| The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon | | | | (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate |
| which the vast majority of successful stories and | | | | (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the |
| Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL | | | | URL below) appear to be different but are all |
| of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have | | | | constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the |
| deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this | | | | same way.and more... |
| 188+ stage template. | | | | *****Road of Trials 3***** |
| Understanding this template is a priority for story or | | | | The third part of the Road of Trials is the conquering |
| screenwriters. This is the template you must master | | | | of the Outer Challenge. The Outer Challenge is a |
| if you are to succeed in the craft. | | | | consequence of the Inner Challenge and it is the first |
| [The terminology is most often metaphoric and | | | | of the four core challenges to be vanquished. In An |
| applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from | | | | Officer and a Gentleman (1983), Foley takes Zach |
| The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) | | | | outside, punishes him and makes him face up to his |
| to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to | | | | lack of care and respect for his fellow officers. |
| Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise | | | | *****World of the Sword***** |
| (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)]. | | | | The World of the Sword (and getting there) contains |
| THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY | | | | specific characteristics, including: |
| THE HERO'S JOURNEY:a) Attempts to tap into | | | | Dangerous Place. The Sword will lie in a dangerous |
| unconscious expectations the audience has regarding | | | | place, often at the heart of the Antagonist's world. |
| what a story is and how it should be told.b) Gives | | | | Perilous Journey. The journey to it is dangerous. |
| the writer more structural elements than simply three | | | | Suicidal. The journey is embarked upon against the |
| or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.c) Gives | | | | greatest of odds. |
| you a tangible process for building and releasing | | | | Below the Earth. The Sword lies deep underground |
| dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of | | | | (in the tombs of Hell); consequently the environment |
| which there are usually four).d) Gives you a universal | | | | is dark and uncomfortable to Creatures of the Day. |
| structural template upon which you can superimpose | | | | New World and New Creatures. Like all New Domains, |
| your situational story. This is why stories such as | | | | this one also contains unfamiliar, magical creatures and |
| Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy | | | | behaviours. |