From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters....
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...
Sample Movie Deconstructed: Casablanca (1942)
• FADE IN: visuals and narrative set the context [World War 2, imprisoned Europe , escape to America , Casablanca 's place in the refugee trail].
• Introduce the Antagonism [the officers round up the usual suspects and nonchalantly shoot a suspect].
• Characters in this Ordinary World. Back story of this Ordinary World. It's a place to be wary of ["vultures everywhere;" the pickpocket sequence].
• Visually demonstration of the desire to escape the Ordinary World [the aircraft flying overhead sequence].
• Meeting the Antagonist and Shape Shifter [Renault greets Strasser]. Reference the Hero [Rick] and the Magical Aid [Letters of Transit].
• Introduce the Hero's Ordinary World and the allies and characters that inhabit it [we enter Rick's bar].
• Hero's status [through the impressions and conversations of other people].
• Meeting the Hero, his nature and capabilities [We meet Rick, he is king of this world with the power to let people in or out; he bars the Nazi sympathiser].
• Meeting with the Supernatural Aid / Mentor and receiving a Magical Gift [Rick meets Ugarte, who gives him the Letters of Transit].
• Hero Tested. Rick given the chance to sell the café and leave with the Letters of Transit [Ferrari offers to buy the café]; Loyalty of Allies Tested [Sam won't leave despite the salary rise offered to him].
• Hero's Inner Challenge demonstrated [Rick cannot love women as indicated by the indifference to Yvonne].
• Hero's True Nature demonstrated [Rick ensures Yvonne gets home safely].
• Develop Hero and Shape Shifter relationship [Rick and Renault outside the cafe]. Reference the hero's back story.
• Foreshadow of the Call to Adventure and the Refusal [Renault refers to Victor; Rick explicitly states his Outer Challenge - "I stick my neck out for nobody."
• Call to Adventure [Renault explicitly tells Rick not to sell Victor the Letters of Transit; foreshadow of the arrival of Romantic Competitor and Romantic Challenge; on the way to the safe sequence].
• Develop Hero's backstory and capabilities for the Journey [we learnt that Rick fought for the resistance].
• Refusal of the Call [Rick refuses to aid Ugarte; "I don't stick his neck out for anybody"].
• Interdiction [Strasser threatens Rick with his past if he helps Victor].
• First Threshold. Arrival of the Romantic Competitor and Romantic Challenge [Victor and Ilsa].
• Foreboding [Sam distressed at seeing Ilsa].
• Warnings at entering the First Threshold [Ilsa feels they shouldn't stay].
• Romantic Competitor's status [Berger reveals himself and is "at his service."]
• Meeting Allies. Romantic Competitor and Romantic Challenge meet the Shape Shifter. [Victor and Ilsa meet Renault]. Referencing the Hero, the coming adventure.
• Inner Cave. Confrontation between the Antagonist and Romantic Competitor [Victor and Strasser face off]. A future confrontation between them is established [Strasser demands that Victor comes to his office].
• Fearful of the Journey [Ilsa afraid for Victor].
• Physical Separation [Victor finds out what Berger knows; Ilsa and Sam recognise each other and talk].
• Warnings against the Journey [Renault watches over Victor; Sam asks Ilsa to leave Rick alone].
• Hero pulled into the Journey [Sam "plays it again," Rick sees Ilsa, Rick joins Renault and Victor for a drink].
• Hero and Romantic Challenge backstory referenced [Rick and Ilsa note their past]. Hero affected by the meeting [Rick joins them for a drink and foregoes the bill].
• Foreshadow of the Road of Trials [Renault reminds Victor about the Meeting].
• Hero's Inner Challenge made explicit [Rick can't get over Ilsa; drunk in the bar]. Warnings by Ally to avoid the adventure [Sam tells Rick to forget Ilsa]. References to the back-story between the Hero and Romantic Challenge.
• Hero and Romantic Challenge back-story illustrated (we see them in Paris ).
