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: Ghostbusters (1984)

FADE IN: the antagonism: the ghosts in the library.

Intro Hero; his character and Ordinary World: Peter favoring the blonde during psychic testing; electric shocks.

Introduce Ally: Ray excited about the psychic activity in the library.

Crossing into the First Threshold: going to the library.

Meeting Allies: Spengler in the library.

Threshold Guardian: the Director greets them..

Strange Creatures of the First Threshold: