include in your room design which will help to maximize space in the basement. A sharp modern or Zen like interior design style can work good since it will be less cluttered hence making the room appear more spacious. No matter what you go with, don’t forget to be positive you like it, this is a great space for family games and entertainment.

Try to keep your accessories and furniture in the small size range. One means to maximize space is to have a couch with chair, as opposed to big sectional which will give the illusion of more space but still allow plenty of seating. However you don’t have to stick with all small items in your basement, selecting some larger pieces will add unique charm to the room, so in combination with the minimal seating, match it with a big screen TV- this can add interest and also make the room appear larger also.

Pick out the color palette for the basement carefully for certain colors can help make it look more open. You’ve possibly heard that light colors make a room look less small and dark colors make it appear smaller, but it’s really a bit more involved than that. You can dispense with that boring white and make use of a monochromatic color palette, or stick to colors which have the same intensity and this will not make the room appear cramped. You can try a moss green decorating theme, or if you want more color choose purple, blue and green that all have the same intensity and tone. Painting one wall a deep color will make it appear further away, therefore, adding depth and unique appeal. A gray-blue hue is wonderful for decorative appeal and for also making the walls appear to recede, Therefore making the room appear larger. If you think gray will be too bland, you can essentially apply any cool color like green or purple to produce the same feeling.

Given you use certain well known approaches decorating a small basement can be easy. Providing a little bit of elbow grease combined with creativity can help change even the tiniest room into a designer showplace.

Lee Dobbins writes for Decorating Tips where you can make decorating easy with our great interior decorating tips.

News that the Bank of England voted to hold interest rates for the third month in a row on Maundy Thursday must have been welcomed by the nation’s homeowners, some of whom have felt compelled in recent months to remortgage to better deals in an attempt to stave off the worst effects of increased borrowing costs.

Of course, every time the Bank holds rates, it only makes the day when they actually go up seem more inevitable. But for now, let’s be thankful that our economic policy-makers in the capital decided to wish us a cheap and stress-free Easter.

However, while all is quiet on the interest rates front (which may not last long), banks and other mortgage providers now have to find another way of encouraging people to remortgage to a cheaper deal.

In fact, only last week, mortgage provider Northern Rock said it expects profits to grow as people attempt to consolidate unsecured debts by using the money tied up in their property. Chief executive Adam Applegarth, who was understandably upbeat, said that remortgaging now represents nearly half of the mortgage market - a direct result of people trying to tackle their credit card bills and other debts.

So it should come as no surprise that lenders are using the optimism that comes with spring to launch a new batch of mortgaging products.

Indeed, I noticed the other day that RBS has launched a new fixed-rate for buyers and homeowners hoping to remortgage, while Pink Home Loans has launched an “exclusive” fees-free remortgage deal from Intelligent Finance. At the same time, Britannia Building Society has said that remortgaging customers can switch to one of its fixed-rate deals either for free or for a “very competitive rate”.

No doubt a host of other lenders and banks have introduced - or are about to roll-out - new and improved remortgaging rates to persuade people to consolidate their debts or to pay for a loft conversion.

I suppose as it is the Easter season, some homeowners have already decided to splash out on their home and have raised the money to do so by remortgaging. I can imagine there were quite a few households who started ambitious DIY projects over the Easter weekend - maybe a conservatory or a newly landscaped garden in time for the summer sun.

Having said this, a report by Woolwich at the start of April revealed that the Great British public is getting a bit sick of DIY and all those home makeover programmes that dominate the TV schedules in the evenings. In fact, the study showed that most homeowners would rather pay a professional to undertake tasks such as painting and decorating, building an extension and installing a new kitchen or bathroom.

The same piece of research also said that households are increasingly looking to use their mortgages to fund improvements to their homes. In fact, Woolwich used the opportunity to tell the world that it is able to reduce customers’ outgoings on a monthly basis by remortgaging.

So, until the Bank of England decides to make life a bit more expensive for already-stretched homeowners, it is likely that lenders will debut some interesting marketing strategies to encourage people to remortgage. And if the summer this year is as hot as the Met Office predicts, then expect lenders to make the connection between global warming and raising enough capital to pay for next-generation wind turbines and solar panels.

Richard’s wish is to give a good clear insight into the UK remortgage market with his weekly news round-up.

Isotretinoin is considered to be most effective medicine for severe acne and other acne that does not respond to common acne medication. It is available in form of capsules to be taken orally and the trade name of Isotretinoin in the USA is Accutane. Isotretinoin is a retinoid. Retinoids are derived from Vitamin A. Isotretinoin is chemically known as 13-cis retinoic acid. Isotretinoin is a drug of choice for acne patients who may have lost hope about cure of their acne.

Isotretinoin is generally prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and the end of the prescription sees considerable inmprovement in most of the patients. Isotretinoin may cause many side effects and should be strictly taken under medical supervision. It can cause birth defects in fetus. Therefore women should take precaution of not getting pregnant while taking Isotretinoin. Isotretinoin may also be used for some other conditions that include- folliculitis, seborrhoea, chloracne and other diseases that look like acne.

