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.

Sample Movie Deconstructed: Back to the Future (1985)

FADE IN: Context: time; lots of clocks.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: "Brown Mansion Destroyed."

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Plutonium theft.

Foreshadow of the Mentor's Capabilities: an ineffective inventor / scientist; the automated coffee machine, Einstein etc.

Introduce the Hero: Marty walks in.."hey doc