From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and an overview of Steven Spielberg's material - from Schindler's List to Jurassic Park, this man sticks to the Hero's Journey Template....

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 one of Spielberg's stories; our deconstruction of this and his other works shows that he uses the structure rigidly.

The Color Purple (1985); basic deconstruction

FADE IN: Loop: the two sisters playing in the field of purple flowers.

Meeting the Hero in her Ordinary World: Celie and Nettie playing together.

Antagonism in the Ordinary World: father makes Celie pregnant.

Elixir: having a baby.

Developing Antagonism: ain't you done yet; father takes the baby away.

Developing the Hero: Dear God