Story Structure: Empire Strikes Back (1980) 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.

Hero's Journey: Empire Strikes Back deconstructed

• FADE IN: Context; the famous text based roll on screen.

• Introduce Antagonist [probes launched from the Imperial destroyer].

• Introduce Hero [Luke riding across the snow; wants to check out the probe].

• Forced to the First Threshold [Luke attacked by the Ice Monster].

• Hero's Ordinary World: the Rebel outpost.

• Developing characters and relationships of Allies [Han Solo with Chewy].

• Foreshadow of the Journey [Han tells the General he ahs to leave].

• Developing the Romantic Challenge [Han Solo with Leia].

• Developing characters and relationships of Allies [R2 and C3PO].

• Foreshadow of the push to the First Threshold [n one knows where Luke is].

• Warnings of the First Threshold [“between you and me, I think commander Luke is in considerable danger”].

• Forced to the First Threshold [Luke hasn't come back, Han will have to go after him].

• Warnings of the First Threshold [“Sir, the temperature is dropping too rapidly; your Ton Ton will freeze before you before you reached the first markers…].

• Capabilities of the Hero / First Threshold Outer Cave Trial [Luke escapes the Ice Monster through use of the force and the Light Sabre].

• Foreboding of the Trial [“don't say things like that, of course we'll see aster Luke again'].

• Middle Cave Trial [the situation worsens for Luke].

• Foreboding of the Trial [the shield doors must be closed; Leia et al extremely pessimistic].

• Meeting the Supernatural Aid [Obi Wan tells Luke to seek Yoda].

• Inner Cave [Han finds Luke; opens up the belly of the Ton Ton]. Time Pressure [“haven't got much time…”].

• Celebration of passing the First Threshold Trials [Han and Luke rescued].

• Developing characters and relationships [“that's another one you owe me, kid...;” R2, C3, Han, Chewy, Leia etc glad to see Luke].

• Resistance to the Physical Separation [Han can't leave until they have activated the energy field].

• Developing the Romantic Challenge [Leia kisses Luke].

• Foreshadow of the Physical Separation [they think they think they've found an Imperial droid].

• Pushed to the Physical Separation [“we better start the evacuation].

• Developing the Antagonist [Vader knows that the Rebellion is in the Hoth System].

• Preparing the Physical Separation.; developing Hero, characters and relationships [Luke bids farewell].

• Pushed to the Physical Separation [a fleet of Star Destroyers is approaching; preparing for the ground assault].

• Developing the Antagonist [Vader kills the Admiral].

• Preparing the Physical Separation; developing characters and relationships [Leia gives instructions].

• Resistance to the Physical Separation [the Imperial attack].

• Pushing past the resistance to the Physical Separation [the transporters push past the star destroyers].

• Time Pressure [“yes Lord Vader, the shields will be down momentarily].

• Capabilities of the Hero [Luke battles the increasingly ferocious Imperial invasion].

• Forced to the Physically Separate [“come on, that's it…;” Vader arrives]

• Journey to the World of the Transformation [“yes R2, we're going to the Degoba System”].

• Obstacle on entering the World of the Transformation [Han can't get to light speed].

• Camouflage and Trickery [the Millenium Falcon hides in an asteroid field].

• Arrival into the World of the Transformation: a new, unfamiliar World; polar opposite to that from which the Hero has come.

• Threshold Guardian [the serpent].

• Developing the Antagonist, character and relationships [asteroids do not concern me, Admiral].

• Developing character and relationships and the Romantic Challenge [“sorry sweetheart, I haven't got time for anything else…”' Han and R2 etc].

• Meeting the Supernatural Aid / Mentor [Luke meets Yoda].

• Hero does not recognize the Mentor: Luke doesn't know the creature is Yoda.

• Developing the Romantic Challenge: Leia and Han.

• Developing the Antagonism: the Emperor and Vader speak.

• Resisting and then agreeing to the Transformation: Yoda thinks Luke is too old, too impatient and then agrees.

• Trial 1: Han et al escape the Whale in the asteroid.

• Trial 2: Spiritual Guidance; Luke meets Vader inside the tree.

• Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: Vader hires the bounty hunters.

• Wolves Clothing: the Millenium Falcon hides amongst the garbage.

• Trial 3: Spiritual Guidance; Yoda lifts Luke's fighter out of the water.

• Developing the Antagonist: Vader kills another Admiral.

• Becoming aware of the World of the Sword: Han sees that Lando's city in the sky is nearby.

• Foreshadow of the Journey to the World of the Sword: Luke sees that Han and Leia will be in danger. Resistance to the journey to the World of the Sword: Yoda dissuades Luke.

• Threshold Guardian to the World of the Sword: the fighters guide the Millenium Falcon into the city in the sky.

• Meeting the Shape Shifter: Lando Calrissian.

• Romantic Competition: Lando likes Leia.

• Shape Shifter's back story: Lando recalls his and Han's history.

• Foreshadow of the Seizing of the Sword: R2 is shot.

• Separation: Luke will go to the city in the sky; Obi Wan nor Yoda will be able to help Luke if he decides to go.

• Suspicions of the Shape Shifter.

• Development of the Romantic Challenge: Leia admits her feelings for Han.

• Foreshadow of the Seizing of the Sword: Chewy finds R2.

• Seizing the Sword: Lado gives up Han et al to Vader.

• Foreshadow of the Atonement: Luke is on his way.

• Near Death Experience: Han et al are tortured.

• Shape Shifter turning: Vader goes back on his deal with Lando.

• Developing the Shape Shifter / Foreshadow of the Atonement: Lando tells Han et al that Vader is after Luke.

• Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the carbon freezing unit.

• Reward: Han lives through carbon freeze; Leia admits she loves Han.

• Warning of the Atonement [“Luke, it's a trap…”].

• Atonement with the Father: Luke battles Vader.

• Refusal: Lando frees Leia et al; they refuse to trust him.

• Magic Flight: Han flies off; Leia et al pursued by Storm Troopers.

• Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: Luke and Vader battle; Luke avoids the freezing unit; almost on a par with Vader.

• Crossing the Return Threshold: Lando advises all to leave; the Empire has taken over; fighting their way back to the Millenium Falcon.

• Apotheosis: Luke learns who Vader is.

• Ultimate Boon: Luke can destroy the Emperor; he has forseen this.

• Rescue from Without: Luke calls Leia…she hears his call; they rescue Luke.

• Master of the Two Worlds: Luke talks to his father from the Millenium Falcon; the Millenium Falcon still can't get into hyperdrive; Time Pressure etc.

• Freedom to Live: Luke et al escape; Vader doesn't kill another Admiral; Luke gets another hand.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/

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Kal Bishop

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