The Hero’s Journey (Week 1)

Case Study: Here Comes the Boom (2012)

Why do we tell the same stories over and over? From ancient Greek myths to modern Marvel movies, most stories follow a specific blueprint called The Hero’s Journey. This term, we are going to deconstruct this blueprint and see how a biology teacher ends up in a UFC cage to save a music program.

Period 1: The Blueprint of Greatness

Objective: To understand the stages of the Hero’s Journey and identify "The Ordinary World."

What is the Hero’s Journey? Developed by Joseph Campbell, this is a narrative structure that describes the transformation of a protagonist. In its complete form, there are 12 steps that a hero takes:

1. Ordinary World | 2. Call to Adventure | 3. Refusal | 4. Meeting the Mentor | 5. Crossing the Threshold | 6. Tests, Allies, Enemies | 7. Approach to the Inmost Cave | 8. The Ordeal | 9. Reward | 10. The Road Back | 11. Resurrection | 12. Return with the Elixir.

We will focus on the "Essential 7" stages:

• The Ordinary World (Scott’s life at the start)

• The Call to Adventure (The school budget crisis)

• Meeting the Mentor (Niko and Marty)

• Crossing the Threshold (The first real fight)

• Tests, Allies, and Enemies (Training and setbacks)

• The Supreme Ordeal (The final UFC fight)

• The Return with the Elixir (The school is saved; Scott is changed)

The Concept of "The Ordinary World": Before a hero can be "Super," they must be "Standard." Filmmakers use SWAT Codes to show us that the hero’s life is unfulfilled and ordinary in the opening expository scenes.

• Watch: The opening 20 minutes of Here Comes the Boom.

• Task: In small groups, discuss the "Ordinary World Analysis" and prepare answers for the following:

  1. Symbolic: Describe Scott's classroom. What does the clutter/vibe say about his teaching?

  2. Acting: Describe Scott’s "Call to Adventure." What is the specific moment (The Catalyst) that forces him to make a choice?

  3. Prediction: Every hero needs a Mentor. Based on the characters introduced so far, who do you think will guide Scott on his journey?

Period 2: Crossing the Threshold

Objective: To identify the "Special World" and the "Tests, Allies, and Enemies" stage.

The Theory: Once the hero accepts the call, they leave their "Ordinary World" (the school) and enter the "Special World" (the world of MMA). The rules here are different, the stakes are higher, and the hero is often "out of their depth."

• Watch: The middle section of the film (20:00 – 60:00).

• Task: In small groups, discuss "The Special World" and prepare to answer the following questions:

  • Allies: Who is helping Scott? What "gift" or skill do they provide? (e.g., Marty provides the 'Why', Niko provides the 'How').

  • Enemies: Who is trying to stop him? (Think about the school principal vs. the professional fighters).

  • Tests: List two moments where Scott fails or gets hurt. Why is it important for the Hero to fail before they succeed?

Period 3: The Supreme Ordeal & Resolution

Objective: To analyze the climax of the narrative and the "Return with the Elixir."

The Theory: The Supreme Ordeal is the final battle where the hero must apply everything they have learned. The Elixir isn't always a magic potion; it’s the lesson or the "change" the hero brings back to their community.

• Watch: The final 30 minutes of the film.

• Independent Task: Answer the following in preparation for your assessment:

  1. Technical Focus: During the final fight, how does the filmmaker use Audio (Sound Effects) and Camera Angles to make the opponent look like a "Monster" and Scott look like an "Underdog"?

  2. The Elixir: At the end of the film, the school is saved. But how has Scott changed as a teacher? Contrast his behavior in the final scene with the very first scene of the movie.

Period 4: ASSESSMENT – The Hero's Journey Map

Objective: To demonstrate your ability to map a narrative and analyze media codes.

Task: You are to use Canva to create a Digital Narrative Map of Here Comes the Boom. Your map must be visually engaging and clearly track Scott's transformation.

Your map must include:

• Stage 1: The Ordinary World. Identify one Technical Code (e.g., lighting or shot type) that made Scott’s life look boring.

