Tom Shadyac is a Hollywood director of such films as Liar, Liar and The Nutty Professor. His films made him successful, and he began to acquire the lifestyle and all the trappings of a Beverly Hills celebrity. He lived in a 17,000 square foot home, flew in private jets, had fancy cars and extravagant parties. But...he had an ever present feeling of emptiness and something being not quite right.
In 2007, he had a near death biking accident which is what triggered his complete change in direction. That experience brought him clarity and purpose, he says.
Tom is the kind of man I admire and whose company I would enjoy - creative, kind, thoughtful, athletic, and a leader in his compassion and sharing of ideas, a man unafraid of asking "why?" and "why not?"
He began to let go of all the trappings. He moved to a modest mobile home; he began using his bike as a means of transportation...and he says he's never been happier. This is what prompted him to create his documentary I Am which I recommend. Initially, I heard it would only be shown in select U.S. cities, Philadelphia being the closest to me in Maine, but then, one night on my drive home from work, I happened to turn my head as I waited for the light at Temple and Middle Streets, something I rarely do, and I saw it was playing at Nickelodeon. My son was willing to join me. The documentary was well done and thought provoking.
He began creating his documentary by asking two questions: (1) What's wrong with our world? (2) What can we do about it?
Tom shows the science behind his message and writers and professionals declaring that Darwin's message was actually misquoted. Although Darwin did describe "survival of the fittest" in a small part of his work, what he talked more about was how the nature of all animals is primarily democracy and cooperation, not dominance and competition. Lions do not kill all gazelles, but only those they need to eat. A redwood doesn't take all the nutrients from the soil; it takes only what it needs to survive and flourish. Men are not, as is sometimes stated, inherently violent beings. More soldiers die from suicide than in war.
The Lion King was the first Disney movie we brought our older son to. I had no idea a children's movie would touch me so deeply. The circle of life, taking only what we need, and everything on earth being interconnected was a message more fitting for adults than kids.
After my son and I saw I Am, he, who has sometimes thought he may be a socialist said to me, "I don't like to say I'm part of any group. I'm not a socialist. If anything, I think I'm a collectivist." He sees that we're all interconnected; we get more from empowering, educating, uplifting people than dominating, humiliating, controlling and killing.
Some of the authors and books Tom's documentary highlights are:
Lynne McTaggart The Field and The Intention Experiment
Howard Zinn People's History of the U.S.
Noam Chomsky Profit over People, Failed States, Hopes and Prospects
Thom Hartman Screwed. The Undeclared War on the Middle Class, The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight.
If more of us think of one another, a sort of "collectivism-type thinking," and taking baby steps with small acts of kindness toward others, we can impact and shift behavior.
Tom's title of his documentary comes from: I Am (the problem); I Am (the solution).
For more information and a preview of the documentary, see www.iamthedoc.com.
(Photo taken from www.oprah.com)
