*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero,

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE 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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero,

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE 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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero,

THE 188 STAGE 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) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero,

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to http://www.heros-journey.info/ for full details)

*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero,

*****Characters and Archetypes*****

The vast majority of successful screenplays use off-the shelf character functions called Archetypes. For example, Tessio (The Godfather, 1972) and Han Solo (Star Wars, 1977) are both Shape Shifters. You can find a complete list of archetypes from http://www.clickok.co.uk/index4.html

Apart from the Hero, it is these arcgetypes' challenges that provide the basis for subplot.

*****Seizing the Sword and Expansion of Consciousness*****

The Seizing of the Sword stage is a multistaged process. Two aspects include the Seizure of the Sword (a tangible metaphor) and the Expansion of Consciousness, which often manifests itself in the gaining of an insight or a capability that was previously non-existent. In Straw Dogs (1971), David shoots the bird easily and is sorry.