Screenwriting and the AntiHero’s Journey: Alienation not Synergy
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon – understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero’s Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
The difference between hero, anti-hero and other variations simply lies in situation, motivation and result. In fact, the antihero is simply an archetype. What is important is that the anti-hero, hero and other variations all undergo the same process to attain their respective apotheoses and beyond.
Alienation NOT synergy
One important distinction to note between hero and antihero is synergy versus alienation. Where the hero’s allies will come to his aid, the anti-hero’s allies will betray. Where the hero’s allies will tend to gravitate toward the hero the antihero’s allies will leave. This usually takes effect in the stage of the Ultimate Boon and beyond:
In Raging Bull (1980), Jake La Motta ends up alone – Vickie, Joey and all the other characters that partook in the story disappear toward the end.
In Lord of War (2005), Yuri loses his brother, his trophy wife leaves him and his parents disown him.
In Goodfellas (1999), Paul Cicero explicitly states that he “has to let Henry go.” Alienation is especially true of Mentors. They rarely remain.
In A Fistful of Dynamite (1971), Juan Miranda (Rod Steiger) is left standing and muttering…”what about me…?”
Learn more…
The detailed, complete deconstruction and 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/
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/