Usage-

Nodular acne that does not get treated with other medications is treated with Isotretinoin. Any other acne that does not respond to medication is also treated with Isotretinoin. The rate of success with Isotretinoin is very high. In the beginning some people see deterioration in their acne but that slowly disappears. Isotretinoin is commonly prescribed for 16 to 20 weeks and if needed it is repeated after a gap of eight weeks.

It is believed that Isotretinoin works by shrinking the sebaceous glands and reducing sebum production. Isotretinoin is an anti-inflammatory medicine and shrinks the acne by reducing sebum substantially.

The strength of dosage of isotretinoin depends upon the severity of acne, body weight, other treatments being used at the same time etc. Your doctor is the best person to decide about the dose. Normally the treatment begins with small dose and as body adjusts to isotretinoin the dose is increased. Doctors also monitor the cure during this period and if they find that patient is not responding, they may stop the therapy. As isotretinoin needs fat to help its absorption in body, it is taken after food. Follow your doctor’s advice about these.

Side Effects

The common side-effects of isotretinoin are dry mouth, dry nose, thinning of hair, fatigue, dry skin, red itchy eyes, sore lips, etc. If you experience any other side effects such as muscle aches, difficulty in walking, depression, vomiting, etc. Talk to your doctor immediately. Discuss about side effects with your doctor before beginning of the treatment with isotretinoin and report any expected or unexpected side effect immediately. Note that you may not be able to wear your contact lenses for some time in the beginning of treatment with isotretinoin. You should not donate any blood while you are taking isotretinoin and for one month after you stop taking it. Please talk about do’s and don’t with your doctor. You also must inform your doctor about any medicine or vitamins you are taking.

Isotretinoin and Pregnancy-

Isotretinoin can cause serious defects in the fetus. Therefore you should inform your doctor if you are pregnant. You should also tell your doctor if you plan to become pregnant or are already breast-feeding. You will have to test yourself for pregnancy before you begin isotretinoin and continue getting tested while taking Isotretinoin. Your doctor will explain the details to you. If you get pregnant while taking isotretinoin you should stop taking it and call your doctor immediately. You must adopt two reliable methods of birth control for one month before taking isotretinoin, continue with two methods while taking isotretinoin and till after one month of stopping isotretinoin. You should talk to your gynaecologist and dermatologist in detail before taking isotretinoin.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

For more information about how to have good skin that looks young and blemish free , please visit- http://www.acnedoctor.us/ This site is dedicated to make you look good. For keeping yourself looking good find out more about the acne that causes damage to our skin. To treat acne scars please visit acnedoctor.us

Personal loans are big business with many money lending agencies. Their interest rates usually compare very favourably with those of the banks. Many of them are advertising instant cash. On approval of the loan the money will immediately be available to you without any waiting period. You can even apply over the phone without going into the agency to complete forms and this can be done everyday of the week.

This is definitely making taking a loan to a very easy level. Before you apply for a loan in this manner make quite sure that you are dealing with a reputable company and that their interest rates are indeed the lowest in town.

Personal loans are very popular with the public as they can be used for any type of cash flow emergency they might have. It is convenient to be able to access cash for any project that one needs the money for. There are loans available from different banks and money lenders with different interest rates.

It is a good thing to first find out what is available on the lenders’ market and decide what it is that will suit you best. There are secured and unsecured loans. This means that a secured loan has to be secured against your home if you are a home owner or some other collateral of the value of the loan.

Personal loans are always in demand by borrowers and they are available from all banks, money lending agencies and credit unions. It is always a good idea to check out the bank where you do your general banking first before trying any other bank.
You can either borrow a small or a larger amount, depending on what you need for any given project. The duration of the loan will depend on the amount you have borrowed.

Most banks prefer you to take a secured loan as this makes it safer for them to lend you the money. If you want to save a bit of money, a secured loan is always cheaper as the lender will give you a lower interest rate than for an unsecured loan. The loan will be secured against your home if you are a home owner or against any other collateral. The collateral, whatever it is will remain in the lender’s possession until such a time as the loan has been paid off. In the case of the home the lender will have the purchase documents in his possession.

Lee Van writes informative articles on various subjects including personal loans.
http://www.personalloanswebsite.com

The stormy period is one of self discovery. This is the only level where there is a true readiness for marriage, or living together long-term, though many people will have married already in the ‘besotment’ stage. That’s unfortunate, because when they reach this kind of power struggle they will really wonder what has hit them. By the end of this stage you will be wide awake, making clear choices about yourself and your partner, based upon both individual differences and shared elements. You see clearly who you both are and what you individually desire - the only way for a healthy relationship.

If one of you is in the alignment stage (Stage 4) and ready for commitment, while the other is still in ’selection’ (Stage 1) or ‘besotment’ (Stage 2), that’s where expectations collide and the couple will either remain in the familiarisation stage or break altogether. If they are not already married, both parties will need to be ready for some form of alignment to allow for any further progress i.e. to decide whether to become a team to face a new world - one which may include children, to share a joint business venture, similar careers or other life choices. If already married, and assuming no resolution, the relationship will drag on negatively and ultimately break, no matter how long the couple has been together.

