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: Fargo (1996)

FADE IN: foreshadow of the journey: the snowy freeway in North Dakota.

The Antihero and the Antagonists: the plan, motivation, characters and relationships: Jerry Lundegaard meets Carl and Gaear.

Antihero's Ordinary World [home]: Jerry comes home.

Meeting the Mentor: Jerry doesn't want Wade to stay for dinner.

Developing characters and relationships: Jerry, Jean, Wade and Scott have dinner.

Foreshadow of the First Threshold: "Wade, have you had a chance to look at that deal