Writing and Speaking > Writing > Screenplays: Back to the Future (1985) Deconstructed
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Kal Bishop
From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters....
The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The 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) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
Sample Movie Deconstructed: Back to the Future (1985)
FADE IN: Context: time; lots of clocks.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: "Brown Mansion Destroyed."
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Plutonium theft.
Foreshadow of the Mentor's Capabilities: an ineffective inventor / scientist; the automated coffee machine, Einstein etc.
Introduce the Hero: Marty walks in.."hey doc…"
Developing the Mentor: Plutonium under the bed.
Developing the Hero's Capabilities: Marty plugs in his electric guitar.
Call to Adventure: Doc phones, "don't forget, 1.15am Twin Pines Falls…"
Developing the Mentor's Capabilities: all the clocks ring 25 minutes slow.
Forced to the First Threshold: "I'm late for school…"
Journey to the First Threshold / Developing the Hero's Capabilities: Marty skateboards to school.
Hero's Ordinary World: the town.
Foreshadow of the Journey: the mayor's poster.
First Threshold: the school.
Meeting Allies: Jennifer.
Meeting Enemies: Mr Strickland.
Warning against the Mentor: "Dr Brown is dangerous..."
Hero's Inner Challenge: "you remind me of your father…""you'll never amount to anything, you're too much like your old man…""no McFly ever amounted to anything in the history of Hill Valley…"
Consciously agreeing to the Journey: "history is going to change."
Developing the Hero's Capabilities and Inner Challenge: Marty leading his band; "I'm afraid you're just too damn loud.."
Foreshadow of the Journey: Goldie Wilson's van drives by.
Developing the Hero, his Romantic and Inner Challenges: "I'll never get a chance to play in front of an audience…what if I send in the tape and they reject it...I just couldn't take that kind of rejection…"
Foreshadow of the Freedom to Live: "check out that 4x4..."
Foreshadow of the Journey: the clock tower in the background.
Developing the Hero's Inner Challenge: "you're not as bad as your dad."
Foreshadow of the Journey: a collection for the clock tower…"thirty years ago that clock tower was hit by lightning…"
Developing the Hero's Capabilities: Marty skates home.
Developing the Inner Challenge and Meeting the Antagonist: Biff has crashed George McFly's car; "I'm sorry Marty, I'm just not very good at confrontation."
Inner Cave; Inner Challenge; Developing Characters and Relationships: Marty having dinner with his family. Foreshadows of the Journey: how Mom met Dad; the dance, thunderstorm etc…
Pulled to the Physical Separation: Doc calls; Marty picks up the camera on his way to the Mall.
Magical Appearance of the Mentor: the car roles out with Doc in it.
Demonstrating the Magical Gift: Einstein goes back in time in the DeLorean; the flux capacitor.
Forced to the Physical Separation: the Libyans shoot the Doc and pursue Marty; Marty travels back in time.
Entering the World of the Transformation: the car crashes into 1955.
Fish out of Water in the World of the Transformation: Marty gets out of the car and they think he's an alien.
Pushed Towards the Transformation: Marty is shot at; he drives away.
View of the World of the Transformation from a distance: Lyon Estates.
Meeting the Creatures of this New World: the old couple in the 50's car.
Resisting the Transformation: "this is nuts…"
Forced toward the Transformation: Marty walks into Hill Valley and the square.
Developing the Fish out of Water: in the cafe; "what's with the life preserver….give me a Pepsi free…"
Developing the Inner Challenge: meeting George McFly, Biff and Goldie in the café.
Developing Characters: "he's a Peeping Tom."
Developing the Romantic Challenge: Meeting Mom in her bedroom.
Developing the Romantic Challenge and Fish out of Water: Marty around the dinner table watching TV.
Meeting the Mentor: Marty tries to find Doc, reading your mind sequence.
Refusal of the Mentor: "whose President in 1985? Ronald Reagan! Huh!"
Overcoming Refusal: the flux capacitor story; showing the videotape.
Resistance to the Atonement: there is no way of generating 1.21gigawatts of electricity.
Overcoming Resistance to the Atonement: we know where a bolt of lightning will strike.
Interdiction: you cannot see anybody or talk to anybody; anything you do will have serious consequences for future events.
Time Pressure: the photograph.
Transformation / Trial 1: Lorraine ignores George by the locker.
Pushed towards the Trials: Doc tells Marty that he must ensure George takes Lorraine to the Enchantment under the Sea dance.
Developing Characters, Relationships and the Inner Challenge: George writes science fiction stories; "get out of here…I never knew you did anything creative…""I never let anyone read my stories…"
Transformation / Trial 2: Marty pushes Biff in the cafeteria.
Resisting Trial 3: George is "just not ready to ask Lorraine out to the dance…"
Time Pressure: the people in the photograph are disappearing.
Overcoming Resistance to Trial 3: "I am Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan."
Developing Characters and Relationships: Marty tells George what to say to Lorraine; George tries asking Lorraine out.
Transformation / Trial 3: Marty hits Biff; the skateboard and manure sequence.
Mentor's Challenge: Marty needs to tell Doc something about the video recording.
Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the Doc explains how Marty will get back.
Meeting the Oracle: Lorraine like a strong man; someone who will protect her.
Resistance to the Sword: Marty tries to persuade George to punch him.
Foreshadow of the overcoming of the Inner Challenge: Marty says that "if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything…"
Developing the Mentor's Challenge: Marty is not sure how to tell Doc he is going to die; writing the letter.
The World of the Sword: the band and the dance.
Journey to the Sword / Developing Characters and Relationships: Marty "parks" with his Mom; Lorraine has parked before and drinks and smokes. Lorraine kisses Marty but it's "like kissing my brother."
Threshold Guardian to the Sword: Biff et al take Marty out of the car.
Time Pressure: Biff attempting to rape Lorraine.
Seizing the Sword: George knocks out Biff.
Near Death Experience: Marvin can't play the guitar; "the dance is over, unless you know somebody who can play the guitar;" Marty takes Marvin's place.
Time Pressure: the photograph.
Inner Challenge Conquered: George takes back Lorraine in the dance.
Reward: George kisses Lorraine.
Reward: Marty gets a chance to play something that really "cooks" and wows the audience.
Saying Goodbye to the Old Self: "I gotta say goodbye…""Marty will we ever see you again…"
Atonement with the Father: Marty gets back to the car; Doc finds the letter; Marty tries to tell him about the future.
Obstacles to the Apotheosis: time pressure; the ledge; the car not starting…
Apotheosis: "I have all the time in the world; I can go back and warn the Doc…"
Ultimate Boon: Marty returns.
Celebrating the Boon: the Doc jumps for joy.
Magic Flight: the Libyans purse and kill Doc.
Refusal: Marty doesn't get back in time to save the Doc, "No!"
Rescue from Without: the Doc opened the letter and is alive.
Goodbye to the Mentor: "the Doc is going forward in time…"
Crossing the Return Threshold: Marty returns home,
Master of the Two Worlds: New Self; Challenges conquered…
Freedom to Live: the Doc returns for Marty.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.
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://www.clickok.co.uk/
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