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/ 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.
|