Hero’s Journey and Story Structure – Belly of the Whale
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
• Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
• Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
• Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero’s Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
Consider this:
• Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.
• Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.
• Shrek 2 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.
• ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.
• Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 – uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.
• Out of Africa (1985), Terms of Endearment (1983), Dances with Wolves (1990), Gladiator (2000) – All Academy Award Winners Best Film are based on the Hero’s Journey.
• Anti-hero stories (Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990) etc are all based on the Hero’s Journey).
Belly of the Whale
One critical element of the Hero’s Journey is the stage of the Physical Separation (Belly of the Whale). During this stage, it is not uncommon for the physical features or physical body of the hero to be altered or damaged in some way:
a) In The Godfather (1972), Captain McCluskey punches and deforms Michael Corleone’s face. The gradual transformation of his face is symbolic of his transformation from innocent to Mafia Don.
b) In Silence of the Lambs (1991), Clarice enters the garage from beneath the stuck door and injures herself.
c) In Lord of War (2005), Yuri is shot by the drug dealer for resisting the acceptance of cocaine as payment for the arms.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/
