Writing and Speaking > Writing > Screenwriting: Annie Hall (1977) 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.
Sample Movie Deconstructed: Annie Hall (1977)
[this story can be deconstructed with either Alvy or Annie as the Hero]...
FADE IN: Hero's Inner Challenge and Character: Woodie Allen Monologue.
Hero's Backstory [Personality]: Alvy worrying about the universe; [Ordinary World]: Coney Island, father ran the bumper car concession; [School]: " I used to be a heroine addict, now I'm a methadone addict…"
Hero's Inner Challenge and Meeting the Mentor: Alvy swore he heard the word Jew; talking to Rob.
Mentor encourages the Hero out of his Ordinary World: "we should go to California…."
Hero's Status: "are you in Television…"
Meeting the Romantic Challenge and their relationship: meeting Annie outside the movies; Alvy can't go in after the start of the movie.
Developing the Hero and Romantic Challenge: Alvy and Annie in the queue.
Developing the Hero's Inner Challenge: watching "The Sorrow and the Pity."
Developing the Romantic Challenge: Annie doesn't want to have sex.
Backstory of the Inner Challenge: meeting Alison; using the Kennedy assassination as an excuse for not having sex.
Backstory of the Romantic Challenge: Annie and Alvy playing with the lobster in the kitchen.
Developing the Goddess' Romantic Backstory: Annie's backstory: Dennis from high school; Jerry the actor.
Hero's Romantic Backstory / Inner Challenge: Alvy with a previous wife; he wants to have sex because she doesn't want to.
Led to the First Threshold by the mentor: Rob leads the way to the tennis court.
First Threshold Trial: Annie hits on Alvy and drives him home.
Pre Inner Cave conflict: Developing Hero and Romantic Challenge relationship: in the car.
Inner Cave: Annie's apartment. Developing Hero and Romantic Challenge relationship: Annie increases the space between them.
Preparing for the Physical Separation: on the balcony; "I wonder what she looks like naked;" the subtext.
Tangible representation of the Transformation: Annie singing in the club.
Physical Separation: they kiss, eat and go to bed.
Road of Trials / Transformation
Transformation 1: Alvy gives Annie some books to read.
Developing their Relationship: sitting in the park.
Resisting the Transformation: "you're sexy.." "no I'm not…" under the bridge…
Push to the Sword: Alvy resists Annie's move into his apartment; pushes her to go to college: "you may meet a lot of nice professors..."
Transformation 2: Annie needs to smoke marijuana to sleep with Alvy.
Transformation 3: Hero's Backstory: Alvy auditioning as a comic writer; Annie gets the references after Alvy's performance.
Polarization: Alvy having dinner with Annie's family; comparing families.
Seizing the Sword [new clothes]: Annie is having an affair with a college professor.
Foreshadow of the apotheosis: Annie comes home after seeing the therapist; Alvy is Frank Sinatra.
Near Death Experience: "somewhere she cooled off to me…is it something that I did…"
Reward: the girl at the concert; sex.
Atonement with the Father: Annie has a spider in the bathroom; she misses him; ets never break up again.
Apotheosis: the day trip to the old neighbourhood; Alvy confronting his True Self; he doesn't want to or can't change.
Ultimate Boon: Annie has grown; singing in the club; she has outgrown Alvy; insecure no longer; meets Tony Lacey.
Refusal: Alvy doesn't want to go to the party; Alvy remains the same, refuses to change, goes to see the "Sorrow and the Pity".
Polarization: both at their therapist; talking about their relationship; poles apart.
Refusal: "you never want to try anything new…"
New World: Rob in Beverly Hills.
Fish out of Water: Alvy out of place; "Max. you know how immoral this is, you're adding fake laughs.."; "I can't eat this…"; at the party.
Magic Flight: they break up on the return flight; separating their things in the apartment.
Rescue from Without: Alvy misses Annie; going out with other women isn't the same.
Crossing the Return Threshold: going back to LA to get Annie.
Master of the Two Worlds: Annie perfectly at home in LA.
Freedom to Live: Alvy writes a play; Annie back in NYC, they carry on….
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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