Teach, Learn Screenwriting: Hero's Journey, Million Dollar Baby, Academy Award Winner 2004

tion_start -->she makes the right choice in not leaving Frankie;
The Hero's Journey is THE template upon whichshe beats the British Champ; the completion of
most successful stories and screenplays are builtthe transformation is signified by the receiving of
upon. As a guide, let's use a summarya new name (Macushla).
deconstruction of Million Dollar Baby, the AcademySeizing the Sword: Maggie buys her family a
Award Winner Best Film 2004.house; Frankie warms to the role of father (the
Before we begin, there are a few items of note.gaining of a new daughter);
Million Dollar Baby has two heroes - ClintRebirth Through Death: Eddie saves Danger from
Eastwood (Frankie Dunn) and Hillary Swankthe gym bully.
(Maggie Fitzgerald). Both of these have internalAtonement with the Father: Maggie takes on the
challenges they need to overcome - Frankie hasBlue Bear.
to come to terms with his daughter and MaggieApotheosis: Maggie should have heeded the lesson
with her White Trash origins. Morgan Freeman- always protect yourself.
(Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris) is the mentorUltimate Boon: Maggie gets a father and Frankie
(supernatural aid) here to both, and like all goodgets a daughter; they each get a new family.
mentors, has a challenge of his own - what to doRefusal of the Return: Frankie refuses to go back
about Danger Barch? Through the process ofto the gym.
taking Maggie to the Title Fight (the outerMagic Flight: Frankie searches for the best doctors
challenge), our heroes attain their apotheosis andand takes her away from the hospital in the
ultimately conquer their challenges. The romanticdesert.
challenge is embodied in the relationship betweenRescue from Without: Maggie's family arrive and
Frankie and Maggie.pull her back toward the old challenges.
Summary:Crossing the Return Threshold: Maggie loses her
Call to Adventure: Maggie asks Frankie to coachlegs; she asks Frankie to kill her.
her.Master of the Two Worlds: Frankie consults with
Refusal of the Call: Frankie refuses on the basisthe priest and makes a decision to kill Maggie;
that this is not an adventure for a girl of her age.Maggie wants to die remembering who she was.
First Threshold: Maggie is persistent in the gym.Freedom to Live: Frankie doesn't return to the
There is no going back for her, with or withoutgym.
Frankie.The Complete 188 stage Hero's Journey and
Physical Separation (Belly of the Whale): WillieFREE 17 stage sample and other story structure
leaves Frankie, who is made redundant and driftstemplates can be found at
into teaching Maggie.You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by
Transformation (Road of Trials) x3: Maggieentering your email address at this site.
transforms into a boxer and moves up a league;