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The hero’s journey is THE screenwriting template. With it screenwriters can build effective stories from the ground up. Consider this, ALL of the Academy Award Winner Best Films of the last thirty years have used it as a template. There are at least 188 stages to the hero’s journey and more than thirty archetypes.

Two of the archetypes that most frequently appear in the hero’s journey are a) the supernatural aid and b) the shape shifter.

The Supernatural Aid:

The supernatural aid has many functions. He is often, but not always, a decrepit old man that does not appear to be powerful. In Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film 2004), it is Morgan Freeman as Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris. In Gladiator (Academy Award Winner Best Film 2000) it is Proximo - the Old Gladiator who fought in Rome until Marcus Aurelius set him free - and of course it is Ben Kenobi in Star Wars and Yoda in Empire Strikes Back. In The Big Lebowski (1998) it is Sam Elliot as The Stranger.

But the aim of the Supernatural Aid is to guide and in Raging Bull (1980), it is not an aged old man but a voluptuous and alluring young female in the shape of Vickie. Vickie’s purpose is to tempt the hero (Jake La Motta) into the adventure. Jake does not resist - unlike a hero, the anti-hero easily succumbs to temptations as opposed to avoiding them.

It is not unusual to have multiple mentors (supernatural aids), one for the push from the Ordinary World to the First Threshold and another to help through the Transition (Road of Trials). In Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indy has Marcus and Sallah. In Dances with Wolves (1990), John Dunbar is sent to the frontier by the General and then led through the transformation by Kicking Bird. In Gladiator (2000), Maximus’ journey is triggered by Marcus Aurelius whilst Proximo provides the gladiator training. [Often the first Mentor doubles as the Herald].

The Shape Shifter:

The Shape Shifter - the character that switches sides - also has quite a few functions. Unlike the Supernatural Aid, the Shape Shifter has no common form: Joey in Raging Bull (1980), Belloq in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Mirage in The Incredibles (2004).

One function if the Shape Shifter is to compete with and obstruct the hero’s conquest of his Romantic Challenge - which usually results in a Shape Shifter / Romantic Challenge sequence. In The Matrix (1999), Cypher tells Trinity that he loved her and in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Belloq buys Marion a dress, opens a bottle of wine and tempts her.

The detailed, complete deconstruction and the Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com

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Kal Bishop, MBA

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You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com

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No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But it might happened your electricity went off or your water system not working etc due of broken installation. You realize it will take a whole day to wait for your electricians or plumbers to come. So, what should you do?

Don’t wait until your family cried loud for light or water. You have to make a quick move. You must check the cause of the trouble, so once the electrician or the plumber came they will know the problem quickly. If you can fix it, that’s a bonus. But to do so, you have to own a set of basic tools in your place. Make sure you have the basic tools that mostly used by electricians and plumbers such as wire snippers, needle-nose pliers, screwdrivers, stripping tools, tubing cutters, and pliers.

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Check careful when buying tools, especially when you buy electricity tools. You must find the tools with insulated rubber handle to avoid high voltage that might shock you. This is one of the most important things to look for when investing in these tools. These insulated rubber handle tools help to ensure that electrical currents are grounded and don’t pass through your body.

No matter what you fixing, electricity or water system, you must take the proper precautions to do all those fixing. You don’t want to get hurt right? One of the best ways to ensure your safety in high voltage conditions, for example, is to have the proper training and the proper tools for the job. Don’t mess around with what you doing, you must focus. And other warning when you work with electricity is to turn off the power at the source before you do anything else. Turning off the power reduces the risk of electrocution, electric shock, and fires.

Make your house a best place for you. Collect a set of tools in your house! You definitely need it someday.

About the Author:

Tony Gevano interest in observing people’s way in choosing things. You can find his writing in different Website. Visit http://www.my-machine-tools.info; http://www.my-tool-box.info

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