Successful use of the following products requires that you have bought, read, understood and accepted the principles and terminology of the Hero's Journey / Transformation as contained in: The Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about.
From our deconstruction of hundreds of successful Hollywood blockbusters and stories and our knowledge as writers, our thesis can be reduced to the following:
The essence of story is transformation.
The process of that transformation, at the root level, is the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
Moving on there are a number of other considerations, including:
Variant drivers push (or pull) the journey and transformation forward. Sometimes the driver is an Antagonism, sometimes it is the urge for a New Self etc.
Each journey and transformation uses variant symbolism and metaphors.
Each genre has its own conventions.
Variant combinations of the above produce their own Hero's Journey Plot. For example, if the Hero is Willing, there tend to be a greater number of obstacles and interdictions, whereas if the Hero is Unwilling, there tend to be a greater number of pushes or pulls forward.
A Hero's Journey Plot is a much more specific elicitation of the Hero's Journey (and consequently cannot be applied as broadly). Advantages include:
The increased specificity allows for a much more guided template and makes writing a words-on-paper first draft much easier.
The genre conventions are precise.
Labelling is precise. For example, it would be inappropriate to label the antagonism a "demon king" in a Woody Allen type romance story.
i) The Advanced Worksheets below are elicitations of various Hero's Journey Plots. They are pragmatic worksheets with an arrangement of incidents / sequence of events that each follow plausibly from the other. They are like chalk outlines that will allow you to extrapolate ideas into full blown stories. Each of the templates below contain between 60 and 250+ steps - simply superimpose your situation over these structures.
Start with one Advanced Worksheet and write multiple stories with it. Become intimate with your single, chosen template. Master it with alternative situations, characters and motivations. Become familiar with the root fairytale that it relates to and understand and play with the symbolism and metaphors. If you do this your understanding of the Hero's Journey, Transformation, the relationship with the root fairytales, the ability to deconstruct stories effectively etc will all drastically improve and take you to a new place.
Interpreted metaphorically, each of the templates below has multiple uses. For example: A damsel in distress in a tower is the same as i) a child caught in a fire in a building (Spideman, 2002), which is the same as an ii) ark in a tomb (Raiders of the Lost Ark, 1981) , which is the same as a iii) gorilla in a cage (Mighty Joe Young, 1998) etc.
ii) The following templates use a number of Archetypes that you may not have met before; they can be found here: Complete and Advanced Archetypes.
iii) The New Self template is also recommended reading and is an append to the Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey. This is the Hero's movement between Worlds analysed explicitly with eyes on the Transformation. Every story is a process of Transformation. For example:
In The Godfather (1972), Michael begins as an outsider, wearing the army uniform, not wanting to be a part of the Family, not wanting to become like his father and is recognised by the other Families as a "civilian." [Old Self]
When he returns from Sicily, his Old Self has dissolved away and he is now aligned with his father's attitudes and beliefs and is working for him. He becomes the de jure head of the family. He is dressed in a black suit. [New Self]
Finally, he defeats all enemies to become de facto head of the Family [Master of Two Worlds] and lies to Kay (a confrontation with the Old Self) until he is finally a Master of the Two Selves.
In The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Andy is originally an exile of the fashion world, wears the wrong clothes, is unfamiliar with the brands and is denigrated by the women who work in Runway. [Old Self].
After a period and under Nigel's guidance, she completely transforms to become a representation of the fashion world, is accepted by everyone including Miranda and replaces Emily. [New Self].
Finally, she realises that she doesn't want Miranda's life, throws her phone into the fountain, gets a job at another magazine and gives her branded clothes to Emily. [Masters her Two Selves].
In Dances with Wolves (1990), John Dunbar is initially a US soldier fighting in the civil war. He is led to believe that Indians are foul, dirty, thieving savages. [Old Self].
Soon after entering Sioux territory, he is pulled into their world, loses his prejudices and eventually becomes one of them. [New Self].
Finally, he is pulled back to Fort Hayes where he battles that representation of his Old Self, the US soldiers, in order to become his Ultimate Self. [Master of Two Selves].
This requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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iv) Detachment, Attachment and Liberation Theory is a fantastic tool and is an append to the Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey. This is the Hero's movement between Worlds analysed explicitly with eyes on the Detachment and Attachment process. Every story is a process of detachment, attachment and liberation. For example:
In Kramer vs Kramer (Academy Award Winner, 1979), Ted is initially attached to his job at the advertising agency, has high status there and is getting a promotion.
After Joanna leaves, Ted gradually attaches to Billy and simultaneously detaches from the advertising agency, until he becomes Billy's de facto Mom.
Finally, he is liberated from attachments. He is free from his old advertising agency and implicitly freer from Billy too - he allows Joanna to go up alone to see him.
In Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Roy is initially attached to Ronnie and the kids.
Post the encounter with the UFOs, he gradually detaches from Ronnie and the kids and attaches to the shape he is obsessed with.
Finally, he is liberated from all attachments - he is taken aboard the mothership by the aliens.
In Platoon (1986), even though Taylor is in Vietnam, he is attached to the Old World through his letters to Grandma.
Gradually, he detaches from Grandma and attaches to Elias et al.
Finally, he is liberated from the Ordinary World (represented by the letters to Grandma) and the New World (Vietnam).
This requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
[Once you make a successful credit card payment, click on the "return to vendor" or "return to merchant" link and the download locations and the passwords to open the files will automatically appear on your screen.]
v) To develop your screenwriting competencies, we suggest:
Writing about your favourite theme from multiple perspectives: use multiple templates. For example, To Kill a Mockingbird, Mississippi Burning and In the Heat of the Night are all reworkings of essentially the same theme; The Ark in Space and Alien are reworkings of the same theme; a love story can take the form of a straight quest for the Romantic Challenge or a Love Triangle etc.