Givers and Takers

Evatt and Feld (1983) suggest that most marriages are made up of one ‘giver’ and one ‘taker’. Givers feel loved when they are giving and have trouble taking. Takers feel loved when they are receiving and love being adored. Unfortunately, givers eventually become resentful of doing so much for the taker and getting very little in return. The taker also becomes bored (and a little guilty) with the ever-faithful giving servant. Such imbalance can only lead to a lot of passive resentment or outright disaster.

I remember my ex-husband telling me, seven years into the marriage, how I had changed after I gained my degree from the Open University while holding down a job and looking after our son: that I was more selfish. I found that perception surprising because I thought I was the same person; that I loved him no differently, though I had new goals relating to my career. I suppose being more knowledgeable allowed me to see more options and to argue my corner with more confidence and conviction. As I had spent most of the early years trying to please him, with hindsight, the ‘new’ confident me perhaps seemed threatening to his position in the household.

It’s important to recognise that the issues change as you go through the years, so getting stuck in a vindictive morass is of little value. There will always be conflicts and how you resolve them is far more important than what you actually argue about. Dealing with divisive issues in a mature way is what counts the most and experts suggest three tips to help you handle conflict constructively. First, always face your problems head on. Unless you confront them they will merely build up and fester, keeping you stuck in the same position. Don’t wait for the tension to build until it explodes into an unproductive argument. By then, it is almost too late.

Teamwork is Best

Second, try to work as a team, not only doing things but resolving issues together as much as possible, each giving an input to emphasise the partnership. Work against a problem rather than against each other. You are both on the same side wanting the same things for an enjoyable relationship, not enemies preparing for battle. Scott Stanley, a clinical psychologist, points out that all couples disagree and sometimes disagreements turn into arguments. But if they remember to confront their problems as a team - and take the time to protect and deepen their friendship - “Their marriage won’t just survive, it will actually thrive”.

Finally, try to be best friends by trusting each other and valuing one another’s opinions and struggles. It shows a lack of respect and trust when one party feels that she needs to go outside the family to share opinions or to feel good about herself. Marital friendship will wither and die if it doesn’t receive adequate time and attention. So make time to share things, to walk, talk and review where you’re going, especially to assess whether you are both happy with the journey getting there.

I started our relationship being entirely honest with my partner, telling him everything positive and negative that happened in my family. With all my relatives abroad, I needed him as a confidant. I found, to my increasing anxiety and distress, that many things I told him about my relatives in confidence would be thrown back at me when we were arguing to make himself feel superior. I was deeply hurt and felt that my trust was being betrayed. I ceased telling him anything and confided in others instead, which only made our situation worse. I was then accused of preferring to confide in friends rather than in him. I couldn’t win at all. But the trust had completely gone and I had no wish to tell him anything else in view of that.

But that’s what happens when couples try to score points off each other. They lose sight of their goal of togetherness and protecting each other, gradually becoming competitive combatants instead of cooperative lovers.

ELAINE SIHERA (Ms Cyprah -http://www.ecademy.com/user/elainesihera and http://www.myspace.com/elaineone) is an expert author, public speaker, media contributor and lifestyle columnist. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge University. Elaine is a CONFIDENCE guru and a Personal Empowerment, Relationships and Diversity Consultant. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others (available on http://www.amazon.co.uk as well as her personal website). Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Men and Women of the Year Achievement Awards. She describes herself as, “Fit, Fabulous, Over-fifty and Ready to Fly!”

Look into network marketing as this can be very lucrative and can become a great way of making your living. Get products that you will enjoy selling and then you will be more likely to make a success of it.

There are so many opportunities offered online for starting a business. It is worthwhile checking out some of these. Always be cautious about paying for anything before you are absolutely sure what it is about and make sure that you are dealing with a reputable company.

A home based business is a wonderful alternative to working for an employer. There is so much more satisfaction in doing things the way you want to and working the hours that suit you and not someone else. You will find that even burning the midnight oil to achieve your goals will be pleasurable as compared to working long hours for an employer.

Many large existing companies started as home based businesses. With hard work and persistence this can be achieved and it is so rewarding to see what you are capable of.

Do some market research before you make a final decision what you want to do. Make sure that there is a market for whatever you want to do in your area. Draw up a business plan so that you will know exactly what you will need and what the cost to start up the business will be.

Starting a home based business can be very hard work in the beginning but it is so worthwhile to be working for yourself. It is a good feeling to get up in the morning and know that your energy will be spent in working for your own profits and not someone else’s.

It is so rewarding to plan a venture and get it off the ground and eventually see it making a profit. Many a small venture has become a big enterprise with perseverance and tenacity.

Lee Van writes informative articles on various subjects including home based business
http://www.triomarketers.com