Beyond the Hero: Relationship-Driven Screenwriting and the Secret to Hollywood's Greatest Scripts

A how-to screenwriting guide that breaks free from the conventional “hero’s journey” approach to storytelling and reveals that great movie scripts—across all genres and styles—are actually driven by a core relationship of two central characters on a journey together.

Because two heroes are better than one!

Michael Weiss is a WGA screenwriter with an extensive career writing for Hollywood studios. He has over a dozen produced films to his credit, including Journey to the Center of the Earth starring Brendan Fraser and sequels to franchises like The Scorpion King, Jarhead and The Butterfly Effect. He has taught writing at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, where he received its Distinguished Instructor award, as well as at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts.

Let’s Go Beyond the Hero

Author Michael Weiss attempts to make a funny release video.

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Videos

The Story Series Podcast

Michael and host Brandon Violette talk about recent films and the impact of relationship-driven screenwriting.

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Film Courage Podcast

Michael joins the team at Film Courage to discuss the book and screenwriting.

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The Hero’s Journey is Dead (coming soon)

The Odyssey and its relationship-driven approach.

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Rocky Is Not About Boxing (coming soon)

What really drives this classic film?

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Beyond the Hero Backrooms Edition (coming soon)

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WATCH MORE VIDEOS HERE

“Michael Weiss is a highly experienced writer, a terrific teacher, and a wonderful guide to what makes a good script great. Freeing his readers of the too-familiar ‘hero’s journey,’ he challenges them to center their films on real, complex, immersive relationships––on the central bond that binds or breaks two people––just like life itself.”
–Stephen Galloway, Dean of Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts; former Hollywood Reporter Executive Editor

What Reviewers Are Saying

“Every once in a while, someone shines a light on a subject with the wisdom and clarity to elevate and expand our thinking. Michael Weiss has done exactly that for screenwriting, reminding us that the core relationship is the key component of every story! Beyond the Hero is encouraging, specific and relatable, and in it, Weiss takes something daunting and makes it achievable through his very thoughtful process. This book is essential for anyone who works in the business of storytelling.”
–Nate Hopper, Senior Development Executive

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