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.

By understanding exactly what elements make up each major stage of the Hero’s Journey, screenwriters can easily build a screenplay from the ground up.

Some elements of the Call to Adventure include:

Hero’s Motivations. We learn why the hero takes a particular course of action.

• In Goodfellas (1990), the first sequences explain why Henry wanted to be part of the gangster family.

Hero’s Inner Challenge, which must be overcome, often by the Atonement or Apotheosis stages.

• In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), we learn that Indiana is afraid of snakes.

• In The Truman Show (1998), we quickly learn that Truman is afraid of water. Later he has to directly confront that fear (atonement with the father) before he can attain apotheosis.

• In Dances with Wolves (1990), John Dunbar must learn that all Indians are not “thieves and beggars.”

Hero’s Romantic Challenge.

• In Spiderman (2002), Peter must win over Mary Jane.

Hero’s Outer Challenge. This is not necessarily the same as overcoming the antagonist or antagonism.

• In Star Wars (1977), Luke must destroy the Death Star.

• In Dances with Wolves (1990), John must help the Sioux to survive as long as possible.

• In Get Carter (1971- the superior version with Michael Caine), we discover in the first scene that Jack Carter’s outer challenge is to discover who killed his brother, his inner challenge is to escape from his criminal associates and his romantic challenge is to wrestle Britt Ekland away from the mob boss.

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/

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