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: French Connection (1971)

FADE IN: Meeting the Antagonist's Lieutenant: Pierre shoots the French cop.

Meeting the Hero: Popeye dressed up as Santa.

Hero's Ordinary World: Brooklyn.

Meeting the Loyal Ally: Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Popeye and Cloudy chase and interrogate the crook in the alley.

Developing the Antagonist: Alain arranges the shipment.

Antagonist's Romantic Challenge / Foreshadow of the Journey: Alain meets his girlfriend; he's going to America.

Developing Characters and Relationships: leaving the station; Popeye calls black people niggers; Buddy disagrees.

Meeting the Mentor: spotting Sal in the club.

Resistance to following the Mentor: Buddy doesn't want to give Sal et al a tail.

Pulled to the First Threshold: Watching and following Sal.

Developing the Antagonist / Warning / Antagonist's Lieutenant: Pierre thinks it is a mistake to involve Henri.

Mentor's Backstory: Popeye and Buddy do a background check on Sal.

Creatures of the First Threshold: Weinstock; the other Mafiosi, Angie.

Pushing to the Physical Separation: Popeye shakes down the bar; meets his informant; learns about the shipment.

Obstacle to the Physical Separation: the Captain resists giving them a wire.

Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Henri arrives; the shipment arrives; Alain and Pierre watch the shipment.

Preparing for the Physical Separation: Walt gives them the wire.

Meeting the Transformation Mentor: Mulderig doesn't like Popeye.

Developing the Hero: Popeye meets and beds the girl on the bike.

Hero's Ordinary World: Popeye's apartment.

Developing the Antagonist: Alain buys cars in New York through Sal's brother.

Physical Separation: listening into Sal; hearing the French voice.

Celebrating the Physical Separation: jumping for joy.

Resisting Transformation / Trial 1: Mulderig thinks this is small time.

Obstacle to Transformation / Trial 1: the traffic jam.

Trial / Transformation 1: following Sal; watching Sal meet Alain and Pierre; following Pierre.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Popeye, Popeye and Mulderig in the car.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Sal and Weinstock test the heroine.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Sal and Weinstock argue; Weinstock wants to take it slow' Sal thinks Alain is one of the shrewdest guys he's ever met.

Trial / Transformation 2: Alain knows he's being tailed; Alain loses Popeye.

Pushed to Trial 3: Sal is followed to Washington; Sal meets Alain; Sal wants more time; Alain wants to stick to his timetable; Alain and Pierre decide to kill Popeye.

Resisting Trial / Transformation 3: Walt takes them off special assignment.

Trial / Transformation 3: Pierre tries to kill Popeye. Pierre pursued; Popeye chases the train; Popeye kills Pierre.

Meeting the Oracle: Popeye and Cloudy are on Sal's tail; Sal gets away at the car park with the car.

Deciding to Seize the Sword: that car is dirty; Popeye et al watch the car.

Guardians of the Sword: the guys just wanted to strip the tyres.

Foreshadow of the Near Death: Henri comes for the car.

Inner Chamber Obstacle: can't find anything; weight difference.

Seizing the Sword: stripping the panels and finding the heroine.

Near Death Experience: Henri takes the car from the compound.

Near Death Experience: Alain takes Henri to one side; Henri says goodbye.

Atonement with the Father: Alain takes the car to Sal et al and sells the drugs.

Apotheosis: Popeye et al are waiting.

Ultimate Boon: the police arrest Weinstock, Sal etc.

Magic Flight: Alain disappears.

Disgust: Popeye shoots Mulderig.

Freedom to Live: stills of the criminal's sentences.

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