The Hero's Journey and Sitcom Structure: Will and Grace (07-06)

From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and Academy Award Winners at www.clickok.co.uk/

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...

EXAMPLE: Will and Grace (07.06: The Newlydreads); Sitcom Structure; Hero's Journey, basic

FADE IN /context: Will and Grace come home after the gym; it's far and Grace has a new client.

Credits

Call to Adventure:

A Story: Grace and Keren meet the new clients: a just married couple. Have to decorate their apartment.

B Story: Will and Jack go to the gay bookshop; decide to help stop it form closing down.

Belly of the Whale and Physical Separation:

A Story: the study is going to be a nursery; Grace leaves Karen alone to do the job.

B Story: Will refuses to be labelled a "Hero"; Will realises the new owners want to turn it into a gym.

Break

Trials:

B Story: Will makes a speech; Jack tells him to get out.

A Story: Karen has done a great job with the apartment; Grace takes the credit.

Atonement / Apotheosis:

B Story: Will and Grace abandon the cause.

A Story: they argue over who is Ramone; Karen leaves.

FADE OUT

Learn more