The Herald's Journey (the Journey to retrieve the Hero; to bring the Call to Adventure to the Hero) is a story in it's own right.
This is a 93 stage template.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The root fairytale for the Love Triangle Hero's Journey plot. The battle is between a Young Maiden and a Princess, with the victor also having to overcome the Hero's affections for an Innocent of the opposite gender.
A 128 stage template.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The root fairytale for the Search for an Elixir Hero's Journey plot. The story of the search for the Magic Potion, one that has the power to give life (Fountain of Youth etc..).
A 136 stage template.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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A 148 stage template.
The root fairytale for the Enemies become Partners Hero's Journey plot. Polarised heroes (not necessarily mortal enemies) undergo an adventure which is a metaphor for the becoming of their New Selves leading to an invitation into their respective worlds and an ultimate joining.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The classic Fire Quest, which is itself a metaphor for the Hero's transformation into a New Self.
A 172 stage template.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The classic variation of the Fire Quest, with the Romantic Challenge being the possessor of the Fire.
A 160 stage template.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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It is the Antihero's destiny to enter and become a Master of the Dark World and then to subconsciously destroy it (or his or her place within it). That is the nature of the beast – destruction (the Antihero gains a Kingdom through destruction and loses it through destruction).
From another perspective, the Antihero enters a New World to become a New Self and is then banished from that New World and the New Self.
From yet another perspective, the Antihero evolves and then devolves. The devolution process involves alienation and ultimate isolation (Master of the Two Selves).
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where youths pass into adulthood - where the "Sword" is the confrontation with an adult, a sexual conquest or similar Rite of Passage.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where a deceitful Hero is discovered and banished.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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An Innocent is led to the dark side and a) never recovers or b) conquers dark forces to return to the Old World (Place of Innocence).
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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This is ultimately a battle between the Hero (a metaphor for and representative of the Oppressed People) and an Antagonist (who is a metaphor for and representative of the Entity of Oppression). Supernatural Aids, Good Mentors, Innocents, Shape Shifters, Romantic Challenges, Sacrifical Lambs, Threshold Guardians and Dark Lieutenants are some of the common archetypes in this genre.
This is a 117-stage template and requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Genre conventions often include:
A cynical seen-it-all-before Hero.
A femme fatale counterbalanced by a girl-next-door loyal ally.
A high status / senior official as shape shifter.
etc...
This is a 60-stage template and requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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A very interesting template.
It is no accident that the Hero(ine) of the Teen Slasher genre is often a virgin. These stories are about the sexual rite of passage from youth to adulthood (losing virginity). The horror is a metaphor for the death of youth (Old Self) and the depravity of adulthood (New Self). We must view adulthood in the context of antiquity; in the modern world we are protected but in antiquity adulthood involved a direct confrontation with killing and death – there is depravity in that.
This genre follows the Classic 188 stage Hero's Journey path...First Threshold, Road of Trials, Bride Theft, Realisation, Final Conflict etc. There are slight differences between stories within the subgenre. All include the subgenre conventions but, for example, Scream (1996) is a straight Hero's Journey (we know who the Hero is; Bride Theft = loss of virginity), whereas Friday 13th (1980) plays more sleight-of-hand with the archetypes and stages.
Specific subgenre conventions include:
An increased number of Red Herrings.
Locked in / Claustrophobia.
The correlation between the horror / slashing and sexuality.
More...
This is a 95-stage template and requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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In this template, the Hero undergoes various trials and tribulations in order to reclaim or establish his (or her) own Kingdom. The Hero's Kingdom is itself a tangible metaphor for the Hero's Journey into the New World and the becoming of his (or her) New Self.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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In this template, the Hero undergoes various trials and tribulations before conquering his (or her) Romantic Challenge. The Romantic Challenge is itself a tangible metaphor for the Hero's Journey into the New World and the becoming of his (or her) New Self.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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In this template, the Hero undergoes various trials and tribulations in order to be accepted. Acceptance is itself a metaphor for the Hero's Journey into the New World and the becoming of his (or her) New Self.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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In order to redeem oneself, one must endure the Ethical Journey. Surprising allies are encountered along the way - the Hero's Ethical Journey represents their facing of their own selves and Transformation.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The Hero sells his (or her) soul, resulting in unfulfilled Dharma and eternal frustration until he (or she) can return to the correct path.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The Hero "finds his or her soul," which is a metaphor for any valued strength - integrity, honour, true self, a valuable tangible etc.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The core fairytale and Hero's Journey Plot behind the universal Road Trip.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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The search for utopia and coming to acceptance (of it's non-existence) or not.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Eternal Fishes out of Water seek acceptance and learn to live with (or without) it.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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A pariah rises to become king.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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A slave caste and a brahmin caste join to defeat a common enemy.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where the battle for the valuable tangible (princess, treasure, fire etc) is between three equals of opposing natures.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where the search for the Treasure is purely selfish - not motivated by altruism or similar moral limitations.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where the Outside World interferes with and pushes progression. Allows the writer the chance to develop the world outside the core Journey and Transformation.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where the Hero (a Whistlblower) is required to overcome his (or her) own conscience, the objections of dependents, the interdictions of the Antagonist, legal obstacles and channel restrictions.
A 115 stage template.
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....
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Where the Hero transforms from an unethical self to an ethical self; where the Hero moves from the Antagonist's World (unethical) into a polar opposite New World and Self (ethical).
Requires the Complete Hero's Journey...more than 188 stages of the journey you need to know about....