[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: The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005) basic deconstruction

FADE IN: Ordinary World: Andy's apartment.

Meeting the Hero: Andy in bed.

Challenge: hard-on; no one to have sex with; alone etc.

Ordinary Behaviour: working out; bath; breakfast;.

Devolved State: still a kid on a bike; that boy needs to get laid.

Push out of the Ordinary World and from Ordinary Self: when are you going to get a car?

Refusal: Survivor; tonight; are we on?

Challenge Statement: that boy needs to get laid.

Devolved State: biking to work.

Professional Ordinary World: walking into the store.

Devolved State: I'm not a salesman.

Meeting the Mentor: Cal went to Tijuana.

Challenge: what did you get up to? I boiled a dozen eggs.

Meeting Allies: David wants Paula to take Michael McDonald off the TVs.

Meeting Allies: Jay and Mooj argue.

Call to Adventure: we need five guys to play a decent game of poker.

Refusal: Cal thinks Andy's a murderer.

Conscious Decision: Andy says yes.

Warning: Paula won't like it that they play poker in the shop.

Threshold Guardian: Mooj has to leave before Andy can play.

First Threshold:

Outer Cave: the guys find out Andy's a virgin.

Middle Cave: bag of sand, how can you be so stupid.

Foreboding of the Inner Cave: riding to work worried.

Inner Cave: everyone knows he's a virgin.

Pushed from the Inner Cave: Andy runs away.

Pursued: David follows.

Refusing the Transformation: I have a fulfilling life; playing the trumpet; painting soldiers; playing games.

Trial: arguing with the Haziz.

Allies Challenge: David relates his girlfriend problems in the caf