Even beyond the gain, there is something larger than the heroes left altered from the adventure which improves the universal whole. If the Gain is what the heroes gain, the Benefit is what the heroes give. In other words, the positive effect from their heroic effort and adventure leaves the world of the characters changed for the best, or at least for the better. Traditionally, characters other than just the heroes will have an improved existence for the heroes' journey and triumph. The fulfillment of this benefit for the larger, more permanent good is worth attaining. In such a story their whole community should win and they, as a result, are worth remembering. The heroes being worth remembering is often what makes their story worth telling, and the moral of their story worth holding. This worthiness and moral demonstrates the benefit.
Alexander Valdez is a filmmaker and author. He has written A Writer’s Guide to the Hero’s Journey and Screenwriter’s Notebook. He is the founder of the Cinema-Libre Film Movement, a National Merit Scholar and first appeared in the Hollywood Creative Directory in 2002 under Academy Award Winning Producer Al Ruddy and Producer Andre Morgan as a Story Editor. He has served as a Writer’s Guild Writer’s Assistant, is inducted into the Director’s Guild of America and has a hiring contract for the Producer’s Guild of America. He is a point-member in Actor’s Equity Association and also a composer listed to the American Society of Composer and Performers, where at the time or invitation he was the youngest member invited to the union. He has also done voice for Radio to membership in the American Film, Television and Radio Actors, now SAG-AFTRA.
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