| From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood | | | | arrives.Warning: the soldiers barricading the |
| blockbusters and sitcoms at Hero's Journey is the | | | | way.Mentor and Hero meeting: the Emperor and |
| template upon which the vast majority of successful | | | | Johnston shake hands.Forced to the Trials: now we |
| stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In | | | | start.Trial and Transformation 1:Outer Cave: the first |
| fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have | | | | lesson; are you a gentleman.Middle Cave: having lunch; |
| deconstructed are based on this | | | | I'm angry.Transformation: Johnston given the hats.Trial |
| template.Understanding this template is a priority for | | | | and Transformation 2:Outer Cave: Johnston gives the |
| story or screenwriters.The Hero's Journey:a) Attempts | | | | bike.Middle Cave: Mother dies.Inner Cave: Trying to get |
| to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has | | | | out of the Forbidden City; the door is |
| regarding what a story is and how it should be told.b) | | | | blocked.Transformation: Throwing the mice at the |
| Gives the writer more structural elements than simply | | | | door.Trial and Transformation 3:Outer Cave: Rescued |
| three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.c) | | | | from the Roof.Middle Cave: Transformation: needing |
| Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, | | | | glasses.Resistance to the Transformation / Inner Cave: |
| allows an infinite number of varied stories to be | | | | the Emperor cannot have glasses.Pushing the |
| created.and more...EXAMPLE: The Last Emperor, | | | | Transformation / Inner Cave: Johnston threatens the |
| Academy Award Winner Best Film, 1987 - Hero's | | | | eunuchs.Trial and Transformation 4:Outer Cave: |
| Journey [basic deconstruction]FADE IN: images of | | | | Emperor gets a wife.Middle Cave: I want a modern |
| China; context: Manchuria.Going on a journey: the | | | | wife.Inner Cave: wedding night.Mid Point: I wanted |
| train.Meeting the hero: the emperor gets off the | | | | reforms.Transformation: cutting off his hair.Asking for |
| train.Meeting the Mentor: the governor gets off the | | | | an inventory.The threesome.The burning of the |
| train.Creatures of the World: the communists.Rules of | | | | stores.Expelling the Eunuchs.When did your friendship |
| this World: no talking, obey the guards.Hero's status: | | | | with the Japanese begin?New Self: dressed in the |
| people recognise him.Warning / danger of the Journey: | | | | tennis gear.Forced out of the World of the |
| the Emperor tries to kill himself.Pushed to the Call: open | | | | Transformation: the Japanese arrive.Resistance: I |
| the door.New World: Old China.Call to Adventure: the | | | | always thought I hated it here and now I'm afraid to |
| boy prince is to be transferred immediately to the | | | | leave.New Self: becoming a playboy.Meeting the |
| Forbidden City.Leaving the Old World and Old Self: I | | | | Oracle: wife #2 is nothing outside the city, she wants a |
| give you my son.Refusal of the Call: the boy prince | | | | divorce.Foreshadow of the Atonement: the Japanese |
| cries.Creatures of the New World: the various types in | | | | keep tabs on the Emperor.Antagonism: the Japanese |
| the Forbidden City; the half moon hats.Meeting the | | | | have taken the city.Resisting the Sword: no one |
| Mentor: the boy meets the old Empress | | | | divorces me.Seizing the Sword: wife #2 escapes; |
| Dowiger.Pushed to the First Threshold: the Empress | | | | freedom.Meeting the Shape Shifter: Eastern Jewel |
| decides that he will be the new Emperor.Goodbye / | | | | arrives.Near Death Experience: our ancestor's graves |
| Death to the Old World / Old Self: the Empress | | | | have been decimated and the Empress has been |
| dies.First Threshold from afar: the Emperor on the | | | | hacked to death.Goodbye to the Old Self / Mentor: |
| throne.Threshold Marker: the yellow curtain.Outer Cave: | | | | saying goodbye to Johnston.Reward: becoming an |
| the soldiers and eunuchs kow-towing.Middle Cave: the | | | | Emperor again.Atonement with the Father: the general |
| cricket and the old man.Refusing the Inner Cave: can | | | | arrives; the Emperor is a puppet.Apotheosis: still using |
| we go home today; not yet.Inner Cave: being bathed, | | | | other people as servants; put in the cell with the other |
| he can do anything he wants.Resisting the | | | | collaborators.Ultimate Boon: the arms have been taken |
| Transformation: running to the wet nurse and crying, "I | | | | away; the Emperor stands up for a free China.Denial / |
| want to go home."Pushed to the Belly of the Whale: | | | | Disgust: the Empress is pregnant by the chauffeur; you |
| saved from slitting his wrists; you are a criminal you | | | | still think I'm your servant don't you; walking to the far |
| must be judged.Belly of the Whale: meeting his brother | | | | side; stop pretending; I let it happen; they killed the baby |
| and mother; I have never met any other children; | | | | and the chauffeur.Magic Flight: the Empress is taken |
| playing with his little brother.Foreshadow of the | | | | away; pursuing her.Shape Shifter Revealed: Eastern |
| Physical Separation: breast feeding from the wet | | | | Jewel is having an affair with the Japanese |
| nurse.Physical Separation: you're not the Emperor | | | | man.Rescue from Without: watching the film.Crossing |
| anymore. There's a new emperor; watching the car | | | | the Return Threshold: the Empress returns.Master of |
| arrive.Physical Separation: the wet nurse is forced to | | | | the Two Worlds: the Emperor is a gardener now; |
| leave.Resisting the Trials and Transformation: running | | | | leave me alone; you only want me because I'm useful |
| after the Governor.World of the Transformation: all the | | | | to you.Inner Challenge Resolved: the Emperor |
| prisoners lined up.Transformation Mentor [in the camp]: | | | | graduates; is free.Resisting the Freedom to Live: trying |
| the governor.Rules: you will write the story of your life | | | | to save the governor from the Maoists.Freedom to |
| and confessing.New Self: new clothes.Meeting the | | | | Live: going back to the Forbidden City. |
| Transformation Mentor [in old china]: Johnston | | | | |