Screenplay Script: ET (1982) Deconstructed

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...

Sample Movie Deconstructed: ET (1982)

Fade In: Inciting Incident; ET left alone. The antagonism: men searching.

Hero's Status and Inner Challenge: Elliott with his friends; low status; the gofer; nobody pays him any attention.

Call to Adventure: Elliott hears something in the shed; the ball bounces back.

Interdiction: "Nobody go out there!"

Refusal of the Call: "Coyotes are back Mom."

Pulled into the Journey [night, stealth]: Elliott hears something outside; goes out with the torch; see ET who runs.

Consciously agreeing to the Journey: Elliott rides into the Forest on his bike and lays the bait.

Meeting the Supernatural Aid: avoiding Keys in the forest.

Foreshadow of the Journey: ET is in the forest.

Hero in his Ordinary World and Character Development: Elliott having dinner with his family. Resistance against the Journey: no one believes him.

Yearning for the adventure: Elliott looks out of the window.

Fear at the border of the First Threshold: Elliott can't speak as ET approaches.

Journey to the First Threshold: leading ET into the bedroom.

Threshold Guardian: closing the door so as none can hear.

Meeting the Creatures of the First Threshold: sign language between Elliott and ET.

Antagonism: the men with lights find the coloured candy.

Conflict preceding the Inner Cave: Elliott convinces his Mom that he has a temperature; ET is not in the sleeping bag.

Developing Allies Capabilities: Michael learning to drive.

Inner Cave: "do you talk