From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and Academy Award Winners....

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...

Below is a deconstruction of a classic transformation that sticks rigidly to the Hero's Journey.

Ghandi (1982); basic deconstruction

Fade in / Loop: Ghandi's death; Einstein's quote.

Meeting the Hero: Ghandi as a young man on the train.

Hero's Capabilities: a lawyer; reader and thinker.

Antagonism in the Ordinary World: thrown off the train.

Meeting the Mentor : Mr Khan and his attorney tell him the way it is in South Africa .

Forced out of his Ordinary World: then it must be fought.

First Threshold:

Resistance: no one turns up to the meeting.

Mentor 's Guidance: Khan; you write brilliantly but you have much to learn about men.

Interdiction: the police will arrest the first man who tries to burn a pass; you want this kind of trouble you can have it.

Overcoming the Interdiction: Ghandi burns the passes and gets beaten by the police.

Antagonism: Smuts et al.

Outer Cave:

Devolved State: just like proper English gentlemen.

Meeting Allies: meeting Charlie.

Meeting Enemies: the thugs on the street.

Developing the Antagonism: they're going to change the pass laws.

Antagonism: Smuts; I shouldn't worry about Ghandi.

Meeting Allies: Walker and the carpenter; Ghandi tells Walker of his philosophy.

Resisting the Middle Cave : Ghandi's wife doesn't want to clean the toilets.

Middle Cave : Ghandi throws out his wife.

Inner Cave : Conscious Decision to the Belly of the Whale: Ghandi holds the meeting; we will not strike a blow.

Warning against the Belly of the Whale: I don't think that's very good.

Belly of the Whale: confronting the police on horses.

Belly of the Whale: Charlie preaches to the white audience; some walk away.

Belly of the Whale: Ghandi et al in prison; everyone's in jail, including the women.

Physical Separation: Ghandi meets the SA leadership; the act is repealed; the cost is that future immigration will be curtailed; Daniels lends Ghandi a shilling for a taxi.

New World of the Transformation: Ghandi arrives in India .

New Creatures / Antagonism in this World: the British soldiers; the British.

New Self: Ghandi in new clothes; my dignity comes from following my husband.

Meeting New Allies and Mentors: Patel, young Nehru et al.

Transformation Progressing: stop calling me Mr Patel, you're not a junior clerk anymore.

Developing the Antagonism / Foreshadow of the Transformation: Ghandi sees the poverty in India .

Meeting the Shape Shifter / Foreshadow of the Resolution: Jinnah and Prakash.

Foreshadow of the Atonement: we hope you'll join us in our struggle for home rule.

Shape Shifter / Resolution: that's non-violence for you.

Pushed onto the Road of Trials: the professor sends Ghandi away to see the real India .

Trials and Transformation 1:

Ghandi on the train and travelling around India .

Time Shift: the war will be over soon.

Developing the Shape Shifter: Jinnah

Jinnah's speech; India wants home rule.

Hesitatingly getting up from his chair.

Resistance to the trial: people walk away.

Ghandi's speech.

Transformation: I think I'm going to read his journal.

Transformation: Ghandi at home; dressed in a local outfit.

Resisting the Atonement: Ghandi's philosophy; resists the idea of Home Rule.

Trials and Transformation 2:

The Old Man visits Ghandi.

Ghandi arrives in the Town; the British surprises; huge Indian welcome.

Threshold Guardian: there had better not be any trouble.

Ghandi hears the story of Indigo from the sick old man; the British landlords still want their rents.

Around the village on elephants; Ghandi arrested.

Protests at his arrest.

Goodbye to the Old Self: saying goodbye to Charlie.

New Self: Ghandi's hearing; Ghandi refuses to pay; is released.

Allies: Nehru sends the young lawyers.

Transformation: the British cave in.

Transformation: Ghandi takes third class; walks.

Developing the Shape Shifter: God give me patience.

Trial and Transformation 3:

The meeting with Jinnah, Nehru et al; refusing terrorism; Ghandi deciding on non-passive but non-violent resistance; causing the general strike.

India shuts down.

Ghandi arrested.

Nehru visits Ghandi in prison; there have been riots; Ghandi released if he speaks for non-violence.

The massacre in Amritshar.

The General is cross examined.

Transformation: Ghandi visits the massacre and looks down the well.

Transformation: Ghandi asks the British to leave.

Resisting the Atonement: I don't want to make a martyr of him.

Transformed: Ghandi in simply a loin cloth.

Meeting the Oracle: preaching for Hindu and Muslim unity; boycotting English cloth.

Meeting Miss Slade / Mirabehn.

Slade with Ghandi; hearing stories of rioting between Hindus and Muslims; martial law in Bengal .

Rioting; the police station.

Nehru et al try to persuade Ghandi not to fast.

Seizing the Sword: Ghandi fasts until Nehru tells him that the riots are over.

Near Death Experience: Ghandi arrested for sedition; the judge stands; sentenced to six years.

Reward: Walker arrives in India ; re-enacting the wedding ceremony.

Preparing for the Atonement: talking with Walker .

The British decide to ignore the march to the sea with salt; Walker covers the march.

Atonement with the Father:

Ghandi knows what he is going to do; the strength of civil resistance; he is in control; the march; reports in the World News.

Everyone is arrested; but no violence.

The British arrest Ghandi.

The Indians walk into the salt mine and do not resist the beating; Walker reports.

Apotheosis: the British release Ghandi and he visits London to discuss the terms of their withdrawal.

Refusal: the will is gone.

Ghandi et al arrested again.

Margaret from Life Magazine arrives.

Shape Shifter Reveals: Jinnah has fired up the Muslims.

Developing Margaret and his wife: talking about married life.

Magic Flight:

Ghandi's wife dead.

Mountbatten arrives to take care of Independent India.

Rescue from Without: Jinnah concerned about Muslim slavery.

Crossing the Return Threshold: protestors want the death of Jinnah.

Foreshadow of the Resolution: the assassin in the audience.

Ghandi has to choose between an Independent India and an Independent Pakistan or Civil War.

The birth of Pakistan .

Crossing the Return Threshold:

Fighting breaks out during the India / Pakistan migration.

Ghandi fasts until the rioting stops.

More rioting.

Foreshadow of the Resolution: death to Ghandi.

Ghandi wants all fighting to stop.

Nehru speaks