• Stage 2: Crossing the Threshold. Explain the moment Scott committed to the fight.

• Stage 3: The Supreme Ordeal. Analyze the final fight. Describe how the Audio Code (the music/soundtrack) shifted the mood for the audience.

• Critical Reflection: In 150 words, explain how this film "challenges the value of success." Does the filmmaker want us to value winning the fight or sacrificing for others? Use evidence from the film to support your answer.

💡 Tips for Success

When discussing how media codes are used, don't just name them. Follow the TEE formula:

• Technique: Name the code (e.g., "A Low Angle Shot").

• Example: Describe where it happened (e.g., "When Scott first stands in the UFC cage").

• Effect: Explain the impact on the audience (e.g., "This makes the audience see Scott as a hero who has finally found his power, shifting him from a victim to a warrior.")

🛠️ The Media Student’s Toolbox: SWAT Codes

Reference Guide for Narrative Analysis

In Media Arts, we use codes to communicate meaning. When we analyze the Hero’s Journey in Here Comes the Boom, look for these specific "tools" used by the director.

S – Symbolic Codes

What we see that represents an idea beneath the surface.

• Setting: Where the scene happens. (e.g., A messy, dark apartment vs. a bright, energetic music room).

• Mise-en-scène: Everything in the frame. What objects are around the character? (e.g., The "deteriorating" school equipment).

• Costume: What is the character wearing? (e.g., Scott’s transformation from a baggy shirt to professional wrestling gear).

• Acting: Facial expressions, body language, and delivery of lines. (e.g., Slumped shoulders vs. standing tall in the cage).

• Color: How colors represent mood. (e.g., Cool blues for "boring" life; warm golds/reds for "intensity").

W – Written Codes

Text that appears on screen to give us information.

• Titles & Credits: The font style and size.

• On-screen signage: Signs in the background, text messages, or the scoreboard in the UFC octagon.

• Graphics: Overlays like "Round 1" or the "Tale of the Tape" stats before a fight.

A – Audio Codes

Everything we hear.

• Diegetic Sound: Sound that exists inside the world of the film (e.g., a bell ringing, the crowd cheering, Scott’s heavy breathing).

• Non-Diegetic Sound: Sound only the audience hears (e.g., the musical score, a "pump-up" rock song during a montage).

• Dialogue: What is said, and the tone it is said in.

• Foley: Exaggerated sound effects (e.g., the "crunch" of a punch) added in post-production for impact.

T – Technical Codes

How the equipment is used to tell the story.

• Camera Shots: * Close-up: Shows emotion and intensity.

  • Wide Shot: Shows the environment or how small the hero is compared to the stadium.

• Camera Angles: * Low Angle: Makes a character look powerful or intimidating.

  • High Angle: Makes a character look small, weak, or vulnerable.

• Camera Movement: * Handheld (Shaky Cam): Creates a sense of chaos and realism (common in the MMA fights).

  • Static/Tripod: Creates a sense of calm or boredom (common in the classroom).

• Lighting: * High Key: Bright and even (Comedy feel).

  • Low Key: Dark with shadows (Dramatic/Serious feel).

• Editing: The pace of the cuts. Fast-cutting creates excitement; slow-cutting creates tension or reflection.

Production Exercises (Weeks 2 & 3)

Topic: The Mechanics of Comedy & Sound

Now that we’ve seen how Hollywood does it, it’s your turn. We are focusing on two core pillars of Media: Visual Timing and Sonic Storytelling.

Week 2: The Physical Comedy Challenge (Visuals)

The Goal: Film and edit a 30-second silent "slapstick" sequence. The Challenge: You cannot use dialogue. You must tell the story and create humor through Technical Codes (framing/editing) and Symbolic Codes (acting).

• The Concept: "The Rule of Three" In comedy, things are often funnier in threes. Attempt 1: Failure. Attempt 2: Failure. Attempt 3: Spectacular Failure/Success.

• Production Task: In pairs, film a mundane struggle (e.g., trying to sit in a broken chair, battling a heavy door, or trying to eat a sandwich that keeps falling apart).

