Writing and Speaking > Writing > Screenwriing Christmas Films: Its a Wonderful Life (1946) Deconstructed
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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.
and more...
Sample Movie Deconstructed: It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
FADE IN: Foreshadow of the Resolution: "..help my friend George Bailey…"
Meeting the Mentor: God, Joseph and Clarence.
Mentor's Challenge: will I get my wings?
Meeting the Hero: George as a kid.
Hero's Capabilities and Nature: George saves his kid brother, Harry Bailey.
Meeting the Antagonist: Potter.
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Mary.
Meeting the Goddess' Competition: Violet.
Developing the Romantic Challenge: see stupid, don't you know where coconuts come from.
Hero's Inner Challenge: I'm going exploring some day.
Meeting the Loyal Ally: Uncle Billy.
Meeting the Mentor / Developing the Antagonist: Pa Bailey confronts Potter.
Hero's True Nature: George saves Gower from killing the boy.
Grown George
Mentor likes the Hero: "...I like George Bailey…"
Preparing for a Journey: George buys a suitcase.
Mentor's Magical Gift: the suitcase is a present from Old Man Gower.
Meeting Allies: Cabbie Ernie and Officer Bert.
Meeting the Goddess' Competition: this old thing, I only wear it when I don't care what I look like.
Hero's Ordinary World: George at home having dinner with Dad.
Developing the Antagonist [through referencing]: he's [Potter] is a man with no heart or soul.
Developing the Hero: I want to do something big and important, build cities, travel.
Call to Adventure: why don't you stay behind and look after the Building and Loan?
Refusal: it's just not for me Pa.
Developing the Antagonist [through referencing]: this town is no place unless you're prepared to crawl to Potter.
Pushed to the First Threshold:
Outer Cave / Creatures of this World: at the party; meeting Sam, Violet etc.
Meeting the Romantic Challenge: George sees Mary.
Developing the Romantic Challenge: George dances with Mary.
Trial: the swimming pool opens up.
Middle Cave: Developing the Romantic Challenge: George offers to Lasso the moon; the big old house where Mary wants to live. Refusal: I'm going to see the world. Conflict: why don't you kiss her? Ahh, youth is wasted on the wrong people.
Pulled to the Inner Cave: George, come on home, your father's had a stroke.
Inner Cave: Peter Bailey dies; confronting Potter; Building and Loan will go to Potter unless George stays on.
Resisting the Physical Separation: Harry can take over the Building and Loan once he's finished college; Harry returns but is offered a job.
Pushed to the Physical Separation: Ma Bailey tells George to go and see Mary.
Misdirection: Violet is the wrong girl.
Resisting the Physical Separation: George resists Mary. Obstacles: Sam calls; Mother.
Pulled to the Physical Separation: George can't resist kissing Mary.
Physical Separation: George and Mary get married.
Pulled to the Transformation: $2k in their hands and something funny going on at the bank.
Trial / Transformation 1: George stops a run on the bank and stops Potter buying it by using his honeymoon money.
Celebrating the passing of the Trial: "…open the bottles …"
Developing Characters and Relationships: Bert and Ernie prepare the house; serenade.
World of the Transformation: welcomed into the big house.
Transforming: Bailey Park; Mr Martini moves in.
Developing the Antagonism / Foreshadow of Trial 2: Potter has to do something about Bailey Park.
Hero's Frustration: George and Mary meet Sam with his new car.
Trial / Transformation 2: Potter offers to pay George a heft salary.
Transforming: Mary is expecting.
Time Shift: more children and the war.
Transformation Complete: Harry becomes a war hero and George is well established.
Time Pressure: the bank examiner is here.
Seizing the Sword: Uncle Billy loses the $8k and Potter doesn't give it back.
Developing the Hero's True Nature: George lends Violet some money.
Time Pressure: the bank examiner is here.
Near Death Experience: George roughs up Uncle Billy; "…you silly stupid old fool…."
Near Death Experience: George is very angry at home.
Atonement with the Father: George begs Potter for the money; the reporters are waiting for him; George will go to jail.
Apotheosis: George is worth more dead than alive; George contemplates suicide.
Ultimate Boon: George preys.
Refusal: George gets punched in Martinis.
Magic Flight: George takes the car and crashes into the tree.
Rescue from Without: Clarence arrives and shows him what the town would have been like if he had never been born.
Crossing the Return Threshold: George prays to be back with his family; Bert recognises him.
Master of the Two Worlds: George appreciates Mary, the kids et al.
Freedom to Live: George's friends make a collection.
Mentor's Challenge Conquered: Clarence gets his wings.
FADE OUT.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop
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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://managing-creativity.com/
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