Author: Kal Bishop
Source: download

From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters….
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The 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) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
and more…
Multiple Heroes
When stories include multiple heroes, each undergoes his or her own progress through the Hero’s Journey. A good example of this is Syriana (2005).
Examples of the Heroes in their Ordinary Worlds:
a) We meet Arash as he and the other Pakistanis fight for the work at hand.
b) We meet Bob selling bombs as an undercover CIA agent.
c) We meet Bennett being told what to do by his boss, Whiting.
d) We meet Bryan as the oil and business news anchor.
Examples of their Call to Adventure:
a) Arash is beaten up by the guards.
b) Bob sees that one of his bombs is given to an unknown.
c) Bennet is told to solve any problems with regard to the merger.
d) Bryan is given intimate access to Prince Nasir.
Kal Bishop
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The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/