Story Structure: Die Hard (1988) 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. Story Structure: Die Hard (1988) Deconstructed This analysis is best understood by watching the film simultaneously and with a good nuderstanding of the Hero's Journey... Introduce the Hero and the Mentor; Mentor gives the Hero a Magical Gift [we meet John McClane on the aircraft; make fists with your toes]. Hero's Status and Capabilities [he's a cop]. Hero on a Journey [with a teddy bear; to see his kids]. The World of the First Threshold [party at the Nakatomi corporation]. Meet the Romantic Challenge and the Shape Shifter [Holly and Harry]. Shape Shifter challenging the Hero for the affections of the Romantic Challenge [Harry hits on Holly]. Inner Challenge and other Allies [the kids want Daddy home; marital troubles]; Romantic Challenge referenced [good idea to make up the spare bed]. Hero views the World of the First Threshold [“California!”]. Meeting Allies [meeting Argyle]. Develop character of Allies [getting to know Argyle]. Back story of the Romantic Challenge [Argyle elicits John and Holly's back story]. Viewing the Inner Cave [John POV's the Nakatomi tower from outside]. Figure of Authority (Threshold Guardian) explains the rules of this New World [the security guard]. Entering the inner Cave [John enters the party]. Strange and Magical Creatures in the inner Cave [John looks around and meets the corporate suits]. Meeting Allies [John meets Joe Takagi and Harry]. Meeting his Romantic Challenge [Harry meets Holly]. Polarity between Hero and Romantic Challenge established [“show her the watch”]. Develop the relationship between Hero and his Romantic Challenge [“kids would love to have you at the house”]. Intercut: with: Foreshadow of the Adventure [Karl et al on their way]. Enhance polarization between Hero and Romantic Challenge [“since when did you start using Miss Jeniro; change your idea of what our marriage should be…”]. Meeting the Antagonist [Hans et al arrive and take over the building]. Reminder of the Magical Aid [“fists woith your toes”]. Reminder of the Romantic Challenge [the picture of the kids]. Enhancing the Antagonism [the phone is cut off; John loses touch with Argyle]. Defining the characters of the Antagonist's Team [Karl and his brother]. Call to Adventure [Hans et al shoot up the building and take hostages; John has to think.]. Meeting and developing the Antagonist [we meet charismatic Hans; nice suit; benefits of a classical education…] Magnitude of the Outer Challenge developed [Hans kills Takagi]. Refusal of the Call [“this cannot be happening!”; John reacts to Takagi's death]. Near Death Experience. [John battles and kills Karl's brother]. Foreshadow of the future Near Death Experience [“now I have a machine gun”]. Antatgonist's plan proceeds. Foreshadow of the Road of Trials [John gets Hans' name]. Antagonist and Lieutenant relationship developed [Hans has to control Karl]. Resistance to the Physical Separation [“this is a restricted channel…”]. Meeting the Mentor [we meet Rod]. Conflict preventing the Physical Separation [John battles Karl on the roof]. John jumps to the other elevator shaft. Karl almost shoots John in the air conditioning vent. Meeting the Mentor [Al looks around]. Al shoots some more villains [“next time you want to kill someone..”] Physical Separation [Al needs backup assistance..] Meeting the Reporter: Thornburg. Hero and antagonist confrontation [John and Karl communicate..] Thorngburg wants the story. Meeting the Oracle: Hans has lost the detonators. Meeting the Mentor: John talks to Al. Mentor's challenge: Al's boss turns up. Antagonist and Romantic Challenge confrontation: Holly meets Hans. Road of Trials 1: SWAT try to enter the building; RV blown up; John drops the explosives; the building blows. Back story of the Antagonist. Trial 2: Deputy Chief of Police confronts John [“I'm not the one who got butt fucked on national TV”]; “you hang in there..”]. Hero Mentor relationship development; reminder of the Inner Challenge: John and Al talk about their kids. Trial 3: John tries to save Ellis. Mentor's challenge developed: Al confronts Dwain. Journey to the Sword [Hans goes to get the explosives]. Foreshadow / Build up to the Master of two Worlds: the FBI arrive. Seizing the Sword: John meets and confronts Hans upstairs. Near Death Experience [John has to run over the glass]. Reward [Thornburg gets Mclane's family details]. Atonement and Apotheosis: Hans toys with the FBI; they'll turn off the power and open the lock. Refusal of the Return [resistance to shutting down the power grid]. Inner Challenge overcome [John tells Al he loves Holly]. Rescue from Without: John realizes they're going to blow the roof; Karl catches John Magic Flight [Hans runs; Agents Johnson in the helicopter]. Crossing the Return Threshold [FBI shoot John on the roof]. Master of the Two Worlds [Argyle punches out Han's Lieutenant; John confronts and kills Hans; the fall]. Freedom to Live: John meets Al outside. Romantic Challenge conquered [Holly calls herself Mrs McClane]. Final Catharses [John and Al shoot Karl; Holly punches Thornburg]. 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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