"Happiness Is" Film Says Giving Is The Way To Contentment

In 2006, documentary filmmaker Andrew Shapter was on a tour promoting his first film, "Before the Music Dies" when someone asked him what he planned to do next.

Shapter laughed. He had quit his 20-year fashion photography career to look for more meaning in his life, and this film and subsequent tour had taken over all of his time.

"The next subject I do for a movie, I'll have to live with it the rest of my life, so it better make me happy," Shapter had joked.

But then Shapter got to thinking. Had anyone really done a documentary on what makes people happy? He knew there were movies that showed people overcoming obstacles or instructional videos on how to change your life to be happier. But had anyone investigated how Americans choose to find happiness in their own lives?

The Declaration of Independence has endowed us with "certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

But Shapter wanted to know what that last bit, "the pursuit of Happiness" really means in America today. How are people pursuing happiness in their own lives? Is happiness really something, as humans, we can actively pursue? So he and a small crew piled into an RV, and over the course of the next three years, drove across America to find out.

"I asked people, 'what is it that makes you happy, what is your pursuit of happiness and how do you achieve it?' I looked for people that are really satisfied with what they are doing in their lives," Shapter said.

"The more I went around and had these soul-searching conversations, I realized the people who were happiest were those who tried to make their community better. Those were the happiest people around."

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Shapter's new movie "Happiness Is" documents his journey and the people he found along the way who believe they have found a way to pursue happiness. Shapter also interviews celebrities and leaders -- the Dalai Lama and Willie Nelson both make brief appearances in the movie.

But most of the documentary is dedicated to happenstance; recorded moments where the filmmaker and his crew stumble upon scenes where people are celebrating the act of giving back.

Shapter provided us an exclusive clip of one motorcycle gang's pursuit of happiness he discovered while stopping for gas:

Making this movie, Shapter said, has affected his life in significant ways. "I don't have an agenda, there are no political issues. It's about a common bond to help people out -- there's no call to government action, just a call to stop what you're doing, get off your butt and help somebody. You'll have a better day. My life is a lot happier now that we're touring this film and motivating people to get up and help in their own neighborhood."

Like the film, the screening tour is a bit unconventional: Shapter plans screenings across the country at venues provided by nonprofits in need. Then, he donates all the ticket proceeds to benefit the charity that hosts the screening. Production and tour costs are paid for through the purchase of DVDs and downloads, available at the screenings and on the film's online store.

At the very first screening, "Happiness Is" raised $10,000 for CapCityKids in Austin, Texas.

"I plan on touring this film as long as people need it, as long as benefits need to happen," Shapter said. "I don't see an end to this. I hope that nonprofits that are hurting will get a venue and bring people together to raise awareness and money. It's a long journey."

"Happiness Is" has screenings scheduled all around the country. You can find one near you on their interactive map.

You can also visit the site to learn more about hosting a screening and the nonprofits the tour already supports.

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Comments

[mychinarose]

This is the 'little-do­cumentary-­that-could­'!
My husband, Andrew Shapter, set out on a journey a little over 3 years ago, video camera in tow, in search of what would make him happy. He'd just finished making his first documentary about the music industry ("Before the Music Dies"), and having been immersed in the music scene for 3 years before that, when asked what his next film was going to be about, he answered, "Whatever it is, it better make me happy." So he really thought about what that could be, and what happiness literally is. He knew he was no expert on the subject, but thought that if he could just get a good cross-section of people around the nation he might come up with some kind of consistent answer.
In the end, he realized after meeting some pretty amazing yet surprisingly down-home and "ordinary" people who were walking the walk, that happiness lies not in what we do with ourselves, but what we do FOR everyone else.
And so we decided to screen the film in venues across America entirely to raise money for charity and other philanthropic organizations. With the help of some initial sponsors, we've done some screenings starting this past summer, and we are amazed at this "event film's" capacity to not only raise money, but to INSPIRE people young and old to do something great with their lives and with their time.
WE NEED HELP SPREADING THE WORD!!

[sjon]

Okay, I'll be comment Numero Uno. I've noticed most of the twits are about finding happiness from without. This movie is more about finding happiness from within, actually, it's more about receiving happiness from those you help. Gretchen Rubin says (in this film) that you need to have more women in your life (I like that idea) and John Mellancamp says the Bible is not a history book, it is a book of guidance (I didn't just make that up). Of course, I'm a little biased, I have seen this film hundreds of times (I am the editor), and it still has an effect on me.

[CreateTheGood]

We really enjoyed this article, the following line from Shapter especially resonated with us: "there's no call to government action, just a call to stop what you're doing, get off your butt and help somebody. You'll have a better day."

Helping people is about just that, getting up and doing it and the reward is a feeling unlike any other. Thanks again for posting such awesome stories. We love HuffImpact and have posted this story on our facebook page: www.facebook.com/createthegood. Keep em coming, such awesome blogs and stories!