From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.managing-creativity.com 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. The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays. Story Structure: James Bond (Goldfinger) deconstructed This James Bond story (often voted the best of the franchise) follows the Hero's Journey by the book...best to follow this analysis whilst watching the movie... Hero's capabilities and Ordinary World: Bond sets up the explosives; takes off the dive suit to reveal a Tuxedo (he is a chameleon able to cross Worlds). Hero's status: women look at him. Hero's ethics: "at least he won't be exporting heroine…" Hero's capabilities enhanced: Bond looks into the lady's eyes to see the villain behind him. His ability to fight; his intelligence: he uses the electric fire to kill the villain in the bathtub. Hero's wit: "shocking…" MUSIC: Herald brings the Call to Adventure: Felix delivers a wire from London re: Goldfinger. Meeting the Antagonist: Goldfinger sits down to pay cards. Hero / Antagonist battle: superior intelligence causes the Hero to win. Antagonist motivated against the Hero: Goldfinger snaps the pencil. Reward: Bond gets Jill. Hero pushed into the Journey (Unbearable Antagonism): Goldfinger kills Jill. Refusal of the Call: Bond's boss admonishes him for "stealing his girlfriend…" Threshold Guardian: Moneypenny. Meeting the Supernatural Aid: the Dinner. Magical Gift: the brandy and the gold bar; Backstory of the Antagonist: Goldfinger's operation analysed. Magic Carpet: the Aston Martin (from another mentor, Q). Border of the First Threshold: agreeing to play golf with Goldfinger. Meeting the Antagonist's fearsome Lieutenant: Oddjob. Hero wary of the Lieutenant. Inner Cave: Hero / Antagonist battle: Bond beats Goldfinger at golf. Characters and natures exposed: Goldfinger cheats and Bond uses intelligence. Consciously making the decision to push toward the Physical Separation: Bond plants the homing device. Warning against the Physical Separation: Goldfinger warns Bond. Threat of the Lieutenant demonstrated / Foreshadow of future conflict: Oddjob shows what he can do with the hat. Physical Separation in the Magic Carpet: now in the Swiss Alps driving the Aston Martin. Trial 1: Tilly Masterson shoots at Bond. Trial 2: Meeting the Sword: Meeting Tilly. Viewing the World of the Sword from a distance: viewing the building. Entering the World of the Sword in the dead of night and stealthily in the Wolves Clothing: sneaking into the building dressed in black. Trial 3: finding out about Operation Grandslam. Seizing the Sword: capturing Tilly. Night Sea Journey: Pursued by Oddjob et al and captured. Pushed toward the Near Death Experience: being led into Goldfinger's lair. Threshold Guardian: the old lady. Resisting the Near Death Experience: Bond tries to get away. Near Death Experience: nearly being lasered in half. Reward: meeting Pussy Galore (Shape Shifter). Developing relationship between hero and Shape Shifter: Bond tests Pussy. Triggering Convergence: bond activates the homing signal. Letting go of the Old Self: Bond changes into new clothes. Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Bond tells Pussy what will happen if she shoots the gun. Stunted Convergence: Felix et al get a fix on the homing signal; but they decide to wait. Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: Bond sees Pussy's flying babes. Pushed towards the Atonement: taken to Goldfinger by Oddjob. Prevented from the Atonement: Bond put in the cell. Preparing for the Atonement: Goldfinger tells his pals he plans to break into Fort Knox. Pushed to the Atonement: Bond escapes the cell. Atonement with the Father: Bond finds out that Delta 9 will knock out the guards. Pushed toward the apotheosis: Pussy captures Bond. Evil of the Antagonist demonstrated: Goldfinger kills his mafia pals. Convergence Activated: Bond plants the note with the homing signal for Felix to find. Evil of the Lieutenant Demonstrated: Oddjob kills and crushes Solo and the homing beacon. Obstacle to the Convergence: Felix et al the homing signal. Shape Shifter and Antagonist confrontation: Goldfinger and Pussy talk. Apotheosis: Bond finds out that Goldfinger plans to nuke Fortknox. Ultimate Boon and Shape Shifter turns: Bond and Pussy make Hay. Antagonist's plan proceeds: the girls take off and spray the gas; Oddjob lasers through the doors. Magic Flight: Goldfinger runs. Refusal of the Return: Goldfinger's soldier wants to take the fuse out of the bomb; Oddjob won't allow it. Rescue from Without: Bond escapes. Crossing the Return Threshold: Bond tackles Oddjob (catharsis 1) and tries to switch the nuke (catharsis 2). Master of the Two Worlds: Bond faces Goldfinger in the aircraft; Goldfinger gets sucked out (catharsis 3). Bond and Pussy parachute out of the aircraft (catharsis 4). Freedom to Live: Bond beds Pussy. Learn more… 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/ You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site. Kal Bishop ********************************** You are free to reproduce this article. 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/ Source: www.isnare.com
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