Creative Writing and the Hero's Journey: Once were Warriors (1994)

From our deconstruction of hundreds ofWorld of the Transformation: you know the rules
Hollywood blockbusters and sitcoms....The Hero'sgirl, keep your mouth shut and your legs
Journey is the template upon which the vastopen.Physical Separation: Nig gets beaten up and
majority of successful stories and Hollywoodbecomes part of the gang.Trial and
blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of theTransformation 1:Grace walks in to see Beth's
Hollywood movies we have deconstructed areface.Beth visits Grace in her bedroom.Grace tells
based on this template.Understanding this templateBeth that Boogie has been taken away.Jake
is a priority for story or screenwriters.The Hero'swants to know what all the fuss is about; thinks
Journey:a) Attempts to tap into unconsciousit'll toughen him up.Push to Trial 2: Beth and Grace
expectations the audience has regarding what adecide to visit Boogie.Trial and Transformation
story is and how it should be told.b) Gives the2:Developing the Romantic Challenge / Sacrificial
writer more structural elements than simply threeLamb: Grace visits Dooley again.Jake wins some
or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.c)money.New Self: Nig has a patch.Jake gives Beth
Interpreted metaphorically, laterally andthe money.Beth says that "that's the trouble, I do
symbolically, allows an infinite number of variedlove you."Boogie smashes up the walls and
stories to be created.and more...EXAMPLE: OnceBennett shows him how to use the Maori
were Warriors, 1994 - Hero's Journey [basicweapon.; when I've taught you your mind will be
deconstruction]FADE IN: idyllic New Zealand;your most fearsome weapon.Trial and
camera crosses over into the urban jungle.MeetingTransformation 3:Jake et al have hired a car and
the Hero / on a Journey: Beth comes out of anthey stop to ask Nig if he wants to come.Singing
"alley" with a shopping trolley.Meeting the Sacrificialin the car; what's the time Mr Wolf.Polarisation /
Lamb: Grace reads to her little brother andBackstory: Beth descended from royalty and Jake
sister.Ordinary World: the Maori rappersfrom slaves.Jake goes in for a beer.Beth tries to
etc.Meeting the Antagonism: Jake stares down aget Jake out of the bar; feed the kids.It's just a
gang member.Meeting the Loyal Ally: Nig workingwoman's lot that's all, one day you'll
out.Developing the Sacrificial Lamb: Grace reads tounderstand.Boogie learning the Haka.Jake tells Beth
the kids from her story book.Ordinary World:and the kids to get a cab.Divergence: Grace says
Beth arrives home, drinks a beer; Nig walksshe hates both of them.Beth phones Boogie and
in.Inciting Incident: Boogie is arrested.Elixir: Jakemakes up the story about the
arrives home with the seafood; the way it shouldaccident.Transformation: Boogie does the Haka
be; happy families for a nanosecond.Call toform the heart.Transformation: Jake invites Beth
Adventure: Jake wants to make love to Beth indownstairs; no more Jake.Foreshadow of the
the kitchen.Refusal: Jake's gotten firedOracle: Grace comes down for a glass of
again.Antagonists True Nature: you've got to f*ckwater.Meeting the Oracle: Bully rapes
up everything don't you.Developing the RomanticGrace.Divergence: Grace in the bath; cleaning up.
Challenge / Sacrificial Lamb: Grace goes to seeBeth comes in and told to get out.Resisting the
Dooley; tell me a story.Foreshadow of theChange: Beth says she doesn't want any more of
Physical Separation: the police bring Boogiethese drunken parties; Jake tells her to f*ck
home.Antagonist's Ordinary World: Jake turns up inoff.Grace visits Dooley and starts smoking.Beth
the bar.Meeting the Shape Shifter: Bully hangingwonders what's up with her pup.Grace walks
around.Push to the Physical Separation: Boogieaway from Dooley.Creatures of the World of the
asks Beth to be there tomorrow; I'll beSword: the tattoo artists; the people of the
there.Meeting a Loyal Ally: Mavis starts tostreets.Journey to the Sword: Beth and Mavis
sing.Developing the Antagonism: Jake beats up thelooking for Grace.Seizing the Sword: Grace comes
guy with muscles in the bar.New Self / Newhome.Pushed to the Night Sea Journey: Jake
Name: Jake the Muss. Push to the First Threshold:beats up Grace and tears up her story book.Night
party at my place tonight.Foreshadow: Grace isSea Journey: in the back yard.Near Death
dressed in the white t-shirt.Conscious Decision: youExperience: Grace kills herself.Rebirth: Beth finds
won't forget will you Mum; how can I forget withGrace and takes her off the tree.Resolve: no
you reminding me every five minutes.Firstpoint crying, it doesn't help.Reward: Aunty comes
Threshold / Outer Cave: the girls talk amongstto pick them up.Atonement with the Father: Beth
themselves.First Threshold / Middle Cave: Jakewants Grace buried at home; this was never her
and Beth sing together.Developing Characters andhome; you're still a slave to the drink, to your fist
Relationships: Beth and Mavis talk / Mavis seesand to yourself.Apotheosis: Grace buried in the
her man try to get off with another girl/ JakeMaori village; Grace tells the story about herself
throws someone out.Push to the Inner Cave: Beth[see I can keep a promise]; Dooley kisses Grace;
slaps Nig; Nig refuses to cook.First Threshold /Boogie sings the Maori song.Denial / Disgust /
Inner Cave: Jake beats up Beth.Belly of the Whale:Isolation: Jake smashes the juke box; comes
Grace comes down to find the place trashed andhome to an empty house; cuts the tree
begins to clean up with Nig.Pushed to the Physicaldown.Magic Flight: at home with the family; come
Separation: Nig walks out.Pushed to the Physicalhome but sort things out here first.Rescue from
Separation: Boogie waiting for Beth to come withWithout: Beth reads what Grace has written in
him.Meeting the Mentor: Boogie meetsher book.Crossing the Return Threshold: Beth and
Bennett.Resisting the Physical Separation: Nig in theNig walk into the bar and confront Bully.Final
car; he wants a patch; you'll have to get past meAntagonism: Jake reads Grace's story.Final Conflict:
first.Physical Separation: the judge orders BoogieJake beats up Bully.Master of Two Worlds: Beth's
into welfare; Bennett says it is a choice between"Once were Warriors" speech; we were people
learning something and going to jail.Encourage towith Mana, with Pride.Freedom to Live: we're going
the Transformation: Grace encourages Boogie; athome.FADE OUT: the police come for Jake.
least he'll be doing something different.Rules of the