I'm sharing this from my business/marketing research as an adjunct to Rollo's article on the AMOG archtype. It may not seem directly relevant here on TRP, but the guy oblivious to all this is vulnerable to entrapment in a hero's role he craves.

12 Stage Hero’s Journey

Cultural anthropologist Joseph Campbell wrote, “A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder. Fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won. The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons to his fellow man.”

Here’s the Secret Hollywood Formula used for many movie epics…

1. The Ordinary World – set stage in humble home village

2. The Hook – the lead character and their quest (problem to solve, wrong to right, girl to get)

3. The Inciting Incident – hero pushed into seeking a solution

4. Crossing a Threshold – stepping from old world into new, quest begins, a mentor/wizard emerges who prepares the hero for the perilous journey ahead

5. Trials, Tribulations, & Temptations – series of challenges, allies and enemies revealed

6. The Great Challenge – an impasse is reached, potentially fatal flaws and the impossible task ahead are unveiled

7. Escalating Stakes – the edge of a dangerous place is reached

8. The Darkest Moment – defeat appears imminent

9. Death & Rebirth – transformation occurs, new powers bestowed, the magical sword is won

10. Final Ordeal – hero prevails, antagonist vanquished

11. Journey Home – escape with treasure, thwart vengeful forces

12. Triumphant Return – sharing boon with tribe

Along with the outward journey, the hero undertakes an inner journey. And it’s this inner journey that often resonates deepest with your reader/audience because it mirrors the idealization of their life story.

10 Hollywood Story Formulas

Screenwriter Blake Snyder outlined these 10 story formulas Hollywood uses to create movies:

1. Dude with a Problem. Hero minding own business, when BAM... things go bad and keep getting worse by the minute. The hero needs to overcome improbable odds to survive and save the day.

3 Forces: innocent hero, unexpected event, furious battle

Examples: Die Hard, The Fugitive, Speed, Apollo 13, Bourne Identity.

2. Golden Fleece. This is an epic journey to reach an epic goal with many challenges along the way. The quest requires assembling a special team to accomplish the goal and win a seemingly unreachable prize.

3 Forces: road, team, prize

Examples: Finding Nemo, Star Wars, Avengers, Lord of the Rings, Saving Private Ryan, Princess Bride.

3. Buddy Love. A hero struggles alone until a catalyst character (second hero) shows up. Initially antagonistic, they forge a bond through conflicts and challenges to become a team and win against great odds.

3 Forces: incomplete hero, counterpart, complications

Examples: Lassie, Lethal Weapon, Rain Man, When Harry Met Sally, Pretty Woman, Titanic, True Lies, Beauty and the Beast.

4. Institutionalized. A unique group face the pressure and pitfalls of a group dynamic and are given three choices: (1) join (2) revolt or (3) give up. No matter what choice is made, there will be sacrifices and someone will perish.

3 Forces: group, choice, sacrifice

Examples: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Godfather, Platoon, Taps, Full Metal Jacket, Dead Poet's Society, Shawshank Redemption, Good Fellas, Office Space.

5. Rites of Passage. The hero is stuck facing a common life problem that they try to escape from. After a trial by fire of traveling down the wrong road and getting into more trouble, the hero finally gets back on track. The problem can only be transcended once the hero first learns an important life lesson and grows.

3 Forces: life problem, wrong path, acceptance

Examples: Lion King, Trainspotting, Ordinary People, Lost in Translation, Risky Business.

6. Superhero. The hero has superpowers (Superman), mystical powers (Batman) or a compelling mission and opposing forces are equally powerful and determined to thwart the hero. Along with powers, they have a flaw or vulnerability that renders them cursed.

3 Forces: special powers, nemesis, curse

Examples: James Bond, Gladiator, Braveheart, Raging Bull, The Matrix, Spider Man.

7. The Fool Triumphant. As the village oddball, the hero is a misfit (fish out of water)and underdog. Put into challenging circumstances the hero overcomes things in unusual ways to become a true hero, while poking fun at those things we take seriously.

3 Forces: fool, establishment, transmutation

Examples: Forest Gump, Crocodile Dundee, Life is Beautiful, Tootsie, Legally Blonde, Pink Panther.

8. Out of the Bottle. Based in non-reality. The hero makes a wish that comes true, but is afflicted with a spell or curse that leads to more trouble. The hero must change his or her ways to learn a lesson, escape the curse (return to normal) and get the true prize.

3 Forces: wish, spell, lesson

Examples: Aladdin, Groundhog Day, Liar Liar, The Mask, Freaky Friday

9. Whodunit. The hero plays the role of a detective driven to unravel a mystery (Who, What, When, Where and Why). An unexpected secret is revealed and the plot takes a dark turn. Life is radically altered by the outcome.

3 Forces: detective, secret, dark turn

Examples: JFK, All the President's Men, Blade Runner, DaVinci Code, Minority Report, Sixth Sense.

10. Monster in the House. Something terrible is unleashed within a confined space. Someone has sinned, allowing the monster to awaken and do terrible things.

3 Forces: house, monster, sin

Examples: Alien, Exorcist, Poltergeist, Psycho, Scream, Fatal Attraction, Jaws, Jurassic Park.