Writing and Speaking > Writing > Screenwriting: Vertigo (1958) Deconstructed
0
Reviews [ add review ],
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.
and more...
Sample Movie Deconstructed: Vertigo (1958)
FADE IN: Hero's Inner Challenge: Scottie hangs off the roof; is afraid of heights.
Meeting the Hero and Mentor / developing the Inner and Romantic Challenge: talking about his agoraphobia; Scottie and Midge were engaged for three whole weeks.
Foreshadow of the Journey: "..you heard of Gavin Elster…"
Elixir: "…I look up, I look down…"
Developing the Inner Challenge: Scottie falls.
Meeting the Antagonist: Gavin's office.
Antagonist's Backstory: Gavin is in the ship building business; married into it etc…
Call to Adventure: will you follow my wife?
Refusal: check her into a psychologist….; "…oh well, then you're no use to me…; this isn't my line; I'll get you a firm of private detectives…"
Pulled into the Journey: Scottie sits down.
Threshold Guardian / Romantic Challenge: Scottie sees Madeleine during dinner.
Drawn to the First Threshold: Scottie follows the car.
Entering the First Threshold: the dark room; opening the door.
Madeleine buying flowers.
Outer Cave: following Madeleine into the church and graveyard; Carlotta Valdez's grave.
Middle Cave: following Madeleine to the museum; watching the portrait.
Inner Cave Threshold: following Madeleine to McKittrick's hotel.
Threshold Guardian: the hotel receptionist.
Inner Cave: Looking inside the room.
Meeting the Mentor: "…who do you who knows about San Francisco history…"
Physical Separation / Meeting the Mentor: the bookseller.
The World of the Transformation: Backstory: the story of Carlotta Valdez.
Developing the Romantic Challenge: Midge and Scottie in the car.
Pushed to Trial 1: meeting Gavin again.
Trial 1: saving Madeleine from drowning.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Scottie and Madeleine in his apartment.
Romantic Challenge: Midge sees Madeleine leave his apartment.
Scottie follows Madeleine in the car – back to his apartment.
They go for a wander together.
Trial 2: in the forest; "…here I was born, here I died…"; "….where were you born Madeleine…"
Midpoint: "I'm responsible for you now…"; by the sea…"..I'm not mad..";
the kiss.
Trial 3: Midge paints a portrait of herself.
Meeting the Oracle: Madeleine tells Scottie about the old San Juan mission.
Journey to the Sword: driving to the mission.
Seizing the Sword: I miss you.
Night Sea Journey: up the tower.
Near Death Experience: Madeleine jumps off the top of the tower.
Reward: the courtroom verdict of not guilty. Developing Inner Challenge: the judge refers to Scottie's agoraphobia.
Magic Flight: Gavin is going away; to Europe.
Denial: Scottie's dreams nightmare.
Denial: Scottie in the hospital.
Romantic Challenge: Midge visits the Doctor: "...he was in love with her...he still...and Mozart is not going to help at all…"
Atonement with the Father: seeing the car; going to the restaurant where he first saw Madeleine; going to the museum; visiting the flower shop.
Pulled toward the Apotheosis: following Madeleine's double in the hotel.
Apotheosis: Gavin threw his wife off the tower; the dress.
Refusal of the Return: Judy's thoughts. Judy thinks again and doesn't leave.
Push to the Boon: having dinner with Scottie; going walking; dancing; dressing her up; looking for a grey suit in the department store; Judy agrees to dress up to look like Madeleine.
Ultimate Boon: Judy looks just like Madeleine; the kiss.
Push to the Rescue: where shall we go for dinner?
Rescue from Without: seeing the necklace on Judy.
Crossing the Return Threshold: going back to the mission.
Scottie forces Judy up the stairs.
Confronting his Inner Challenge: Scottie confronts his agoraphobia.
Master of Two Worlds: Scottie knows what happened.
Conquering his Inner Challenge: Scottie makes it to the top.
Conquering the Romantic Challenge: the kiss.
Freedom to Live: Judy falls; Scottie can look over the side of the tower.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
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/
Find Love guide and resources.
Article reviews
Post your review
[ Note : no HTML/URLs - will removed automatically ]
More articles from Writing and Speaking > Writing
|