• Conflict between the Hero and his Romantic Challenge established [Ilsa comes back to talk to Rick].
• Antagonist and Shape Shifter enhance their plans [Renault and Strasser make plans for Victor and Rick].
• Trial 1 (Victor) [Victor confronts Strasser]. Antagonist demonstrates evil [Ugarte is dead].
• Trial 1 (Rick) [Ferrari wants the Letters of Transit from Rick]].
• Trial 2 (Rick) [Rick meets Ilsa in the market; she tells him Victor is her husband].
• Trial 3 (Victor and Ilsa) [Ferrari offers a single Exit Visa. Ilsa refuses to leave Victor].
• Meeting the Oracle. Ferrari directs Victor and Ilsa toward Rick (toward the Sword) .
• Rest Break before the Seizure of the Sword: we meet the pickpocket again; antagonist appears at Rick's and Renault and Rick relate; Yvonne returns.
• Conflict on the Journey to the Sword [Rick breaks up the fight in his bar].
• Time Pressure [Strasser and Renault debate killing Victor].
• Comedic element ["what watch? Such watch? sequence"].
• Learning about the Ideal and the Sword (Rick) [the Bulgarian girl asks Rick to help].
• Hero Metamorphosing [Rick is now more amenable to the Victor and Ilsa; allows Sam to play "as time goes by…"].
• Hero seizes the Sword [Rick helps the Hungarian couple win at Roulette].
• Reward. [Rick gets a hug from the Bulgarian girl].
• Antagonists react at Seizure of the Sword [Renault deflated that Rick has spoilt his romance].
• Celebrating the Seizure of the Sword [ everyone notices and approves of Rick helping the Hungarian girl; the barman pours him a drink].
• Seizing the Sword (Victor) [Victor asks Rick for the Letters of Transit].
• Near Death Experience (Rick) [Victor leads the opposition anthem; Strasser closes Rick's bar].
• Resistance to the Near Death Experience [Rick protests to Renault].
• Antagonist triggers a Time Pressure [Strasser warns Ilsa that Victor is in danger].
• Warning against the Night Sea Journey and the Near Death Experience [Ilsa warns Victor not to go to the meeting].
• Building up to the Atonement [Victor and Ilsa discuss Rick].
• Hero survives the Near Death Experience. [Rick can keep going for a few weeks]. Hero's True Character illustrated under pressure [everyone still gets paid].
• Atonement with the Father [Ilsa confronts Rick and asks for the Letters of Transit; pulls a gun on him].
• Apotheosis [Ilsa reveals that she thought Victor was dead when she met Rick; Ilsa prepared to sacrifice herself for Victor].
• Ultimate Boon [Victor survives his Near Death Experience [returns from the meeting]. Rick learns that Victor is prepared to sacrifice himself for Ilsa – he realises what love is].
• Refusal of the Return [Victor arrested; Renault resists letting him go].
• Magic Flight [Rick lies to Renault; says he wants to escape with Ilsa].
• Rescue from Without [Ferrari agrees to buy the bar].
• Crossing the Return Threshold and First Catharsis [Rick gives Victor the Letters of Transit; Rick pulls a gun on Renault; forces him to arrange a flight].
• Time Pressure. Strasser alerted.
• Master of the Two Worlds and Overcoming Romantic and Inner Challenges [Rick lets Ilsa go and explains why; says farewell to Victor].
• Time Pressure [Strasser in pursuit].
• Romantic Competitor Overcome [Rick and Victor interaction].
• Hero and Shpae Shifter confrontation [Renault confronts Rick].
• Final Antagonism. Strasser almost prevents Ilsa and Victor escaping.
• Second Catharsis [Rick shoots Strasser].
• Antagonist's lieutenants pursue Hero [Renault's men see Strasser's body]
• Third Catharsis. Shape Shifter turns [Renault diverts his men: "round up the usual suspects…"]. Link to the beginning of the story.
• Freedom to Live. Hero and Shape Shifter Union [ “the start of a beautiful friendshipâ€.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at
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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
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