I don’t want to brag, but you Daily Dialogue supporters did a great job with this week’s theme: bragging [thanks for the suggestion, churnage]. Now it’s time for the last DDT in this cycle: The Herald’s Call as put forth by JasperLamarCrab.

Joseph Campbell described the call to adventure in the wonderful PBS series “The Power of Myth”:

The Hero is found in the ordinary world…
In ancient myths it used to be the cottage or village…
In films, it is usually the suburbs or common urban environment.

The Hero is making do, but feels something missing, a sense of discomfort or tension.
The Hero needs to change, even if they are unaware of that need.

Something happens…
Maybe the Antagonist enters the Protagonist’s world, disrupting it.
Or maybe someone comes, a Herald, who calls the Protagonist to action.

The call to adventure is about transformation and that’s terrifying.
The Hero has to confront fear.
Will the Hero survive?
Will they change for the Good or the Bad?

Heralds come in all shapes and sizes. How about this one?

Their basic function is to make that “something happen” as Campbell describes. And that inciting incident can come in any form, any tone, and use any archetype.

The usual drill:

* Copy/paste dialogue from IMDB Quotes or some other transcript source.

* Copy/paste the URL of an accompanying video from MovieClips or YouTube.

I’d also like to ask you to think about why the dialogue is notable. Is there anything about the dialogue which provides some takeaway re screenwriting. And if there are changes to the dialogue, why do you think those changes were made?

Next week I’ll ask for a new round of themes, so be thinking of some good, fresh ones.

But today, I’ll see you in comments with your suggestions for The Herald’s Call!