69), 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.

*****Guided to the Oracle*****

The Hero is guided to an Oracle, who possesses some knowledge that the Hero must acquire.

Often the guide is a Mentor. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus accompanies Neo

The 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

THE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more...

ABRIDGED TIP(S):

*****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.

*****Guided to the Oracle*****

The Hero is guided to an Oracle, who possesses some knowledge that the Hero must acquire.

Often the guide is a Mentor. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus accompanies Neo

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

THE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more...

ABRIDGED TIP(S):

*****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.

*****Guided to the Oracle*****

The Hero is guided to an Oracle, who possesses some knowledge that the Hero must acquire.

Often the guide is a Mentor. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus accompanies Neo

be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more...

ABRIDGED TIP(S):

*****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.

*****Guided to the Oracle*****

The Hero is guided to an Oracle, who possesses some knowledge that the Hero must acquire.

Often the guide is a Mentor. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus accompanies Neo

), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.

and more...

ABRIDGED TIP(S):

*****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.

*****Guided to the Oracle*****

The Hero is guided to an Oracle, who possesses some knowledge that the Hero must acquire.

Often the guide is a Mentor. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus accompanies Neo

69), 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.

*****Guided to the Oracle*****

The Hero is guided to an Oracle, who possesses some knowledge that the Hero must acquire.

Often the guide is a Mentor. In The Matrix (1999), Morpheus accompanies Neo to the Oracle. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus is simple brought to his Master, Proximo.

Often a weak animal or injured party guides the Hero toward the Oracle. In Star Wars (1977), the lost fighter guides Luke et al to the Death Star.