From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms 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: Desperate Housewives; Episode 02.06 - [Hero's Journey, basic]

FADE IN: everyone's backstory.

Theme: George never had any luck with women; he has a dream; Brie breaks into a rash when George kisses him.

Credits

Call to Adventure:

A Story: Mike implies he will propose to Susan.

B Story: Brie is told [by the therapist] that she still considers herself married and that's why she has anallergic reaction to George.

C Story: Nina tells Lynnette to wear a different suit.

D Story: Gabrielle doesn't dress maternal; David is shot.

Communion: the girls phone each other; Paul is mowing the lawn.

Belly of the Whale:

A Story: Mike denies that he told Susan that Paul murdered Mrs Huber.

C Story: Lynnette buys $3000 worth of clothes; Tom objects.

B Story: Brie asks George to book them into a hotel.

Trials and Transformation:

A Story: Susan confronts Mike about what he said to the police.

D Story: Gabrielle visits David in hospital.

C Story: Lynnette wears the white suit to work.

Near Death / Atonement / Apotheosis

D story: David quite in the middle of the hearing; he's in love with Gabrielle.

A Story: Paul confronts Susan about the flyer; she tells him she gave him the money to go to Utah.

D Story: Gabrielle visits Carlos in prison; Carlos thinks Gabrielle wants to sleep with David.

B Story: George and Brie check into the hotel; Brie starts to itch again.

Ultimate Boon:

C Story: Lynnette bribes Tom with the golf clubs.

B Story: George and Brie sleep together.

D Story: Gabrielle convinces David that it's only lust and persuades him to represent Carlos.

A Story: Mike confronts Paul who tells him what Susan told him; Mike confronts and leaves Susan.

FADE OUT

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