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...

*****Atonement with the Father*****

The atonement with the father is a confrontation with the inner challenge. It is the confrontation with that that has been the limiting factor and often involves (the replacement of) a father figure. In Shawshank Redemption (1987), Andy walks out of the warden's office wearing his shoes. Everything is symbolic.

*****Elixir*****

It is in No Mans Land that the Hero (and audience) are reminded of the Elixir. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jake and Ennis ride through Brokeback. Jake tries to convince Ennis to move to Texas.

*****Push to the Inner Cave*****

Pushes and Pulls are underestimated, even symbolically. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack doesn't mind switching, "...We both ought to be in this camp...."

*****Coronation*****

A Ceremony celebrates the bravery of the Heroes (Star Wars, Raging Bull).

Medals are given (Silence of the Lambs, Star Wars).

There is the symbolism of Graduation (Silence of the Lambs).

Crowned. The Hero is crowned King. In Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (2003), Frodo et al are Knighted during a ceremony. In the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), the children are knighted during a ceremony.

*****Analysis of the Ordinary Self*****

This is another word for context. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), photos of 20's and text explain when Bonnie and Clyde were born and that they were vicious criminals.

*****Demonstrating the Magical Gift*****

One often missed stage of the Hero's Journey is the demonstration of the Magical Gift. In the Bond franchise, Q also demonstrates the gadgets. In Star Wars (1977), Ben fires up Luke's light sabre. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie dares Clyde to use the gun.

*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero, it is these arcgetypes' challenges that provide the basis for subplot.