[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms (see below for the URL of our Home Page) and our isolation and identification of more than 188 stages of the Hero's Journey that you need to know about...]

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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharsis).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story.

and more...

TRANSFORMATION BY NUMBERS

In many stories it is hard not to recognise the prevalence of sets of numbers. These relate to the stages or cycle of transformation.

The most common number notable is 3 [Goldilocks and the Three Bears; three visits to the giants castle in Jack and the Beanstalk; in The Matrix (1999), Morpheus introduces Neo to the Nebuchadnezzar, then introduces the crew and then shows him the Matrix through the console). Three [The Three Steps] is the most basic path to transformation: initiation, trial and transformation (terminology varies).

Four steps are also common: initiation, trial, transformation and demonstration.

Many effective screenplays utilise Five Steps: In Thelma and Louise (1991), Louise warms Thelma not to flirt with anyone; Thelma flirts with Harlan, Thelma gets drunk with Harlan, Harlan tries to rape Thelma, Louise shoots Harlan.

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

Learn more…

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

Managing Creativity and Innovation and related techniques and tools can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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