Screenwriting: The Dirty Dozen 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.

Screenwriting: the Dirty Dozen deconstructed

A good example of integrating multiple archetypes in your story...

FADE IN: the First Threshold - a military prison; a hanging.

Introducing the Mentor: Lee Marvin (Major Reisman) watches the hanging and heads for the meeting.

Mentor’s Character and Back Story: The Colonel et al go over Reisman’s record.

Heralds brings Call to Adventure: Reisman is told of project Amnesty.

Danger of the Journey developed: the Nazi conference in the Chateau; the place is fortified and guarded; the men will be risking their lives,

Foreshadow of the Atonement: referencing Colonel Breed.

Entering the First Threshold; meeting the strange creatures of the First Threshold: we meet the men by name, crime and sentence.

Threshold Guardian: Franco resists and Reisman puts him on the ground.

Meeting Allies in the Inner Cave: convincing the men in their cells; developing their characters and back stories and the relationship with the Mentor:

The Joker: Franco.

The Leader: Charles Bronson (Wladislaw).

The Shape Shifter: Telly Savalas (Maggot).

The Simpleton: the big man (Posey)

Developing the Mentor’s Ally: the Sergeant.

The Leaders Ally: Jefferson.

The Ally: Sergeant Bowry.

Conditions of the Journey: the men are told that if any of them try to escape, then they’ll all be sent back to prison.

Conflict between Allies: Maggot and Jefferson fight.

Warning of the Physical Separation: the Sergeant thinks that the first chance they get, they’ll attempt to shoot Reisman.

Physical Separation: on their way to the camp.

Entering the World of the Transformation: constructing the compound.

Tangible Representation of the Transformation: the state of the compound; no windows until they deserve them.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: listening to the radio and hearing about the War.

Developing characters: Franco talks to Pinkley (the Idiot); Wladislaw talks about the woman singing on the radio; Maggot doesn’t like women. Trial 1: Franco tries to escape.

Trial 2: climbing the rope.

Trial 3: Posey gets a knife.

Transformation Progressing: Reisman and the sergeant discuss the men’s improvement.

Foreshadow of the turning of the Shape Shifter: Maggot discuses his religious views.

Warning of the Seizing of the Sword: the psychologist warns Reisman that the men are psychopaths.

Conflict on the Journey to the Sword: Franco throws one of the smaller men and Posey confronts him.

Resisting the Sword: Wladislaw is uncooperative.

Seizing the Sword: Franco wants hot water to shave; the men all line up; they are finally acting as a team. New Name verifying their progress along the path of the Transformation: they get a new name: the Dirty Dozen.

Foreshadow of the Near Death Experience: Reisman warns the men of the coming trial with Breed.

Night Sea Journey: the men in the truck travel to Colonel Breed’s territory; “the General” inspects the men.

Near Death Experience: Reisman insults Breed; Wladislaw gets beaten up.

Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: the men think it was the Major who had Wladislaw beaten up.

Reward: the men get female company, the whisky…the “graduation ball.”

Foreshadow of the Shape Shifter’s turning: Maggot warns of the Major’s coming damnation.

Atonement with the Father: Colonel Breed pushes his way into the compound; Reisman shoots at him etc…

Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: they see that the men who roughed up Wladislaw are with Breed.

Apotheosis: Reisman is on their side.

Ultimate Boon: all the men act in unison; Synergy.

Refusal of the Return: Reisman is admonished by a senior officer; his men will be sent back etc.

Rescue from Without: the competition to knock out Breed’s HQ is the only way to save the men.

Magic Flight in the Wolves Clothing: the men change colours and make their way to Breed’s HQ and take over.

Warnings, preparing and pushed into the Final Conflict: going over the Chateau invasion.

Crossing the Return Threshold: the flight to the Chateau, parachuting in and getting past the guards.

Master of the Two Worlds / Final Conflict: Blowing up the Chateau dressed as Nazis; Shape Shifter turns; resistance etc.

Freedom to Live: Reisman, Wladislaw and the Sergeant in hospital.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 18 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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