• Technical Requirements:

  • Framing: Use a "Wide Shot" to show the physical struggle and a "Close Up" to show the character's frustration.

  • Post-Production (Resolve): Experiment with "Speed Ramping." Speeding up footage slightly (110–120%) can make movements look more comedic and "snappy," similar to old Charlie Chaplin films.

• Submission due Friday: A 30-second exported .mp4 file.

Weeek 3: The "Foley" Sound Workshop

The Goal: Redesign the audio for a professional action scene to change its "Values" from serious to comedic. The Resource: You will choose one 30-second silent clip from the Here Comes the Boom "Action Snippets" folder.

• What is Foley? Foley is the reproduction of everyday sound effects that are added to films in post-production to enhance audio quality.

• The Twist: You must use "Found Sounds" to make the fight scene sound ridiculous.

  1. Example: A punch lands, but instead of a "thud," we hear a squeaky toy or a wet sponge hitting a floor.

• Step-by-Step Workflow:

  1. Selection: Choose your clip (e.g., Scott getting hit with a gym ball, or a segment of a cage fight).

  2. Recording: Use your phones or school mics to record 5–10 original sounds.

     • Punching a pillow = Heavy thud.

     • Crinkling a chip packet = Bone crunch.

     • Slapping a wet ruler = Skin contact.

  3. Editing in DaVinci Resolve (Fairlight):

     • Import your silent clip.

     • Drag your recorded sounds onto the timeline.

     • Syncing: Ensure the sound peaks exactly when the visual contact happens.

     • Sound Library: Layer in one "Non-diegetic" track from the school sound library to finalise the comedic vibe.

     • Music: Layer in some music to help tell the story.

Major Production: The "High-Stakes" Narrative (Weeks 4-9)

Task: Making the Mundane Heroic

The Challenge: You are to produce a 2-minute short film where a character attempts a completely ordinary, boring task—but it must be filmed and edited as if it were the Supreme Ordeal of a Hollywood action blockbuster.

• Examples: Making a piece of toast, finding a working pen during a test, trying to plug in a USB on the first try, or throwing a piece of paper into a bin from across the room.

Phase 1: Pre-Production (The Plan)

Objective: To organise your vision before touching a camera. SCSA requirements state that your planning must show a clear "intent."

• The Script: Write a 1-page "Action Script." Focus on descriptions of movement rather than dialogue.

• The Storyboard: You must create a storyboard of at least 10 frames.

  • Requirement: You must explicitly label 5 different camera angles/shots (e.g., Extreme Close-Up of the toaster, Low Angle of the "Hero" reaching for the bread, etc.).

• The Hero’s Journey Map: Briefly note which part of your 2-minute film represents the "Call to Adventure" and which part is the "Supreme Ordeal."

Phase 2: Production (The Shoot)

Objective: To capture high-quality footage using the Technical Codes we analysed in Here Comes the Boom.

• Technical Constraints:

  1. Variety: No more than 10 seconds of "Eye Level" shots. Challenge yourself with High and Low angles (these can be subtle).

  2. Stability: Use a tripod for "Ordinary World" shots; use handheld (shaky-cam) for the "Action" sequences.

Phase 3: Post-Production (The Edit)

Objective: To use DaVinci Resolve to manipulate time and tension.

• Editing (The Pace): Use "Fast Cutting" (short clip durations) during the climax to increase the heart rate of your audience.

• Audio (The Impact):

  • Sound Library: Use the school's sound library to find "Cinematic Whooshes," "Impact Thuds," and "Orchestral Risers."

  • Original Foley: Generate your own original foley by recording original audio.

• Colour Grading: Use the Color page in Resolve to give your "Ordinary World" a different look (e.g., desaturated/cold) than your "Action" world (e.g., warm/vibrant).

Submission Checklist

1. Pre-Production Folder: Script and Storyboard.

2. The Film: 2-minute .mp4 file.

3. Statement of Intent: A 200-word reflection explaining how you used Technical Codes to position the audience to see your character as a "Hero."