From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.managing-creativity.com/

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: Shine (1996)

Grown David

FADE IN: Context: Meeting the Hero: Adult David speaking to himself in his way.

Loop: Meeting the Hero: David let into the bar and driven home.

Referencing the Antagonist: Daddy (Peter).

Young David

Hero's Capabilities: David is going to play the piano.

Meeting the Antagonist: Peter says he will play Chopin.

Chosen by the Mentor: Rosen spots David's talent.

Hero and Antagonist relationship: he's my son.

Hero's Ordinary World: David at home with family.

Antagonist's Backstory: when I was a boy I had a violin.

Pushed to the First Threshold by the Mentor: Rosen arrives.

Call to Adventure: David could be very successful with the right music teacher.

Refusal: Herald pushed out of the house.

Elixir: Rachmaninov; the hardest piece in the world.

Foreshadow of the Journey: one day you will make me very proud; we are going to win.

Pushed to the First Threshold: David's father takes him to see Rosen.

Threshold Guardian: Rosen won't teach him Rachmaninov, but will teach what he thinks is right.

Grown David

Foreshadow of the Resolution / Hero's Ordinary World: Sylvia takes grown David into his room.

Young David

Successfully Crossing the First Threshold: David wins the prize; offered a scholarship in America.

Hero's Ordinary World: David at home again.

Resisting the Physical Separation: David's Dad has no money to send him to America.

Foreshadow of Mentor's Magical Gift: We'll raise it through a Bar Mitzwah.

Mentor pushes the Physical Separation: Rosen tries to convince David's mother.

Developing Characters and Relationships: if you want to go to America you have to be fit and strong like me.

Magical Gift: Raising the money at the Bar Mitzvah.

Developing the Antagonist: Peter at home, discussing 'these people' with his wife.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: looking at pictures of David's achievements.

Hero's Romantic Challenge: the girl in the library.

Meeting Mentor 2: Katharine.

Interdiction: Peter doesn't allow David to go to America.

Developing the Antagonism: Peter beats David.

Mentor and Antagonist Confrontation; mentor Hawk and Antagonist Interdiction: at the synagogue; Rosen bangs on the door.

Hero and Antagonist confrontation: it is a terrible thing to hate your father.

Grown David

David looking at the letter to America.

Young David

Mentor's Guidance: David plays for Katherine.

Punishment for Refusing the Journey: David loses the competition.

Mentor's Guidance: David gets a scholarship for the Royal College of Music in London.

Interdiction: "