188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Film Script Structures

By Kal Bishop

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE 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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES (188+ stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about...):

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Final Conflict: Allies against the Hero*****

Post the Crossing of the Return Threshold and before the Master of Two Worlds and Selves, a hell of a lot happens that is rarely given mention. The Final Conflict (a metaphor for this stage) follows a distinct process. One aspect of this stage is the possibility of allied forces turning against the hero. In Straw Dogs (1971), Amy decides to go against David and give then Henry.

*****World of the Sword*****

The World of the Sword (and getting there) contains specific characteristics, including:

Dangerous Place. The Sword will lie in a dangerous place, often at the heart of the Antagonist's world.

Perilous Journey. The journey to it is dangerous.

Suicidal. The journey is embarked upon against the greatest of odds.

Below the Earth. The Sword lies deep underground (in the tombs of Hell); consequently the environment is dark and uncomfortable to Creatures of the Day.

New World and New Creatures. Like all New Domains, this one also contains unfamiliar, magical creatures and behaviours.

*****Transcendental Powers Remain Behind*****

Previous to the Crossing of the Return Threshold, all Transcendental Powers must remain behind. The Hero must fight his (or her) final battle alone - how else will he or she know that the Antagonisms (which in no small part are psychological) have certainly been overcome. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Buck is shot and Blanche captured.

*****Push to the Middle Cave*****

Pushes and Pulls are underestimated. Often a Push or Pull takes the Hero from the Outer Cave to the Middle Cave. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), the bear growls and the horses run. This pushes Jack and Ennis to start hunting.

Learn more…

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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