From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at
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.
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.
Screenwriter: Trading Places (1983) deconstructed
A good example of integrating two heroes in your story...
FADE IN: context; the city; visuals show the contrast between the working class and the well off.
Hero 1 and Mentor in their Ordinary World: Winthorpe and Coleman at home; Winthorpe at work?.pork bellies.
Meeting the Antagonists and their motivations: Meeting the Dukes; debating Nature versus Nurture.
Hero 2 in his Ordinary World: Valentine begs from the Dukes.
Developing the Antagonists: the crop report; Randolph doesn't think that the scientist should have won the Nobel prize; mother always said Mortimer was greedy.
Antagonist's nature: Ezra gets $5 for Christmas.
Meeting the Shape Shifters: dinner with suspect friends and Penelope.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: $50k to Clarence Beeks.
Foreshadow of the Call to Adventure: the Dukes talk about Winthorpe.
Developing Hero 2: Valentine pretending to be blind and crippled??what unit were you in???
Developing the Antagonists and the Heroes: Valentine takes the briefcase; Winthorpe gets Valentine arrested.
Call to Adventure: the Dukes make a wager.
First Threshold (Hero 1) and Meeting Allies: Winthorpe at dinner with Penelope (Shape Shifter) and Coleman (Mentor).
Mentor agrees to the Journey: Coleman agrees to the Duke's request.
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Coleman will not be needed anymore.
First Threshold (Hero 2) and Meeting Allies: Valentine in Jail; "what Max Domi Jersey Authentic , you ignorant?"
Physical Separation: The Dukes bail Valentine.
Journey to the World of the Transformation on the Magic Carpet: The Dukes explain the deal in their car.
Meeting the Mentor: Valentine meets Coleman.
Hero 2 is a fish out of water in the World of the Transformation: Valentine in his new home? "everything in here is mine Jonathan Drouin Jersey Authentic , right?"
Physical Separation (Hero 1): Beeks plants the notes on Winthorpe; being shamed in the Heritage Club.
Hero 1 is a fish out of water in the World of the Transformation: being stripped of the Old Self. (Winthorpe stripped on entrance to the prison).
Hero 2 (Transformation 1): Valentine in the bar; showing the big boys his Limo outside; ? you gotta lotta guts showing your face in here?? Accompanied by the Mentor: Coleman is waiting outside.
Hero 2 (Transformation 2): Valentine throwing everyone out of ?his house.? Accompanied by the Mentor: Coleman being the butler.
Meeting Hero 1's Mentor: Meeting Ophelia.
Shape Shifter character developed: Penelope waiting for Winthorpe.
Hero 1 (Transformation 1): Coleman doesn't let Winthorpe in the house. Accompanied by the Mentor: Ophelia watches.
Hero 1 (Transformation 2): Winthorpe gets thrown out of the bank. Accompanied by the Mentor: Ophelia watches.
Resistance to Trial 3 (Hero 1): Ophelia (the Mentor) almost leaves Winthorpe.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Valentine and Winthorpe see each other through the car windows.
Resistance to Trial 3 (Hero 2): Valentine doesn't know what they want from him; Coleman tells Valentine to stay true to himself.
Trial 3 (Hero 2): Valentine enters the Duke's building and is taught about commodities.
Trial 3 (Hero 1): Learning Ophelia is a prostitute.
Seizing the Sword (Hero 2): Valentine makes the Dukes money playing the pork belly market; Valentine returns the money he finds on the floor (becomes trustworthy).
Seizing the Sword (Hero 1): Winthorpe learns the true nature of his friends; buying the gun; learning that money ain't easy to come by; of his previously privileged existence.
Near Death Experience (Hero 2): Winthorpe offends at dinner?
Near Death Experience (Hero 1): Winthorpe in bed with the flu.
Developing the Mentor: Ophelia turns down a customer.
Reward (Hero 2): the blonde hits on Valentine over dinner.
Reward (Hero 1): Ophelia gets into bed with Winthorpe.
Foreshadow of the Atonement (Hero 1): Winthorpe sees Valentine's picture in the paper.
Complete Transformation (Hero 2): Valentine working late at Christmas.
Foreshadow of the Atonement (Hero 2) Valentine notices the cheque for Mr Beeks; wonders what wager they're discussing.
Complete Transformation (Hero 1): Winthorpe becomes a criminal; plants drugs in Valentine's office; holds a gun up to security.
Complete Transformation (Hero 2): Valentine thinks Winthorpe should be put in jail.
Complete Transformation (Hero 1): Winthorpe drunk; a bum; eating fish I the bus.
Atonement with the Father (Hero 2): Valentine learns about the wager in the bathroom; that Valentine will be switched back.
Resisting the Atonement with the Father (Hero 1): Winthorpe walks away from Valentine; tries to kill himself.
Atonement with the Father (Hero 1): Winthorpe tries to