Writing and Speaking > Writing > US Box Office: Titanic (1997) 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: Titanic (1997)
FADE IN: Titanic departure.
Foreshadow of the Resolution and the journey: searching for the sunk Titanic; finding the remnants.
Inciting Incident: "..it's not there…";the picture.
Meeting the Heroine: Old Rose sees the picture of her younger self.
Call to Adventure: the picture is me.
Resistance: some old liar looking for a payday.
Pushing toward the Journey: "..I would like to see my drawing…"
Elixir: Backstory of the Heart.
Pulled into the Journey: memories of the trinkets; "…are you ready to go back on the Titanic…?"
Backstory of the Journey / Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: how the Titanic sunk.
Ordinary World: the ship of dreams.
Meeting the Heroine: young Rose.
Meeting the Antagonist: Caledon 'Cal' Hockley
Meeting the Antagonist's Lieutenant: Lovejoy.
Heroine's Frustration: "…inside I was screaming…"
Meeting the Hero: Jack; "..when you got nothing, you got nothing to lose…"; winning the card game.
Time Pressure to the First Threshold: Titanic leaving in five minutes.
Goodbye to the Old Self and the Old World: "…goodbye…"
Hero's Ordinary World: bunking downstairs.
Antagonist's Ordinary World: Upper deck.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Rose and Cal.
Meeting the Mentor: Molly.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Captain and crew.
Departing for the Transformation: Titanic leaves.
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: on the tip.
Magical Creatures: dolphins.
Celebrating the departure: on the tip.
Heroine's Ordinary World: dinner table.
Meeting the Interdictor: Ruth.
Heroine's Frustration: Rose walks away.
Hero's Capabilities: Jack drawing.
Foreshadow of the Romantic Challenge: Jack sees Rose.
Romantic Challenge: Jack saves the suicidal Rose [sacrifice: "I'll have to jump in after you"].
Hero's Outer Challenge: Cal antagonises Jack.
Foreshadow of the First Threshold: dinner?
Developing Characters and Relationships: Jack and Lovejoy.
Developing Characters and Relationships and the Elixir: Cal and Rose; Rose wears the Heart.
Hero's backstory: "..I've been on my own since I was 15…"
Developing Characters and Relationships: Rose and Jack go for a walk.
Hero's Capabilities: Rose sees Jack's drawings.
Interdictor and Mentor relationship: Ruth walks away from Molly.
Foreshadow of the Trials: "…I would prefer not to push the engines…"
Pushing toward the Transformation: "..why can't I be like you Jack…"
Resisting the Transformation: "…I couldn't possibly…"
Transforming: Rose spits.
Pulled Back: Ruth appears.
Guided by the Mentor: "…you're about to go into the snake pit…what do you plan to wear…"
Transforming / New Clothes / Magical Gift: Molly gives Jack a suit.
Threshold Guardian: good evening Sir.
Entering the First Threshold [Hero]: Jack goes 'upstairs;' a New World; New Creatures; New Behaviours: Jack mimicking the 'Gentlemen.'
Ordinary World of the Antagonist: Cal comfortable here.
Antagonism: "…you almost pass for a Gentleman…"
Meeting the New Creatures: Rose tells Jack who is who.
Guided by the Mentor: "…just pretend…"
Developing Characters and Relationships: around the dinner table.
First Threshold [Heroine]: Rose goes 'downstairs;'
Fish out of Water: "..I can't understand you…I can't do this…"
Transforming: Rose gets the hang of the dance; drinking; "…I haven't done that in years…"
Interdiction: "..you will not behave like that again…"; Rose and Cal.
Interdiction: "..you will not see that boy again…"; Rose and Ruth.
Pushed Back: Lovejoy blocks Jack.
Foreshadow of the Trials: "…excuse me sir, another iceberg warning…"; "…it seems that there are not enough lifeboats aboard.."
Resisting the Physical Separation: "Jack, I can't see you…"
Warning of the Return: "…that fire will burn out…"
Resistance to the Physical Separation: "…leave me alone…"
Physical Separation: "..hello Jack, I changed my mind…"; on the tip of the boat.
Marker: back to Old Rose; "..that was
the last time Titanic saw the light of day…"
Trial 1:
Elixir: Rose shows Jack the Heart; "…I want you to draw me wearing only this…"
Drawing the naked Rose.
Foreshadow of the Trials: watching for icebergs.
Pushed to Trial 2: "..find her…"
Trial 2: running away from Lovejoy; through the engine room; sex in the carriage.
Push to Trial 3: Cal finds the pictures.
Midpoint: Iceberg dead ahead! Hitting the iceberg.
Trial 3: Lovejoy plants the Heart on Jack; Jack is arrested.
Pushing to the Resolution: the Titanic is going down; it's a mathematical certainty.
Developing the Antagonist: Cal slaps Rose.
Pushing to the Resolution: lifebelts on; CQD.
Time pressure: Rose finds out the boat will sink.
The Sword: Lovejoy watches the handcuffed Jack.
Pushing to the Resolution: help is four hours away.
Pushing to the Resolution: getting women and children onto the lifeboats.
The Sword: Lovejoy punches Jack.
Meeting the Oracle: "..will be seated according to class…""…the better half will survive…""..i'd rather be his whore than your wife…""…Goodbye Mother…"
Resistance to the Sword: Cal hols Rose back; Rose spits on him.
Time Pressure: "can anybody hear me…help me…"
Warning: "..I'm doing this with or without you…"
Danger to the Sword: "..go to the very bottom…"
Obstacle: "…take me down…"
Warning; the lift operator; "…come back…"
Danger: light go out; water rising.
Seizing the Sword: Rose finds Jack.
Night Sea Journey: Rose goes to find help.
Baptism: Rose treads water.
Near Death Experience: Rose sets Jack free.
Transformation: "…shut up…"
Reward: Jack et al break out from underneath.
Developing the Antagonist: Cal doesn't get on the boat.
Atonement with the Father: both Cal and Jack beg Rose to get on the boat; there is no arrangement; "...I always win Jack…"
Apotheosis: Rose jumps back on board; they run into each other's arms.
Magic Flight: Jack and Rose run from Cal.
Ultimate Boon: Cal put the diamond in the coat and the coat on her.
Magic Flight: Jack and Rose run from the water.
Refusal: the porter refuses to return.
Rescue from Without: Jack finds the keys and opens the door.
Developing Greater Antagonism: Antagonism: Water rising.
Antagonist's True Nature: Cal doesn't help the child.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Will panics, shoots someone and then himself.
Antagonist's True Nature: "…I have a child…"
Developing Characters and Relationships: Mr Andrews is in shock.
Developing Characters and Relationships: The Captain locks himself in.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Musicians keep playing.
Developing Characters and Relationships: various characters.
Developing the Greater Antagonism: the water breaches the deck; the water breaks into the Captain's room; Fabrizzio tries to escape etc…
Crossing the Return Threshold: the boat splits and one side rises; people fall; Jack and Rose jump to the other side; their half sinks; sucked into the water.
Master of Two Worlds: "…I need you to swim…"; finding the wooden plank; "…stay on Rose…"; "…I love you Jack…""don't you say your goodbyes…" "…I'll never let go…" ; Jack dies…etc.
Developing Characters and Relationships: the women refuse to sail back.
Freedom to Live:
Rose whistles for help
Rose avoids Cal
Cal loses his fortune in the crash of '29;
New Self: Rose Dawson.
Old Rose throws the Heart into the water.
FADE OUT: he young, free, happy Rose [Inner Challenge conquered].
Rose meets Jack in the Afterlife.
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, 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://managing-creativity.com/
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