The Hero’s Journey: Tin Men (1987) deconstructed
[From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms at www.clickok.co.uk and our isolation and identification of more than 188 stages of the Hero's Journey that 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:
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) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
and more…
The Hero’s Journey: Tin Men (1987) deconstructed [basic]
FADE IN: 50’s cars; the 50’s.
Meeting the Hero: BB in the showroom.
Hero’s Ordinary World: distracted by talk about chicks.
Meeting antihero in his Ordinary World: Tilley arguing with his wife, at home.
Hero’s Professional World: he knows all the sales tricks.
Developing antihero: Tilley walks out on his wife.
Developing Hero: BB gets an overnight if the car breaks down.
Inciting Incident: Tilley crashes into BB; they argue.
Call to Adventure: I’m gonna get even with you.
Hero’s Professional World: BB walks into the office.
Meeting the Loyal Ally: Mo playing cards with the boys.
Hero and Loyal Ally interaction: BB tells Mo and the boys he’s already smashed the car.
Conscious Decision: I’m gonna get this guy.
Allies: Tilley tells the boys in the café; they know BB.
Conscious Decision: Tilley’s gonna get this guy.
Developing Characters and Relationships: talking Bonanza; in the café etc.
Devolved State: BB does Life magazine.
Devolved State: Tilley not selling anything.
Meeting the Mentor and Magical Gift: Tilley gets an advance from the boss.
Warning: the home improvement commission is on the prowl.
Threshold Marker: BB smashes Tilley’s car.
Conscious Decision: if Mr. Meringue wants to play, we’ll play.
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Tilley goes home to Nora; I don’t understand picnics.
Outer Cave: Tilley finds the blue Caddy and smashes it.
Middle Cave: Meeting the Shape Shifter: Stanley’s first day.
Push to the Inner Cave: BB finds his car.
Push to the Physical Separation: I wonder if he’s married.
Inner Cave: BB hits on Tilley’s wife.
Inner Cave: Tilley creates a new scam; gives away $4500 worth of aluminum siding free.
Belly of the Whale: in the bar.
Developing Characters and Relationships: teaching Stanley; BB hunting; Tilley thinks he’s out of the slump; Sam is beginning to believe in God.
Physical Separation: BB and Tilley see each other; the fight outside.
Trails and Transformation:
Trial 1:
Nora decides to see BB; the party.
Nora and BB dancing to Sinatra.
BB phones Tilley and tells him he’s has his wife.
Transformation (regression): Tilley throws out Nora’s clothes.
Transformation: Nora comes home to find her clothes outside.
Transformation: Nora needs to stay with BB for a day or two.
Trial 2:
Regression: Tilley loses the sale.
Mentor’s warning: Tilley is warned about the commission again.
Transformation: BB watches the Commission in action; thinks about selling Cars for a living.
Regression: The IRS send Tilley a letter; they want his 1961 taxes.
Trial 3:
BB complains about Nora; he’s never lived with a girl; the couple fighting on the street.
BB visits Nora and tells her about his annoyances.
Transformation: BB decides to let Nora stay and he’s happy about it.
Regression: Tilley loses at the race (and BB wins).
Transformation: BB accepts he’s lost if being stuck with his wife means that.
Ally’s Challenge: Mo gets a heart attack while making a sale.
Ally’s Challenge: Mo in hospital; he’s worried that he’s got no insurance.
Transformation: BB calls Nora at home; he thought it was better to call.
Alienation / Regression: Tilley doesn’t want to pay equal shares for food.
Push to Separation: Nora visits Tilley in the café; she wants a divorce; he tells her BB is a Tin Man.
Separation: Nora smashes into BB’s car.
Regression: Home Improvement Commission wants to see Tilley.
Transformation: BB doesn’t dance anymore.
Shape Shifter developed: Stanley enquiring about the hustles from BB.
Push to the Sword: Sam driving Tilley home; Tilley at home alone; BB visits Tilley at home.
Seizing the Sword: Tilley knocks out BB; Tilley throws eggs at a tied up BB.
Near Death Experience:
Tilley charged with assault at the police station.
BB forced to apologize to Tilley over breakfast.
Tilley and BB argue over breakfast.
Mo is getting out of the business.
Reward: Tilley doesn’t want to hear about Bonanza – he’s got too much on his mind; lets eat.
Atonement with the Father: Tilley plays to God.
Apotheosis: Tilley gets past the Home Improvement Commission.
Professional World: hitting on the girl in the window.
Shape Shifter Action: Stanley looking in the filing cabinet.
Ultimate Boon: BB gets Nora back.
Ultimate Boon: BB takes Nora dancing and she decides to move back in.
Regression / Ultimate Boon: Tilley’s house is confiscated.
Refusal: Tilley refuses to give Nora a house.
Magic Flight: Nora leaves.
Shape Shifter Revealed: BB catches Stanley.
Conscious decision to leave the Ordinary World: BB gives Stanley his file.
Foreshadow of the Elixir: BB thinks about VW’s.
Rescue from Without: BB visits Tilley and they play pool for Nora.
Pushed out of the Ordinary World: Tilley is going to be scapegoated by the boss.
Transformation: Tilley parks; night to day.
Master of Two Worlds: BB tells Nora they shot pool over her; he is not going to honour the deal.
Freedom to Live / forced out of their Ordinary Worlds: BB and Tilley talks to each other outside the commission; take good care of her; they both lose their licenses; IRS takes Tilley’s car; they share the car home.
Challenges conquered: give me a pot and I’ll fill. it; BB sees the VW.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made, the author’s name is retained and the link to our site URL remains active.
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/
