The Hero's Journey is THE screenwriting template. Screenwriters can use it to write effective screenplays. Below are a few of the elements of each stage of the journey. The Crossing of the Return Threshold. Returning Home. If the meat of the battle has taken place in the Rescue from Without (the hero was caught when attempting the magic flight and managed to escape), then the hero will return to a rapturous welcome. In Dances with Wolves, John returns to the Indians. However, often the hero succeeds in the Magic Flight and Crossing the Return Threshold involves venturing to face the antagonist. Dangerous Place. The hero will venture to a dangerous place. In Spiderman, the battle takes place high up above the water. From a Distance. The battle will be viewed from afar. Magnitude of the task. The overwhelming magnitude of the task will be noted. Strangely Confident. The hero may be strangely confident. After all, he has metamorphosed through the Ordeal. Increased Intensity. The antagonist will up-the-ante. It will attack on some level. Perhaps destroy the hero's minor allies, innocents or similar. Seeming Weak. The hero will initially seem weak compared to the antagonism. Antagonist Confident. The intensity of the antagonist's attack and the seeming weakness of the hero gives the antagonist confidence. Impossible Dilemma. Before facing the antagonist, the hero may be given an impossible dilemma. In Spiderman, Peter Parker has to save the people in the lift or Mary Jane - he cannot do both simultaneously. Failed Hero. An alternative hero may attempt to tackle the antagonist and be mowed down, enhancing the magnitude of the challenge. Peer Brothers. Alternative hero's take up the challenge but fail. The hero surpasses his peers. Time Pressure becomes acute. In the Bond movies, the nuclear device is seconds away from explosion. The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/ You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site. Kal Bishop, MBA ********************************** You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained. |
