| [From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood | | | | created.and more... |
| blockbusters and sitcoms (see below for the URL of | | | | Road of Trials or Road of Transformation? |
| our Home Page) and our isolation and identification of | | | | Once the Hero is pushed out / past the First |
| more than 188 stages of the Hero's Journey that | | | | Threshold and the Belly of the Whale, s/he journeys |
| you need to know about...] | | | | through a Road of Trials. But what is the purpose of |
| The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the | | | | the Trials? Knowing this helps you to plan and write |
| vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood | | | | this very important stage of the Journey. |
| blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the | | | | Well, one purpose of the Trials is to push or pull the |
| Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based | | | | Hero through a series of incremental Transformations. |
| on this template. | | | | Often there are three major Trials with each |
| Understanding this template is a priority for story or | | | | containing 3-5 sequences followed by the |
| screenwriters. | | | | demonstration. For example, in Thelma and Louise |
| The Hero's Journey:a) Attempts to tap into | | | | (1991), Louise leaves Thelma in the hotel room to |
| unconscious expectations the audience has regarding | | | | guard the money, JD knocks at the door, JD seduces |
| what a story is and how it should be told.b) Gives | | | | Thelma, Thelma turns up in the cafe the following |
| the writer more structural elements than simply three | | | | morning changed. This is all part of her transformation |
| or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.c) | | | | away from her Old Self (with Darryl) and toward her |
| Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, | | | | New Self. |
| allows an infinite number of varied stories to be | | | | Learn more... |