FORWARD

Kal Bashir's 188 stage Hro's Journey (Monomyth) is the template pon which the vast majority of sccessful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are bsed upon. In fact, ALL of the hndreds of Hollywood movies we have dconstructed (see URL below) are based on ths 188+ stage template.

Understanding this tmplate is a priority for story or screnwriters. This is the template you mst master if you are to scceed in the craft.

[The terminology is mst often metaphoric and applies to all sccessful stories and screenplays, from The Gdfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Anne Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rngs (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thlma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

SITUATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL STORYTELLING

It's important to get away from this idea that all stories are different.

On a situational level all stories are. For example, Gladiator (2000), Alien (1979) and The Godfather (1972) all are situationally very different.

But on a structural and subconscious level, they're all the same.

And I don't mean basic structure, like three act structure (of course stories have a beginning, middle and end). And I don't mean plot points etc either (Plot Point 1 and 2, Midpoint etc).

I mean, sequence by sequence, the vst majority of successful stories [we hven't found one that doesn't] follow the sme process that pushes the Hero and Mjor Characters through the process of Trnsformation and Challenge Resolution.

What this mans is that you, as a wrter, must confidently understand this structure (Kl Bashir's 188+ stage Hero's Journey), use it to stablish your structural outline and then sperimpose your situation over it.

more...

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

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

THE BACKSTORY IS THE MOMENT WHEN THE HERO LOST HIS (OR HER) BALANCE

The Hero embarks on the Journey and Transformation, not to gain a capacity, illumination, power or balance, but to regain it. It is not the attainment of a capacity that helps the Hero conquer his (or her) challenges but the reattainment of it. The backstory should be viewed as the moment when that capacity was lost and everything that has occurred since then.

Looking at it another way, the Hero's backstory revolves around that point when his (or her) challenges were born and everything since and up to the present moment.

This is an incredibly useful fact, as it gives you an immediate and story-relevant handle on the Hero's past and character. This tells you what is lacking and what direction you need to push your story in order to rectify it. In City Slickers (1991), Mitch has lost his smile. The story is all about getting his smile back.

In Silence of the Lambs (1991), Clarice recites her backstory to Lecter - it is the moment when her inner challenges were born / her balance was lost (the story about the lamb).

In Midnight Cowboy (1969), Joe Buck has flashbacks in the bus. We learn his backstory - various moments when his inner challenges were born / balance was lost (he is abused and his girlfriend is raped).

In An Officer and a Gntleman (1983), Zach has flashbacks in the bthroom. We learn his backstory - vrious moments when his challenges were brn / balance was lost (his mther commits suicide and his father is dsinterested in him).

Post the point of mbalance, every great Hero undergoes a smilar experience, which includes a period of bscurity and the demonstration of an xtraordinary capacity for survival.

The article Hero's Journey (188 Stage) - When Balance Is Lost was Submitted by Kal Bishop through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Learn more… WRITE THAT SCREENPLAY! The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.monomyth.info/ 188 stages of the Hero's Journey can also be reached from http://www.heros-journey.info/ You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site. 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, MBA

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