[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk....; 188 stages of the Hero's Journey you need to know about...]

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...

The Hero's Journey: Capote (2005) basic deconstruction

FADE IN: context: Kansas, 1959.

Inciting Incident: discovery of the murder.

Meeting the Hero: Capote in New York.

Hero's Status: holding an audience.

Call to Adventure: finding the article in the paper.

Conscious Decision: calling his publisher.

Going on a Journey: on the train.

Meeting Loyal Ally: meeting Harper in the train.

Developing the Hero / Ally relationship: Capote pays for a compliment.

Hero's Status: the salesman recognises Capote.

Foreshadow of the Mentor: reading about Dewey.

Mentor's Refusal: Dewey refuses the interview.

Developing the Mentor: Dewey at the press conference.

Hero recognises the Mentor's gifts: Capote talks about Dewey in the car.

Hero's Backstory: does this remind you of Alabama.

Referencing the Inciting Incident: outside the house.

Seeking the Magical Gift: pursuing Laura at school.

Separation: Harper wants to look for Laura alone.

Foreshadow of the Sword: In the funeral; opening the coffin.

Romantic Challenge: Capote on the phone to Jack.

New Clothes / New Self: dressed up for the funeral.

Magical Gift: Speaking to Laura; Laura gives Capote a diary.

On their way: Capote and Harper typing in their room.

Mentor overcoming Refusal: Invited to dinner by Dewey's wife.

Threshold Marker: the door.

Threshold Guardian: Dewey's wife in the kitchen.

Mentor's conscious decision: Dewey accepts over dinner.

Outer Cave: Dewey shows Capote the pictures.

Warning: leaving Dewey's house; I know where you live.

Leaving the Old Self / Romantic Challenge: Jack wants to let him go.

Pushed to the Middle Cave: outside the house; my wife worked in there too.

Middle Cave: looking inside the house.

Inner Cave: with Dewey and his wife; they know who did it.

Push to the Belly of the Whale: at the dinner table; they caught them in Vegas.

Push to the Belly of the Whale: Dewey arrests the boys from the car.

Belly of the Whale: Capote visits Dorothy Sanderson; sees Smith in the cage.

Pulled Back: Dorothy calls Capote.

Pushed to the World of Trials and Transformation: Smith and Hickock ask for the waiver.

Pushed to the World of Trials and Transformation: Capote asks Smith questions in the cell.

Warning: they'll kill you if you get too close.

Conscious Decision to the World of Trials and Transformation: Capote wants to write a book, not an article.

New World: the Photographer takes pictures.

Outer Cave: The sentence is read out in court; guilty; death.

Middle Cave: I have to see him before they take him away.

Inner Cave: Capote tells Smith he'll get a lawyer; put me on the visitor's list.

Developing Characters: Capote, Harper, Jack in New York.

Developing the Hero: Capote being interviewed.

Romantic Challenge: Capote writing in bed with Jack.

Romantic Challenge: Capote walking in the park with Jack.

Outer Cave: waiting to see the warden.

Outer Cave: Bribing the warden.

Middle Cave: Capote visits Smith and Hickock in their cells.

Middle Cave: buying baby food.

Middle Cave: feeding Smith baby food and water.

Inner Cave: Capote sees Smith's photographs and learns his backstory; similar to his own.

Transformation: Capote phones Harper; he's a goldmine.

Transformation: Capote starts writing.

Outer Cave: Capote gets access to the investigation notes from Dewey.

Middle Cave: Capote lies to Smith.

Inner Cave: Capote phones Jack; he can't wait; he's leaving.

Inner Cave: Capote leaves Smith and Hickock; they intended to kill them.

Transformation: Capote arrives in Spain.

Time Shift: one year later.

Pushed to the Sword: getting the call; you have to talk to him before he's executed.

Pushed to the Sword: Harper visits Capote; they lost the appeal.

Recognition of [Old] Self: Walking to the car: Smith is another side of Capote.

Journey to the Sword: visiting Smith in the call; lying to him about the book.

Sword: the public reading of the book.

Reward: Capote holding an audience again.

Pushed to Atonement: Capote being schmoozed by his publisher; forced to get the last night's events from Smith so that he can finish the book.

Atonement: Capote pushes Smith to tell.

Foreshadow of / Alternative Apotheosis: Capote visits Smith's sister.

Apotheosis: Perry has heard of the name of the book; he tells of the last night.

Ultimate Boon: finishing the book.

Magic Flight: Capote flies back home.

Refusal: Another Stay of Execution; Capote wants to be done with it.

Denial: Jack arrives; Smith needs another lawyer; Capote doesn't find one.

Alienation: Capote jealous of Harper's success; sitting alone at the party.

Rescue from Without: Smith wants a last visit from Capote.

Crossing the Return Threshold: Capote flies back with his publisher.

Resistance: Capote doesn't answer the phone until Harper calls.

Catharsis 1: Capote visits them in prison; cries.

Master of Two Worlds: Arriving at the gallows.

Catharsis 2: Capote watches the hanging.

Catharsis 3: Capote calls Harper; she tells him he didn't want to save them.

Freedom to Live: flying back; looking at the photos.

FADE OUT: the book makes him the most famous writer in America.

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