Since you have been gone

The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more...

*****Backstory*****

Previous to the Journey to the First Threshold, some backstory is not uncommon. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack and Ennis talk in the bar.

*****Polarization with the Shape Shifter post the Road of Trials*****

The gap between the Hero and Shape Shifter increases or decreases (polarization or de-polarization), depending on the exact stage of the Journey and whether the Shape Shifter will turn from good to bad or vice versa. In The Incredibles (2004), Bomb Voyage's attitudes and opinions increasingly fall in line with those of Mr Incredible. In Gladiator (2000), the attitudes and beliefs of Lucilla increasingly fall in line with those of Maximus. In Alien (1979), Ash and Ripley drift further apart. In The Matrix (1999), Neo and Cypher's differences are developed.

*****Final Catharses*****

Many stories end with multiple catharses. Brokeback Mountain (2005) is no different.

a) Catharsis 1: Ennis' postcard is returned marked deceased.

b) Catharsis 2: Ennis calls Lureen, who tells him about Jake's death.

c) Catharsis 3: Ennis visits Jake's folks. Finds his shirt and takes it back.

*****Romantic Challenge Polarized*****

The Romantic Challenge is just that - a challenge that has to be resolved. As such, the Hero and Romantic Challenge are, at first meeting, highly polarized. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Marion argues with Indy outside her bar. In The Deer Hunter (1978), Michael is a world away from Linda. In The English Patient (1996), Laszlo and Katharine have the problem of her husband.