Category Archives: Creativity

FILM REVIEW: The Happy Film – International Premiere HotDocs 2016 (in progress)

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Last updated: TUES May 10 2016 9:20 PM

By Glenda MacDonald


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****REVIEW IN PROGRESS**** I found this film so fascinating that I’m doing additional research to provide useful external links. This is an enhanced-content review which I’ll expand as I ponder the ideas which were presented. You can watch me write it, and I’ll tweet the link when done! I’m giving The Happy Film a ‘full bouquet” rating.

(USA) International Premiere (92 minutes)

The Happy Film at Hot Docs 2016

Co-Directors Stefan Sagmeister and Ben Nabors address questions from the audience at #TheHappyFilm Canadian premiere.  Emceed by Gabor Pertic of #HotDocs2016

FILM FESTIVAL: Hot Docs Film Festival, Toronto ON. North America’s largest documentary festival, conference, and market. April 28 to May 8 2016.  #HotDocs16
GM Note: I attended Monday May 2 10 AM showing at TIFF Bell Lightbox

SYNOPSIS: The Happy Film. Art project meets self-improvement quest as graphic designer guru Stefan Sagmeister drives to shape himself into a happier, more fulfilled person through a dedicated mix of meditation, therapy, and drugs.( Festival program.)

Co-Directors of The Happy Film at #HotDocs2016 Premiere Toronto Stefan Sagmeister and Ben Nabors

Meeting Co-Directors of The Happy Film at #HotDocs2016 Premiere Toronto:  Stefan Sagmeister and Ben Nabors for further happy chats.

CO-DIRECTORS: I met with Co-directors Stefan Sagmeister and Ben Nabors after the film. Third former co-director was Hillman Curtis.

Imagine yourself on a motorcycle on an open road. Your MP3 player is streaming your favourite music as you meander, relaxed, without specific intent or purpose through towns and beautiful countryside. In such a moment Stefan Sagmeister was able to ‘manufacture’ a high degree of happiness.

This is the story of a road trip for the mind and the metrics of happiness. The first stop along the way explores meditation. The second leg of the journey is a deep-dive into therapy. And finally there is (in Stefan’s case) a hallucinogenic trip as well as formal medical intervention with a commonly prescribed antidepressant used to treat depression and anxiety.

…more thoughts to follow…

 

Recap of the Thinking Out Loud Series re Creative Process at Concordia University

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Last updated: April 12, 2014 (Original Post March 5, 2014).

“Thinking Out Loud”  is a series of talks which is a collaboration of Concordia University and The Globe and Mail focusing on the creative process. Admission was free though reservations were required for these events which took place on campus in Montreal. For full details about the series click here. You can also follow “Thinking Out Loud” on Facebook and the conversation on Twitter and Instagram using #CUtalks . Contact cutalks@concordia.ca to be added to the email list for future series. For links to the 2013 Conversation series “Living Well and Staying Healthy” click here .

At some point I plan to listen to the podcasts and watch the videos for the March 2014 “Thinking Out Loud” series as I was not able to travel from Toronto to attend. Here are details and links for the four presentations, reverse chronologically.

  • Tues., March 25, 2014, 7-8:15 p.m. +, “The Music of Creativity” featuring Sandeep Bhagwati of Concordia University and Q on CBC Radio’s  @Jian Ghomeshi.  Conversation followed by a book signing.  Click here to listen to the podcast.
  • Thurs., March 20, 2014, 7 – 8:15 p.m. +, “The Writing of Inspiration” featuring Josip Novakovich & Booker Prize winner Peter Carey. Conversation plus book signing. Click here to listen to the podcast.
  • Wed., March 12, 2014, 7 – 8 p.m., “On the  Academics of Circus” featuring Louis Patrick Leroux & Cirque du Soleil’s Lyn Heward . Conversation.   Click here to listen to the podcast.
  • Thurs., March 6, 2014, 7-8:15 p.m.+, “Strategies for Media Clutter”, featuring Charles Acland & CBC’s Terry O’Reilly; moderated by Ryan MacDonald, Political Editor of  The Globe and Mail.  Conversation plus book signing.  Click here to listen to the podcast.

For complete details see www.concordia.ca/cutalks

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For other upcoming events listed on this blog see the Upcoming Events page.

Glenda MacDonald

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