Creative Screenwriting: Dirty Dozen (1967) Deconstructed

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon.

Superchery

These days, some words just get overworked or overhyped. In fact, the word that exemplifies overhyped is overhyped. Has the term ‘superstar’ itself become ordinary? If so, it’s time an influential segment of our workforce took notice and did something about it.

ADVICE Using Hand Held Dictionaries

The best ways to get the most from hand held dictionaries...

Seven Secrets Of Highly Creative Writers

Ways to effortlessly generate ideas--and why this is vital to your career.

Every Writer Whether A Novel Or An Article Has Their Critics

Most of use writers have our critics and that goes for those who write novels, documentaries, biographies, short stories, poetry, screen plays, news stories or simply articles either on or off line.

Screenwriting, Screenwriter, Tips, Tricks, Tools: Use the Hero's Journey

The best screenwriting effectively utilises the hero's Journey. All of the Academy Award Winners of recent years have used it. As an example, Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2000) is deconstucted below (a summary):

Screenwriting Agent: Hero's Journey, Story Structure and the Ideal Choice

A critical element of the Hero's journey is the Seizure of the Sword. Before this, however, the hero is asked to make a difficult decision - which relates directly to the Ideal that pushes the hero toward the Sword.

Screenwriting Forum: Hero's Journey;Should Screenwriting Be A Marathon?

There are two elements ot this: Time Pressure versus Incubation.

Screenwriting University: Hero's Journey and the Build Up to the Seizure of the Sword

The Seizure of the Sword is a critical part of any story and the Hero's Journey in general. Often, the build up consists of a few phases:

Screenwritng, Film, Hero's Journey - The Pull Backwards and Forwards

Post the Transformation (also known as the Road of Trials), the hero has to make a choice: to seize the Sword or not. The choice is made all the more difficult by various forces- the pull toward the Sword and forces dissuading the Seizure of it. Often the forces backward are more overpowering - making the push forward all the more difficult.

American Screenwriter; Hero's Journey - Celebrating the Success of the Trials

Once the Hero has passed his trials (completed this stage of the transformation), there is often a celebration. At this point, the hero also begins to shed his Old Self. It is also not uncommon for the hero to be given a prize at this point.

The Way We Look at Old Age

How difficult we are making life for old

Screenwriting and the Hero's Journey: The Antagonist's Mentor

One often forgotten aspect of good screenplays and stories is the Mentor of both the Antagonist and the Supernatural Aid.

Hero's Journey, Screenwriting, Story Structure - Meeting The Supernatural Aid

One critical element of the Hero’s Journey is the Meeting with the Supernatural Aid. During this stage, it is not uncommon for the Supernatural Aid (or Mentor) to appear (and sometimes disappear) mysteriously in some way. From another perspective, luck plays a significant part in the meeting:

Practical Screenwriting: Hero's Journey

Following is a basic deconstruction of Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2000) – from this the value of the Hero's Journey becomes more apparent.