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.
Hero's Journey: Empire Strikes Back deconstructed
• FADE IN: Context; the famous text based roll on screen.
• Introduce Antagonist [probes launched from the Imperial destroyer].
• Introduce Hero [Luke riding across the snow; wants to check out the probe].
• Forced to the First Threshold [Luke attacked by the Ice Monster].
• Hero's Ordinary World: the Rebel outpost.
• Developing characters and relationships of Allies [Han Solo with Chewy].
• Foreshadow of the Journey [Han tells the General he ahs to leave].
• Developing the Romantic Challenge [Han Solo with Leia].
• Developing characters and relationships of Allies [R2 and C3PO].
• Foreshadow of the push to the First Threshold [n one knows where Luke is].
• Warnings of the First Threshold [“between you and me, I think commander Luke is in considerable dangerâ€].
• Forced to the First Threshold [Luke hasn't come back, Han will have to go after him].
• Warnings of the First Threshold [“Sir, the temperature is dropping too rapidly; your Ton Ton will freeze before you before you reached the first markers…].
• Capabilities of the Hero / First Threshold Outer Cave Trial [Luke escapes the Ice Monster through use of the force and the Light Sabre].
• Foreboding of the Trial [“don't say things like that, of course we'll see aster Luke again'].
• Middle Cave Trial [the situation worsens for Luke].
• Foreboding of the Trial [the shield doors must be closed; Leia et al extremely pessimistic].
• Meeting the Supernatural Aid [Obi Wan tells Luke to seek Yoda].
• Inner Cave [Han finds Luke; opens up the belly of the Ton Ton]. Time Pressure [“haven't got much time…â€].
• Celebration of passing the First Threshold Trials [Han and Luke rescued].
• Developing characters and relationships [“that's another one you owe me, kid...;†R2, C3, Han, Chewy, Leia etc glad to see Luke].
• Resistance to the Physical Separation [Han can't leave until they have activated the energy field].
• Developing the Romantic Challenge [Leia kisses Luke].
• Foreshadow of the Physical Separation [they think they think they've found an Imperial droid].
• Pushed to the Physical Separation [“we better start the evacuation].
• Developing the Antagonist [Vader knows that the Rebellion is in the Hoth System].
• Preparing the Physical Separation.; developing Hero, characters and relationships [Luke bids farewell].
• Pushed to the Physical Separation [a fleet of Star Destroyers is approaching; preparing for the ground assault].
• Developing the Antagonist [Vader kills the Admiral].
• Preparing the Physical Separation; developing characters and relationships [Leia gives instructions].
• Resistance to the Physical Separation [the Imperial attack].
• Pushing past the resistance to the Physical Separation [the transporters push past the star destroyers].
• Time Pressure [“yes Lord Vader, the shields will be down momentarily].
• Capabilities of the Hero [Luke battles the increasingly ferocious Imperial invasion].
• Forced to the Physically Separate [“come on, that's it…;†Vader arrives]
• Journey to the World of the Transformation [“yes R2, we're going to the Degoba Systemâ€].
• Obstacle on entering the World of the Transformation [Han can't get to light speed].
• Camouflage and Trickery [the Millenium Falcon hides in an asteroid field].
• Arrival into the World of the Transformation: a new, unfamiliar World; polar opposite to that from which the Hero has come.
• Threshold Guardian [the serpent].
• Developing the Antagonist, character and relationships [asteroids do not concern me, Admiral].
• Developing character and relationships and the Romantic Challenge [“sorry sweetheart, I haven't got time for anything else…â€' Han and R2 etc].
• Meeting the Supernatural Aid / Mentor [Luke meets Yoda].
• Hero does not recognize the Mentor: Luke doesn't know the creature is Yoda.
• Developing the Romantic Challenge: Leia and Han.
• Developing the Antagonism: the Emperor and Vader speak.
• Resisting and then agreeing to the Transformation: Yoda thinks Luke is too old, too impatient and then agrees.
• Trial 1: Han et al escape the Whale in the asteroid.
• Trial 2: Spiritual Guidance; Luke meets Vader inside the tree.
• Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Vader hires the bounty hunters.
• Wolves Clothing: the Millenium Falcon hides amongst the garbage.
• Trial 3: Spiritual Guidance; Yoda lifts Luke's fighter out of the water.
• Developing the Antagonist: Vader kills another Admiral.
• Becoming aware of the World of the Sword: Han sees that Lando's city in the sky is nearby.
• Foreshadow of the Journey to the World of the Sword: Luke sees that Han and Leia will be in danger. Resistance to the journey to the World of the Sword: Yoda dissuades Luke.
• Threshold Guardian to the World of the Sword: the fighters guide the Millenium Falcon into the city in the sky.
• Meeting the Shape Shifter: Lando Calrissian.
• Romantic Competition: Lando likes Leia.
• Shape Shifter's back story: Lando recalls his and Han's history.
• Foreshadow of the Seizing of the Sword: R2 is shot.
• Separation: Luke will go to the city in the sky; Obi Wan nor Yoda will be able to help Luke if he decides to go.
• Suspicions of the Shape Shifter.
• Development of the Romantic Challenge: Leia admits her feelings for Han.
• Foreshadow of the Seizing of the Sword: Chewy finds R2.
• Seizing the Sword: Lado gives up Han et al to Vader.
• Foreshadow of the Atonement: Luke is on his way.
• Near Death Experience: Han et al are tortured.
• Shape Shifter turning: Vader goes back on his deal with Lando.
• Developing the Shape Shifter / Foreshadow of the Atonement: Lando tells Han et al that Vader is after Luke.
• Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the carbon freezing unit.
• Reward: Han lives through carbon freeze; Leia admits she loves Han.
• Warning of the Atonement [“Luke, it's a trap…â€].
• Atonement with the Father: Luke battles Vader.
• Refusal: Lando frees Leia et al; they refuse to trust him.
• Magic Flight: Han flies off; Leia et al pursued by Storm Troopers.
• Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: Luke and Vader battle; Luke avoids the freezing unit; almost on a par with Vader.
• Crossing the Return Threshold: Lando advises all to leave; the Empire has taken over; fighting their way back to the Millenium Falcon.
• Apotheosis: Luke learns who Vader is.
• Ultimate Boon: Luke can destroy the Emperor; he has forseen this.
• Rescue from Without: Luke calls Leia…she hears his call; they rescue Luke.
• Master of the Two Worlds: Luke talks to his father from the Millenium Falcon; the Millenium Falcon still can't get into hyperdrive; Time Pressure etc.
• Freedom to Live: Luke et al escape; Vader doesn't kill another Admiral; Luke gets another hand.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at
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Kal Bishop
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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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