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Kal Bishop's 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

PLOT POINTS, MID POINT and ACTS

Conventionally, a plot point (or twist) occurs at around page 30 and page 90. Thus Act I is approximately pages 0-30, Act II is approximately pages 30 - 90 and Act III is approximately pages 90-120. With the inclusion of a Midpoint at approximately page 60, we have Four Act Structure.

However, Three or Four Act Structure in this form is little use in writing a screenplay.

A more useful Four Act Structure is:

a) The Hero is encountered in and pushed or pulled out of the Ordinary World (and Ordinary Self).

b) The Hero becomes a New Self.

c) The Hero recognises an incompatibility between the Ordinary and New Selves. A lack of Wholeness.

d) The Hero confronts the Old and New Selves (represented by a Greater Antagonism) and Masters the Two Worlds and Selves to remove incompatibilities and attain Completeness.

(For the Complete 188+ stage Hero's Journey simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ )

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

*****Transformation Mentor*****

Before the Trials and Transformation, it is not uncommon to meet a Transformation Mentor. This person may be separate and distinct from the earlier Mentor / Supernatural Aid. In Gladiator (2000), Proximo sees to it that Maximus becomes a Gladiator. In Memoirs of a Geisha (2005), Mamaha is responsible for Sayuri's transformation into Geisha. In King Kong (2005), it is King Kong that causes the Transformation. In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), it is Sallah.

It is not unusual for the Transformation Mentor to perform a dual role. In Walk the Line (2005), June Carter Cash is both the Transformation Mentor and Romantic Challenge.

*****Supernatural Aid Departs*****

When the Supernatural Aid is no longer needed, he (or she) departs or travels to where he (or she) is needed. In Midnight Cowboy (1969), Ratso dies. In Silence of the Lambs (1991), Lecter makes a final phone call to Clarice. In The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Aslan departs. In Fistful of Dynamite (1971), John dies.

Learn more...

WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY!

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.heros-journey.info/

188 stages of the Hero's Journey can also be reached from http://www.story-structure.org/

You can also receive a free sample file by entering your email address at this site.

You can post this article on your web site or blog as long as no changes are made, the author's name is retained and the links to our site URLs remains active.

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Kal Bishop, MBA