Journey
The Hero's Journey Paradigm
The Hero's Journey [REF]
is the title of an
influential book by folklorist Joseph Campbell, which serves as the basis
for another screenplay paradigm. Several people have developed Campbell's
myth ideas into specific looks at screenplay structure.
One of the first and most influential was Chris Vogel in his book
The Writer's Journey [REF]. Another
is John Jarvis, the creator of the story-development software tool called
StoryCraft.
The Jarvis Method
John Jarvis is quick to admit his many influences, which include:
- John Campbell's 12 stages of the hero's journey;
- The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos
Egri [REF], considered by many to be the Bible of dramatic structure;
- Writer's Digest books and their use of "story category" and "master
plot" concepts;
- Chris Vogler's and others use of "premise steps."
Jarvis has a unique marriage of these and other influences to create
what he calls content structure steps in story development.
Using the Jarvis Method, the writer makes choices among options in three
broad movements of story development, first choosing the story's category and
type, and finally moving through twelve story development steps uniquely
associated with the intersection of those first two choices.
This is better understood by watching the paradigm in action. Jarvis
uses it to explicate the story structure of Jurassic
Park (also see my analysis of this movie -
a comparison of the two approaches is very interesting).
Andrew Ferguson's Megaplotter
Megaplotter is a story development tool that Ferguson has put on the
Internet for free download.[URL] Highlights
of the step-by-step story structure tool, which embodies the hero's journey approach,
are available with this link.
Comments
The great advantage of the hero's journey paradigm is that it has a clear
focus on the protagonist. Beginning screenwriters often lose focus of their
hero, usually in the second act, where other characters or the villain become
much more interesting. In this paradigm, the hero is always center stage.
Ferguson's take on the paradigm has the feel of an action-adventure story.
Jarvis, with his story category and type, shapes the journey for much more
general use.
This is definitely an approach you should know about. The "hero's journey" and
Hollywood's star-driven business climate make a natural union.
MODULE 4:
SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting
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