Screenwriting Essential(s): Hero's Journey and No Going Back

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero's Journey:

Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.

No Going Back

One Element of the Hero's Journey (during the stage of the First Threshold) is NO GOING BACK. Here the hero cannot r eturn to his Ordinary World, makes a conscious decision to embark on the journey or both:

In Dances with Wolves (1990), once John Dunbar reaches Fort Hayes, the foulest man he has ever met leaves. There is no way back.

In The Matrix (1999), Neo has a choice between the red and blue pills. Once the choice is made, he cannot return (even though he toys with the idea later).

In Gladiator (2000), once Commodus has murdered Maximus' family, there is no path but forward.

In Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Omar Sharif leads Peter O'Toole into the suns anvil. There is a point where it is clearly stated that it would be harder to return than go on.

In Star Wars (1977), Luke explicitly states that he wants to follow Obi Wan and become a Jedi Knight like his father.

The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Heros Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/

Author:: Kal Bishop
Keywords:: Screenwriting, Hero's Journey, Story Structure, Essential
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