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.
Beginning a Screenplay
One important aspect of beginning a screenplay is the FADE IN. Many screenwriters think these are just two words that begin the story, but it is much more than that.
The FADE IN sets the context of the story. A number of techniques are common – narrative, text, visuals, music etc:
a) In Star Wars (1977), the context is set by the famous roll-on text. From this we know about the evil Empire and the Rebellion etc.
b) In Lord of War (2005), the context is set along with the credits – we see the manufacture of a bullet in an arms factory and follow it’s journey to Africa where it embeds itself in a child's head.
c) In Scarface (1983), the first sequence uses visuals and narrative to explain the expulsion of criminals from Cuba by Castro.
d) In War of the Worlds (2005), the first sequence uses narrative and visuals to show bacteria and that the Earth has been watched for millennia.
f) In Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Picture, 2000), the first shots use text to establish the state of Rome and the resistance of the Germanic tribes.
Learn more...
The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample 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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