| From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood | | | | [passive]: Meeting the relatives and familiarising himself |
| blockbusters....The Hero's Journey is the template upon | | | | with the family.Trial [proactive]; Drew saves Samson in |
| which the vast majority of successful stories and | | | | the car. |
| Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL | | | | Celebration at the passing of the trials: Drew is |
| of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are | | | | congratulated in the house.Mentor's challenge: Jesse |
| based on this template.Understanding this template is a | | | | admonished by his father; "you can't be buddies with |
| priority for story or screenwriters.The Hero's | | | | your own son."References to the Outer Challenge; |
| Journey:a) Attempts to tap into unconscious | | | | Mentor's back-story and capabilities: Lynard Skynard |
| expectations the audience has regarding what a story | | | | sequence.Foreshadow of the break from the Old Self |
| is and how it should be told.b) Gives the writer more | | | | and preparing to Seize of the Sword: Drew calls |
| structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot | | | | everyone, including Claire.Pulled Backwards to the Old |
| points, mid point and so on.c) Interpreted metaphorically, | | | | Self and Forwards to the New Self: Heather, Ellen and |
| laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of | | | | Claire all on the phone simultaneously.Break from the |
| varied stories to be created.and more...Sample Movie | | | | Old Self: Ellen says Goodbye. |
| Deconstructed: Elizabethtown (2005)Fade In: starts | | | | Journey to the Sword: Drew and Claire on the |
| strong (communicates salient information immediately): | | | | phone.Seizing the Sword: Drew wrests the |
| shoes recalled.Introduce Hero (Drew Baylor) in his | | | | Champagne from Chuck.Rebirth through Death: Claire |
| Ordinary World, which he is unwelcome in. Tangible | | | | offers to "let Drew go."Reward: Claire and Drew meet |
| representation of the Ordinary World | | | | by the Roadside.Allies confront limitations: Hollie takes |
| (Ellen).Foreshadow of the Journey: we meet Drew's | | | | tap, comedy, cooking lessons etc. Claire doesn't go to |
| family around the table.Back-story of Hero: Drew in the | | | | Hawaii.Warnings about the Atonement: Hollie warns |
| World of the Shoe.Supernatural Aid pushes hero out | | | | Drew about Bill Banyon.Preparing for the Atonement: |
| of his Ordinary World (meeting with Phil).Development | | | | Buying the cremation vase.Second Thoughts: Claire |
| of Inner Challenge: Drew's suicide attempt in his | | | | and Drew think about being just friends.Atonement |
| apartment; what to do now that he is a failure.Call to | | | | with the Father:: Drew confronts his uncle et al and |
| Adventure by the Herald (his sister): Drew's Dad is | | | | makes a decision about the cremation.Reference to |
| dead.Preparing to cross into the First Threshold with | | | | the mentor's challenge: Jesse is ignored and |
| allies (sister and mother): in the airport.First Threshold | | | | admonished.Apotheosis: Rusty's Learning to Listen |
| and meeting the Romantic Challenge: Drew meets | | | | video. Mentor's challenge overcome: "thank you for |
| Claire in the aircraft.Allies encourage the journey: Claire | | | | taking an interest in Jesse."Ultimate Boon: "feels good |
| draws a map.References to the inner and outer | | | | doesn't it. I can see Mitch now, so proud, in that blue |
| challenge: Drew references that he was fired; Claire | | | | suit."Refusal: Drew tries to stop the cremation.Magic |
| realises Drew's father is dead.Back-story of the Outer | | | | Flight: Drew prepares to leave.Rescue from Without: |
| Challenge: Drew when he was young and with his | | | | Drew meets Claire and sleeps with her.Crossing the |
| father. Reminder of the Inner Challenge: that he is a | | | | Return Threshold; confronting and overcoming the |
| failure / lost $1b.Magical gift: Claire gives Drew his | | | | Inner Challenge: Drew chases Claire and tells her |
| wings, the directions and her number.Physical | | | | about his failure. She doesn't care. References to the |
| Separation: exit 60-B.Resistance to the Transformation: | | | | Outer and Romantic Challenges.Master of the Two |
| difficulty getting to Elizabethtown.A New World: | | | | Worlds: Hollie wins over both sides of the family with |
| entering Elizabethtown.Meeting the Mentor (Jesse, his | | | | her tap and comedy. Convergence aided by Mentor |
| cousin).Mentor shows the hero around the World of | | | | (Jesse's tribute).Tangible representation of the New |
| the Transformation and the Creatures within: Jesse | | | | Order: the burial to appease the Kentucky |
| introduces Drew to everyone.Polarization: they want a | | | | family.Freedom to Live. Drew goes on the road trip |
| burial and Drew is thinking about cremation; he's from | | | | with his father's ashes [the trip they always meant to |
| "California."Meeting the Creatures of this World: the | | | | go on] and comes to terms with his death (conquest |
| congregation.Trial [passive]: Meeting his father lying in a | | | | of the Outer Challenge). Finally seizes Claire (conquest |
| coffin; lessons: "if you move around a little bit, you'll see | | | | of the Romantic Challenge). |
| different aspects." The word is "whimsical."Trial | | | | |