Hero's Journey: From System to Story and Screenplay

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.
· Provides the writer more structural elements than basically 3 or 4 acts, plot points, mid spot and so on.
· Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite many varied stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey shall also be a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters hold a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns located in successful screenplays.
Consider this:
o Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey like a template.
o Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey like a template.
o Shrek 3 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey like a template.
o ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey like a template.
o Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey like a template.
o Out of Africa (1985), Terms of Endearment (1983), Dances with Wolves (1990), Gladiator (2000) - All Academy Award Winners Greatest Film are based on the Hero's Journey.
o Anti-hero stories (Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990) etc) are all based on the Hero's Journey.
o Heroine's Journey stories (Million Dollar Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all based on the Hero's Journey.








From Plan to Story and Screenplay
The core of every story is the Apotheosis: the insight, illumination or revelation that the hero undergoes. For example, in Raging Bull (1980), Jake La Motta learns that Joey (his brother) was sleeping with his Vickie (his wife).
Pre the Apotheosis is the Atonement with the Father: the confrontation with that that prevents the Apotheosis. Creating use of Raging Bull repeatedly (1980), Jake's apotheosis conclusions from his confrontation with Joey.
To convert an plan into a story and screenplay then, one wants the apotheosis and the atonement with the father. With that, the writer can build up to and beyond.
One effective method of progressing from plan to story, is to treat your plan as the Apotheosis and build around the Hero's Journey structure. For example:
a) In Casablanca (1942), Rick's insight is that whether you like someone, you sacrifice you for their happiness. That sacrifice can with selling your most prized fabric possessions (he sells his bar), allowing your like to retrieve happiness in another's arms (he ultimately allows Ilsa to be with Victor), physical suffering (it is likely that his ultimate actions shall look him to a concentration camp), leaving dear colleagues (he shall need to leave Sam behind) and forced exile from building and heart (he shall need to leave Casablanca). He learns this insight from most Ilsa and Victor, who are prepared to do similar for each other.
b) In Al Pacino Scarface (1983), Tony Montana's insight is that the rewards regarding the path he is chosen are not worth the spiritual cost he is paying, expressed with the words (in the restaurant scene): "is this it? Is that what it's all about Manny? Eating, drinking, f*cking, sucking," "no free rides in this world kid," "I lost my appetite," "is that what I worked for? With these hands? Is that what I killed for? For this?" Study more…
The Done 188 stage Hero's Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates shall be located at should possibly receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
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You are free to reproduce this story as long as no changes are created and the author's name and location URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities with Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted within the visual press and software industries and for clients for example 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 many screenplays. He is a passionate traveller.