FORWARD
Kal Bishop’s 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
TRANSFORMATION
Every Hero goes on a Physical Journey, the function of which is to stimulate a Psychological Transformation. It is the undergoing of the Journey that gives the Hero the capacity to conquer those challenges that were previously unconquerable.
In the beginning of the Journey the Hero is an Ordinary Self and at the end of it a New Self. The New Self is demonstrated by a change in attitudes, norms, values, behaviour and clothing. In the beginning the Hero is dressed in one way and at the end another.
In Dances with Wolves (1990), John Dunbar starts the story dressed as a soldier and ends it dressed as an Indian.
In Educating Rita (1983), Rita starts off as a hairdresser and ends up a student.
In Erin Brockovich (2000), Erin starts off as a poor, single Mom and ends up a wealthy, respected lawyer.
(For the Complete 188+ stage Hero’s Journey simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ )
ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:
*****Freedom to Live*****
Part of the Freedom to Live is the Hero’s New Behaviour. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), junior is getting married and Ennis will go to the wedding.
*****A Period of Desolation*****
One effect of refusing ones Dharma is a Period of Desolation. When one refuses ones Dharma, he (or she) is cursed to wander the desert aimlessly, cursed not to live up to ones potential, cursed to regret, forever living a slow death, cursed to eternal frustration. In Star Wars (1977), Luke looks up at the moons, frustrated. In The Incredibles (2004), Mr Incredible is Interdicted from being the superhero. This results in a period of passivity and frustration.
Expectation. Periods of desolation lead to others expecting action from the Hero. In The Incredibles (2004), the little boy wonders when “something will happen.”
Learn more…
WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.heros-journey.info/
188 stages of the Hero’s Journey can also be reached from http://www.story-structure.org/
You can also receive a free sample file by entering your email address at this site.
You can post this article on your web site or blog as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the links to our site URLs remains active.
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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