The Hero's Journey
Failure to Launch (2006) Deconstructed
[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms....; 188 stages of the Hero's Journey you need to know about...]
The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.
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.
- and more...
The Hero's Journey: Failure to Launch (2006) basic deconstruction
FADE IN: Meeting the Hero: Tripp on a date.
Inciting Incident: still living at home.
Meeting Mother and Father Mentor: Mom and Pop in bed.
Ordinary World: Tripp getting dressed; Mom makes the house, cooks breakfast.
Meeting Shape Shifter and Ally: Ace and Demo in yoga class.
Call to Adventure: you're afraid of love.
Refusal: it's gonna take a stick of dynamite to get me out of my parents house.
Pushed to the Journey: the neighbours son has moved out; Tripp hasn't met the right girl.
Introducing the Romantic Challenge: Paula walks into the cafe and lays on the recliner.
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Tripp goes over to talk to Paula.
Conscious Decision to the First Threshold: I'll meet you here on Monday.
Romantic Challenge's Ordinary World: Paula walks into her apartment.
Romantic Challenge's Ally: Kit
Romantic Challenge's Ally's Challenge: that bird!
Time Pressure: Paula meets Mom and Pop; she'll get him out by 15 th Sept.
Rules: Paula tells how she'll do it.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Tripp with Ace, Demo and Geoffrey in his room.
Pushed to the First Threshold: Mom won't do the housework anymore.
Outer Cave: lunch on the boat (almost).
Elixir: I'd like to own a boat like this but it's not the right time in my life.
Trial: Paula pretends she's a buyer.
Middle Cave / Meeting Allies: mountain biking with the boys.
Challenge Reminder: bitten by the squirrel; imbalance with nature.
Inner Cave: Tripp arrives at Paula's apartment.
Ally's Challenge: Kit and the bird problem.
Belly of the Whale: dinner; flicking the food.
World of Trials and Transformation: Paula plays hard to get/ Kit's bird problem.
1
- Outer Cave: Hero in his Professional World: Tripp trying to sell a yacht.
- Middle Cave: Paula persuades Tripp to come to the Vet.
- Inner Cave: Paula and the Vet discuss the deception.
2: the paint balling sequence:
- Outer Cave: Ace sees Kit.
- Middle Cave: Ace tries to talk to Kit.
- Inner Cave: Paula wins at Paintball.
- Transformation: Paula gets the nod.
3
- Outer Cave: Paula lets Tripp teach her to sail.
- Middle Cave: Push to the Elixir: Paula tells Tripp he should buy that boat.
- Inner Cave: Kit smells fun; Paula had fun.
- Resistance / Return to the Ordinary World: Tripp decides to dump Paula on the surfboard.
- Resisting the Return to the Ordinary World: the Dolphin bites Tripp; imbalance with nature.
Return:
Outer Cave: Tripp introduces Paula to his parents.
Middle Cave: Mom tells her he's breaking up with her.
Inner Cave: Paula refuses to be dumped; Paula stays the night.
Transformation: Mom catches Paula sneaking out.
Kit's Challenge: she wants the shotgun.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Paula thinks she's still in control / Tripp tried to break up with her (talking in the bike shop).
Meeting with the Oracle: Paula with another client; Ace spots her; he wants something.
Resisting the Sword: Kit wants the minimum wage slacker.
Journey to the Sword: the date at the Oceanarium; the begin to get on.
Guardians of the Sword: Kit and Ace shoot the bird; they CPR the bird.
Seizing the Sword: they kiss and fall; assumed sex.
Shape Shifter revealed: Demo wants to talk to Paula about the dating my best friend for money thing.
Near Death Experience: Paula has to break up with Tripp because Geoffrey's mother was going to marry Tripp; an ethical problem.
Atonement: Demo tells Tripp that Paula was hired by Mom and Pop to get him out of the house.
Apotheosis: Tripp cooks and confronts everyone at dinner.
Ultimate Boon: Tripp decides to move out.
Refusal: get the fuck out of the car.
Disgust with the Self: Tripp alone; Tripp talking to Geoffrey.
Pushed to the return: Paula returns the money; Mom realizes Paula's in love with Tripp.
Resisting the Return: Tripp won't get in the car.
Pushed to the Return: you should see Paula.
Challenge Reminder: Imbalance: mountain climbing; getting bitten; falling.
Magic Flight: Paula is moving to Colorado.
Kits Challenge Resolved: she's persuaded someone to sleep with her more than once.
Forced to Face the Challenge: Nature rejects Tripp.
Allies Challenges Resolved: Demo is a traveler and Ace has bought his own home.
Pop's Challenge resolved: Pop in the naked room.
Mom's Challenge Resolved: Mom tells Tripp what she's afraid of.
Rescue from Without: Mom calls a meeting.
Deception / Forced to Return: Kit tells Paula what she thinks of her; lets get the sweater.
Crossing the Return Threshold: Kit takes Paula to meet Tripp.
Catharsis 1: Demo gets the girl in the coffee shop.
Catharsis 2: Paula tells Tripp she was going to break up with him.
Catharsis 3: Ace puts it all on the big screen.
Developing Characters and Relationships: the people watching.
Master of Two Worlds: Tripp and Paula make up; everyone kisses.
Freedom to Live: Mom and Pop alone in the house.
Freedom to Live: Tripp and Paula on the yacht.
Hero's Challenge Resolved: the dolphin doesn't bite.
Learn more…
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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://www.clickok.co.uk.
Article Source: Kal Bishop