188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Screenwriting Tips 2

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The 188 stage 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 188 STAGE 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) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details):

*****First Trial Inner Cave - Polarization*****

A number of things happen in the Inner Cave of the First Trial. One element is Polarization. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie and Blanche argue.

*****Multiple Mentors*****

It is not unusual for the Hero to meet more than one Mentor. Each has experience in a particular domain. In Hooper (1978), we meet both Jocko and Max.

The Supernatural Aid appears in some mysterious way and magical way. In The Big Lebowski (1998), The Stranger seems to magically appear and disappear.

*****Foreshadow of the Sword*****

The Sword is a tangible representation of the Expansion of Consciousness (an intangible). The Hero must attain the tangible to attain the intangible. There is often a Foreshadow of this Journey. In Straw Dogs (1971), Norman shows Charlie Amy's knickers.

*****Letting go of the Old Self*****

Post the Crossing of the Return Threshold and before the Master of Two Worlds and Selves, a hell of a lot happens that is rarely given mention. The Final Conflict (a metaphor for this stage) follows a distinct process. At the mid point of the Final Conflict, the hero lets go of his old self. This is demonstrated in a number of (metaphoric) ways. In Straw Dogs (1971), Amy wants to go, "let me go." In The Godfather (1972), Michael lies to Kay.