Pen Freak

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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 http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Outer Challenge*****

The Outer Cave of the First Threshod is where the Hero's Outer Challenge is made explicit, In Straw Dogs (1971), David sees Charlie put her hands on Amy's throat; he hides behind the curtain - a metaphor for his hiding in the house.

*****Belly of the Whale*****

One aspect of the Belly of the Whale is this: having undergone the changes in the First Threshold, the Hero et al must now confront what they must do, what they will become. They msut show that they have evolved from the earlier Fish out of Water state.: In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), both rob the bank proper this time.

*****Push to the Oracle*****

Despite conflict and resistances (often from a Romantic Challenge), there is a push to the Journey to the Oracle and then Sword. In Straw Dogs (1971), David confronts Cawsey and Scott about the dead cat.

*****Crossing the Return Threshold*****

The Crossing the Return Threshold is a dangerous journey and the resulting New Domain that the Hero finds himself in, contains the Antagonism. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde steals another car, Moss drives, Moss gets some drinking water from the travelers, Moss takes Bonnie and Clyde to Pop.

*****Foreshadow of the Inner Cave*****

Foreshadows are underestimated. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis showers. The sequence leads the heroes to the Inner Cave.

*****Magical Aid of the Middle Cave Trial*****

The Magical Aid is often used to resolve a Middle Cave conflict. In Star Wars (!977), Ben pays Han in cash. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Ennis shoots the dear (the gun is the Magical Aid).