What they didn’t tell you at Harvard Screenwriting School is that 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.

Most people familiar with this story structure perceive it as the “Quest Theory.” That is, they can see how it can be a template for stories such as Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Jason and the Argonauts and so forth, but they resist the idea that it explains or is the core behind other stories such as Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film 2004).

In fact, if you deconstruct the Academy Award Winners (Best Films) of the last few decades, you quickly realise that they are all based around the Hero’s Journey template. That there is, in fact, only one story.

Another gripe about the Hero's Journey is the phenomena of the antihero – that the antihero is definitely not a hero in the classical sense. This is true, however, the antihero is simply an archetype, in the same way as the Supernatural Aid, Shape Shifter et al. The difference between hero, anti-hero and other variations simply lies in situation, motivation and result. Both Jake La Motta (Raging Bull) and Henry Hill (Goodfellas) undergo the same PROCESS towards apotheosis and beyond as Harry Potter, Luke Skywalker and Frodo Baggins.

Another gripe is that the Hero's Journey does not explain the Heroine. It is a mistake to believe that the Heroine’s Journey is separate and distinct from the Hero’s Journey. The Journey is about transition (The Road of Trials), illumination (Apotheosis), movement from one conscious state to another, overcoming challenge etc – these are not gender (or culturally) specific.

A good example is Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2004) – though Maggie and Frankie both have their challenges, the process towards apotheosis and beyond is the same. Out of Africa (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 1985) is another example of a great heroine who overcomes her challenges using the PROCESS that is enshrined in the Hero's Journey.

The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/

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