All (Hollywood) stories follow the same pattern. After deconstructing more than 100 successful Hollywood blockbusters, we can make this statement with certainty.
Below is a sample of the pattern and a deconstruction of one of Hollywood's Greatest Films.
Wall Street (1987) deconstructed
FADE IN: Context: Wall Street; the morning rush hour; the skyscrapers etc.
Introduce the Hero, his Allies and Enemies in the Ordinary World: Bud enters the trading room and meets his colleagues.
Hero's Behaviour and Status in his Ordinary World: Bud trading shares and cold calling.
Pushed to the Mentor: Lynch closes the account and Bud has to pay.
Develop relationship with Loyal Ally: Marvin lends Bud some money. Developing Hero's Status "hey rookie…"
Call to Adventure : "you know what my dream is…"
Foreshadow of Anti-Mentor: "Buddy aren't you forgetting something...the Gekko phone call…"
Refusal : "buddy, buddy when will you learn, the big game hunters bag the big elephants, not guys like us…"
Backstory, Status and Reputation of the Anti-Mentor: Bud and Marvin talk about all the deals Gekko has made.
Threshold Guardian to the World of the Transformation: bud tries to convince Nathalie.
Developing Hero's Status "Mr Gekko doesn't deal with brokers, only investment bankers…"
Entry to the World of the Transformation restricted: Gekko's office door closes.
Meeting the Mentor: Bud visits his Dad, Carl.
Foreshadow of the Journey: the aircraft above.
Mentor's Ordinary World: Dad in the café.
Reference to Mentor's Wisdom: "It's called Pasta now, Spaghetti is out of date…""yes…so am I…"
Sacred Meeting: "we'll leave you guys alone…"
Mentor senses the Hero needs guidance: "you don't look so hot…"
Mentor's Guidance: "you shouldn't have gotten into that racket…"
Hero's Backstory: "you borrow money to go to NYU etc…"
Hero's Motivation: "there is no nobility in poverty anymore…one day you're going to be proud of me…"
Mentor's Status: people shake Carl's hand.
Magical Gift: money and the tip about Blue Star.
Pulled to the First Threshold: Gekko's birthday.
World of the Threshold from afar: passing the lower secretary.
Passing the Threshold Guardian: Bud persuades Nathalie.
Foreboding / Expectation: waiting…
Entering the World of the Transformation: Gekko's doors open.
World of the First Threshold: looking around Gekko's office.
Meeting the Anti-Mentor: in his Ordinary World: Gekko on the phone.
Anti-Mentor recognizes the Hero: "this is the kid that calls me 59 days in a row…wants to be a player…"
Rules of this World: lunch is for wimps.
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: "connection at the airport…"
Developing the Anti-Mentor: Gekko checking his blood pressure.
Pushing toward the Physical Separation: Bid tries to convince Gekko to invest in some stocks…
Pushed Back: "it's a dog…"
Developing the Anti-Mentor and his Ordinary world: "this turkey is totally brain dead…""this guy is the best trader on Wall Street…""Mr Gekko your wife…"
Foreshadow of the Transformation: Gekko wants info on Teldar.
Pushing toward the Physical Separation: Bid tries to convince Gekko to invest in some more stocks…
Pushed Back: "it's a dog with different fleas…"
Temptation of the Anti-Mentor: "…tell me something I don't know…"; Gekko leads Bud's eye with the airline tickets…
Physical Separation: Bud tells Gekko about Blue Star.
Foreboding: Bud walks out of the office…
Pulled Back into the Ordinary World and Pushed Forward into the New World: "tickets for chicks and the nicks…""do you want to keep coming in here and still pitching when you're in you're late sixties…"
Transformation / Trial 1: Gekko calls and wants Bud to buy Blue Star.
Celebration: "I just bagged the elephant…"
Developing the Anti-Mentor: Gekko in the restaurant; the TV.
Pushed forward by the Mentor: "I bet you put a few thou on Blue Star as soon as you left the office…"
Resistance: "no Sir, that wouldn't have been ethical..."
Tempted by the Anti-Mentor: "this is what you put into my bank account…"
Beginning the Transformation: "buy a new suit…and save the cheap salesman talk…"
Warning: "nothing ruins my day more than losses…"
Pulled into the Transformation: the hooker in the limo.
Transforming Hero: "…morning Buddy, you look happy…"
Pushed Back to the Ordinary World: Bud makes a loss.
Symbol of the Devolved Hero: Bud tires at squash.
Developing the Anti-Mentor:; Gekko's Backstory etc: in the gym.
Transformation / Trial 2: "please Mr Gekko, give me another chance…"
Tempted Forward: "see that building…"
Resisting Trial 3: Bud gets out of the car.
Succumbing: "Ok, you got me…"
Transformation / Trial 3: Bud follows Larry Wildman.
Magical Gift: Blue horseshoe loves Anacon Steel.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Bud tells Marvin et al about Anacon Steel.
Warned of the Transformation: Lou warns Bud.
Meeting the Oracle, the Ideal and the Sword: Bud meets Larry and Darien at the party.
Transforming Hero: Bud quotes Sun Tzu.
Pushed toward the Sword: Gekko tells Bud to go to work.
Journey to the Sword: Bud visits his lawyer friend; steals into the offices; dates Darien.
Transforming Hero: Bud gives Carl some money.
Warnings from the Mentor: Carl warns Bud not to think like the guys at the track.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Bud gets Power of Attorney over Gekko's accounts.
Seizing the Sword: Bud's lawyer friend agrees; Bud gets the new office; Bud moves in with Darien.
Inner Challenge: "who am I…"
Developing Characters and Relationships: Gekko with Darien.
Near Death Experience: "what an asshole man…;" StockWatch spots the Teldar inside trading.
Reward: Gekko's speech; Gekko gets Teldar.
Journey to the Atonement: Buddy convinces Gekko to go for Blue Star.
Atonement with the Father: Gekko meets Carl; Carl confronts Gekko; Gekko wants to take Blue Star apart.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Stock Watch are onto Bud.
Apotheosis: Bud gets to sit in on the finance meeting.
Ultimate Boon: Bud confronts Gekko; "it's never enough, pal…"
Refusal: Bud can't make it tonight.
Disgust at the New Self: Bud walks the streets…"I'm looking in the mirror and I don't like what I see…"
Alienation: Darien will leave Bud if he crosses Gekko.
Magic Flight: Bud sells the apartment.
Rescue from Without: Carl has had a heart attack; Bud visits Carl in hospital.
Crossing the Return Threshold: Bud talks to the Union; and arranges the deal with Larry Wildman and makes it up to Marvin; Bud listening to Lou; Blue Horseshoe loves Blue Star; saving Blue Star.
Master of the Two Worlds: Bud is arrested; he confronts and entraps Gekko in the park.
Inner Challenge Conquered: "…even though I wanted to be Gordon Gekko, I'll always be Bud Fox…"
Freedom to Live: Bud in the car with Carl….
Learn more…
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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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