Effective Screenplay: Out of Africa (1985) Deconstructed
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. Effective Screenplay: Out of Africa (1985) Deconstructed This analysis is best understood by watching the film simultaneously and with a good understanding of the Hero's Journey... FADE IN: Visuals and narrative; Karen; dreams; Africa; “I had a farm in Africa,” memories of Denys Finch Hatton, “a glimpse of the World through God's eye…” Call to Adventure. Karen “has got to be away from here;” she has got no life in Denmark etc. Karen's Inner Challenge: she has nothing. Refusal: Bror resists: “am I supposed to think you're serious..” Entering the New World and the First Threshold: the train to Africa; radically different from Denmark. Clumsily entering the First Threshold: “shoo, shoo…” New rules: “it's rude not to stop the train here…” Foreshadow of the Journey: Denys drops off some Ivory on the train; references to Barclay. Meeting the Supernatural Aid: Meeting Faraj. New and strange creatures in the First Threshold: Karen observes the Africans and is unwelcome in the Mens club by the stuffy colonials. Pulled into the Adventure: one hour before the wedding. Celebration on entering the New World: the marriage. Emotional reaction at entering the First Threshold: “thank you for this..” Meeting Allies: Meeting Lord Delamere, Felicity, Bror's character (philanderer), Barclay Cole etc Warning against the Journey: “Sabu, we can go now…” Physical Separation from the Old State: arriving at the farm Expectations Changing: they're going to be growing coffee Resisting the Transformation: “fetch some wine for my lover's brother…; did I tell you Hans came to say Goodbye…” Pulled into the Transformation: “can be many days before the rain, Sabu” Duration of the Journey: three or four years. Trial 1: Meeting the Chief Tangible Representation of this Stage of the Journey: the injured boy's leg; “the other boys will think you are afraid..” Trial 2: the damn: “Sabu, this water lives at Mombassa” Trial 3: Facing the Lion; saved by Denys. Rest Break and Celebration (at the passing of the Trials) before the Seizing of the Sword: meeting Denys and Barclay and telling stories. Reminder of the Inner (attachment): “when you were a mental traveler, did you take so much luggage;” Receiving a Magical Gift (normally useful for the Seizing of the Sword): the pen Marker of Change: Rain; Karen asks Bror to “come home; the boy comes to work at the farm. Meeting the Oracle; learning about the Sword: the war means that Bror et al will have to go off to fight. Resistance to Seizing the Sword: Denys resists; the discussion with Barclay; Karen doesn't want Bror to go. Time Stretch: Karen reminiscing. Status Change: Felicity comes round; Karen's status has risen. Time Pressure to Seize the Sword: The Captain comes around; Karen will have to move into town. Warning against Seizing the Sword: “that's no place for a white woman.” New World of the Sword: African Muslims praying Difficulty getting to the Sword: the cows are hard to control. Disorientation: Karen gets them lost. Guidance from the Mentor: “God is Great Sabu…” Hawks and Doves argue the value of continuing on the Journey: Barclay against her continuing; Denys gives Karen a Magical Gift (the compass). Overcoming threats: Massai pass by. Resistance and Conflict getting to the Sword / Proactive Growth Experience: Lion attack. Mentor Guidance: “this Lion does not have this Ox, we do not have this Ox…etc” Seizing the Sword: Karen arrives to meet Dee and Bror. Transformation: “you've changed your hair..” Rebirth through Death: Karen gets Syphilis; Karen has to go home; Saying goodbye to the Old Self: leaving the farm; Denys; Bror; going home. Time Stretch: “arsenic was my ally…” The New Self: Karen returns; she enters the World again as the Wizened One. Symbols of Change: almost everyone has a car now; the boy's leg has healed etc… Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: 1: Karen begins the detachment:; she can't have children… Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: Meeting Denys at Christmas Resisting the Apotheosis: Karen builds the school. Guidance and warning from the Mentor: “when these children are this tall, then this chief can be dead…” Conflict towards the Atonement: Barclay has a fistfight. Foreshadow of the Atonement and Apotheosis: Karen dances with Denys (“what exactly is it that you own”); Bror isn't around for the New Year kiss. Atonement: with the Father: Karen asks Bror to leave the house; Karen learns to be alone. Learning to detach: “do they always have to whip them so..” Resisting the Apotheosis: Karen won't go with Denys. Resistance to the Apotheosis: the car stalls. Building up to the Apotheosis: learning to detach; the trip with Denys; the dinners, setting up camp; talking about the Massai. Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the aircraft. The source of the Inner Challenge: Karen's father killed himself. Apotheosis: killing the Lion and sleeping with Denys without committing. Reward: Karen takes the record player. Resisting the Apotheosis: dinner with Barclay; ‘then I would have no-one.” Denys comes and goes as he pkeases. Foreshadow of the Refusal and the death of the Old Self: Barclay's water has gone black. Ultimate Boon: “Denys asks to move in..” Death of the Old Self: Barclays funeral. Ultimate Boon: “we spoke of nothing ordinary, small or real…we lived disconnected and apart from things…”; the magic flight Refusal of the Return: Denys comes to ask for money…. Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Karen needs to borrow money. Break from the Old Self: Bror wants a divorce. Foreshadow of the Master of Two Worlds: Letting the water go… Magic Flight: Denys leaves. Rescue from Without:: the fire. [slicing]: Crossing the Return Threshold: Karen asks for land for the Kikuyu. Master of the Two Worlds: Karen prepares to leave; Says Goodbye to Denys et al; welcome into the Mens Club….”you were right, the farm never did belong to me. Freedom to Live: Bror tells Karen Denys is dead; the funeral. Goodbye to the Mentor. Afterlife Act: Denys is buried on high ground Learn more… 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.
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