Writing a Film Timeline Disruptions
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.
• Heroine’s Journey stories (Million Dollar Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.
The Timeline
Often, the story and characters follow a solid timeline – that is, the hero has a Call to Adventure, s/he refuses, meets a supernatural aid etc all in, apparently real time.
The purpose of this stage is to ensure that the hero metamorphoses to the required state and it is not always realistic unless time is stretched.
In Gladiator (2000), Maximus begins his gladiator training but very quickly becomes a professional – this is achieved in three or four sequences. Though the sequences are interrupted by other goings on, the impression has to be given that significant time has passed in order for the hero’s metamorphosis to seem feasible.
See what I mean…?
A similar phenomena can be spotted in Dances with Wolves (1990) and other stories.
I write this because, in my own writing, the lack of a solid timeline gives me room to develop the character during this particular stage.
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/
