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188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth): Inciting Incident versus Call to Adventure
The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.
The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979).
THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY
THE HERO'S JOURNEY:
a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).
d) Gives you a universal structural template upon which you can superimpose your situational story. This is why stories such as Alien (1979), Gladiator (2000), Midnight Cowboy (1969), American Beauty (1999), The Graduate (1967) and many others (all deconstructed at the URL below) appear to be different but are all constructed, almost sequence by sequence, in the same way.
and more...
ABRIDGED TIP(S):
*****Convergence*****
Those allies, who were previously separated (during the stage of the Separation), now return (post the Rebirth through Death stage). In Dances with Wolves (1990), Kicking Bird, Wind in his Hair et al return. In Goodfellas (1990), Henry moves Karen and kids into a swanky apartment as soon as he is released from prison. In Goldfinger (1964), Bond activates the homing device; Felix and the CIA prepare.
Retarded Convergence. As Allies begin to converge toward the Hero, it is not unusual for an obstacle, some misinformation or some misjudgement to delay them. This can be a set up for a later catharsis. In Goldfinger (1964), Oddjob crushes Solo in the car and the homing beacon is lost. It appears that they have lost Bond.
*****Inciting Incident and Greater Antagonism*****
The Inciting Incident can precede or follow the Ordinary World and Ordinary Self sequences. It is separate and distinct from the Call to Adventure.
Most often, the Inciting Incident is representative of the Greater Antagonism (one of your Four Core Challenges). In Star Wars (1977), the first sequence introduces the Antagonist and the need for a resolution Vader kidnaps Leia.
This is where unbalance is initiated. In Lord of the Rings, the first sequences introduce us to the Ring, Mount Doom and Sauron.
The Inciting Incident has the benefit of polarizing Protagonists and Antagonists and developing context. In French Connection (1971), the Inciting Incident establishes Pierre as the bad guy and the context of heroine export from France to the USA.
The purpose of the Inciting Incident can simply be to prepare the ground for the Final Confrontation. In Titanic (1997), Jack and Rose must escape the sinking ship (the Greater Antagonism). The Inciting Incident simply shows the ship leaving dock. In American Beauty (1999), Lester has to deal with the Col. (the Greater Antagonism). The Inciting Incident simply shows him and his family moving in next door.
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The Complete 188 stage Heros Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.clickok.co.uk/
The Managing Creativity and Innovation MBA dissertation, DIY creativity Audit, Powerpoint presentation and Good Idea generator software can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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