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.
Shape Shifter Functions
The Shape Shifter is an essential archetype that appears in none out of ten successful Hollywood stories. The Shape Shifter switches from good to bad or bad to good. This character has a number of functions including:
a) To compete for the hero role. In Star Wars (1977), Han Solo is a viable hero.
b) To compete with the hero for his romantic challenge. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Bellow buys Marion a dress and shares a bottle of wine. In The Matrix (1999), Cypher tells Trinity he loved her.
c) To provide an alternative point of view. In The Matrix (1999), Cypher questions whether taking the other pill wouldn't have been better – ignorance is bliss.
d) To challenge the antagonist. In The Incredibles (2004), Mirage contradicts Syndrome.
e) To assist in the escape from the World of the Sword or the Rebirth Through Death experience. In The Incredibles (2004), Mirage helps The Incredible family return to the Ordinary World.
f) To pull the hero toward the light or dark side [mentor substitute]. In Lord of War (2005), Vitlay Orlov attempts to convince Yuri away from the Arms Trade.
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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