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Writing and Speaking > Writing > Screenwriting: Heros Journey - Understanding the Main Character
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Article rating : 0.00, 0 votes. Author : Kal Bishop
The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the cast majority of successful screenplays are built upon. Films as diverse as Gladiator (2000), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Raging Bull (1980) and Scarface (1983) were all constructed around the Hero's Journey Template.
How necessary is it to understand the main character?
Not necessary at all.
As long as the character passes through all the stages of the Hero's Journey and the audience understands the reasons / motivations for the journey, then there is not necessarily a greater need to explain the character further.
In Midnight Cowboy (1969), we don't really know about Joe Buck except for a few flashbacks. We learn about his character through his actions and as he progresses along his journey and we understand his motivatoins and empathise with him. We don't need to know more.
In Lost in Translation (2003), we don't know too much about Charlotte or Bob. We are exposed to a few references that indicate the source of their challenges, but not a
lot of back story is needed. In fact, the characters are slowly revealed to us through their reactions to events. The imagination fills in the gaps.
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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