Refusing The Hero’s Journey : Screenwriting Tips, Tricks and Tools
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon - understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
One critical element of the hero’s journey is Refusal.
If the hero is willing, then refusal often comes in the form of an interdiction and / or warning. If the hero is naturally unwilling, then an unbearable antagonism often pushes the hero into the adventure.
Both of the above are seen in Star Wars (1977). Luke is willing but uncle Owen acts as the Interdictor, forbidding him to embark under threat of some punishment. After meeting Ben Kenobi, Luke decides that he cannot follow Ben to Alderran until he discovers his uncle and aunt have been murdered by Imperial Troops.
The above pattern can be seen in most of the successful stories and screenplays.
In Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Film 2000), Maximus declines Marcus Aurelius’ invitation to take his place as Emperor and “give Rome back to the people.” Although he decides to accept after consultation with his man servant, he is in fact pushed into his journey by the murder of Marcus Aurelius by Commodus.
In Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film 2004), Frankie refuses to teach Maggie how to box, until Willie leaves him and a) Frankie is at a loose end and b) Maggie increasingly comes to represent his (lost) daughter.
The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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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 http://managing-creativity.com/
