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: Midnight Cowboy (1969)

FADE IN: Hero's Ordinary World: Middle America; open spaces; desolate; cowboy music; drive in etc.

Introduce Hero: Joe Buck in the shower (cleaning off his Old Self?); preparing for a Journey.

Hero's Ordinary World: the restaurant; "you know what you can do with them dishes?"

Signature tune.

Hero on a Journey: Joe with a suitcase.

Obstacle to the Journey: truck in the way.

Meeting the Mentor: in the restaurant; the boss and the head dish washer: "what you going to do in New York?"

Hero's Motivation: "the women are begging for it and the men are Tutty Frutties."

Hero's Back Story: the shop for rent; grandma etc.

Entering the World of the First Threshold: getting on the bus.

Strange Creatures of the First Threshold: the people in the bus.

Backstory: grandma.

Inner Challenge: ex girlfriend.

Leaving the Ordinary World: leaving behind "Jesus Saves."

Hero's True Nature: turning the light back on.

Inner Challenge: grandma.

Pulled toward the First Threshold: Joe's images of women wanting him; we want someone like you