Tip#865: Great Teamwork Movies, Part 8 – Eden Community Homes - Flight of the Phoenix

“We’re either all in this together or no one at all.” 
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

I recently gave a motivational talk on Resilience in Difficult Times & Depression at a wonderfully unique AGM. Eden Community Homes provides safe supportive housing for adults dealing with mental health challenges and its residents were also in attendance to participate. In addition to the usual financial reports residents took turns reading all the social activities over the past year as well as highlighting individual achievements by the residents. I was very moved by this organization's dedication to creating such a warm sense of community!

The AGM felt more like a summer party especially with all the home cooked food that came in afterwards. My talk included how movies like Groundhog Day and It’s a Wonderful Life helped me through severe depression. I also talked about the Two Wolves story (see tip#855) and how inspirational Disney’s Tomorrowland film can be (see tip#855). I even showed the audience my Tomorrowland pin explaining that it represented visualizing a brighter future. We also needed to work together to accomplish that vision even if it seems impossible.

"I got choked up when you talked about the film It's a Wonderful Life and its comparison to your own story of depression. I felt for you. Your talk was very inspiring! Thank you!" 
Steph Tillotson, Personal Support Worker

“By referring to his background, Emmanuel showed our audience that he was one of them; a person who had overcome severe challenges, displaying tremendous resilience to become a success in his chosen field as a motivational speaker.” 
Michael Zroback, Board President, Eden Community Homes

Also in the photo with Michael and I is Margaret Lynch, Executive Director, Eden Community Homes

Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

The survival, adventure, drama film, Flight of the Phoenix, is a remake of the 1965 film of the same name about a group of people whose aircraft crashes in the Gobi Desert and must build a new plane out of the old one to escape. This entertaining movie features a mix of humor and thrills from an engaging cast that include Dennis Quad as Captain Frank Towns, Giovanni Ribisi, Miranda Otto and Hugh Laurie. See: movie trailer

This film is also excellent for inspiring great teamwork and leadership during difficult times. Despite their differences of opinion they begin to work as a team once they all identified and agreed upon the vision of rebuilding the plane. They then learned to maintain indestructible optimism and make decisions that were beneficial to the entire group.

“At first glance it seems impossible that a bee should fly. But it does.” 
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

Inspiring Themes:
• Perseverance
• Indestructible Optimism
• Team Spirit & Teamwork
• Leadership
• Having a Vision
• Resilience

Team spirit is key in achieving any vision or goal whether it is in the workplace, community or personal life. Discover what the vision is and then share that goal with all the team members. Together with people who believe in you, the collective can accomplish wonders!

“Spirituality is not religion. Religion divides people. Belief in something unites them.” 
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)

Related Tips:

Tip#477: Great Teamwork Movies Part 1 – X-Men: First Class – Kung Fu Panda 2

Tip#478: Great Teamwork Movies Part 2 – Red Cliff

Tip#540: Great Teamwork Movies Part 3 – The Avengers

Tip#780: Great Teamwork Movies Part 4 - Hercules

Tip#843: Great Teamwork Movies, Part 5 - Galaxy Quest

Tip#849: Great Teamwork Movies, Part 6 - Invictus
Tip#851: Great Teamwork Movies, Part 7 – Avengers: Age of Ultron 
Tip#865: Great Teamwork Movies, Part 8 – Eden Community Homes - Flight of the Phoenix

NEED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ON RESILIENCE?
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Remember How Movies Can Help You: 
A) Entertain & Escape 
B) Re-energize & Release 
C) Insights, Epiphanies & AHA moments 



Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker & Resilience Expert
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience in Your Work & Life!
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2015

Tip#864: Passion & Perseverance, Part 9 - Danny Collins

“You know what I like about you? You never give up.” 
Danny Collins (2015)

I’ve always believed that my ability to persist and persevere through hardships I’ve faced over the years is fueled by passion. My love for something meaningful is the energy that stokes the fire within to keep me strong during difficult times and depression episodes. My love for movies, for delicious foods, for social media, for good friends and family are just part of my resilience resources that empower my spirit!

Today I still have many goals I want to accomplish and relationships with family, friends and clients that require persistence, perseverance and indestructible optimism. Thankfully I continue to discover new cinematic role models to show me the way!

Danny Collins (2015)

The comedy drama, Danny Collins, is about an aging 1970’s rock star named Danny Collins (Al Pacino) living an unhappy, destructive life despite his fame and wealth. When he receives a 40-year-old undelivered letter written to him by John Lennon he is motivated to make changes and connect with a grown son he’s never met. This fantastic movie of redemption features truly amazing, witty dialogue and performances from the entire cast that include Annette Bening, Bobby Cannavale, Jennifer Garner, Christopher Plummer and little Giselle Eisenberg as Hope. See: movie trailer

It is Pacino’s performance as a flawed human being that inspired me on so many levels. First reason is his passion for people which is so effervescent and playful whenever he is not on drugs. Secondly, at his core, he is a very thoughtful, altruistic and giving man. Thirdly his persistence and perseverance in making amends with his son makes him an excellent cinematic role model for never giving up despite the relationship appearing absolutely hopeless.

Inspiring Themes:
• Passion
• Persistence & Perseverance
• Indestructible Optimism 
• Team Spirit & Supportive Relationships
• Friendship & Family
• Sense of Fun & Play
• Music & Creative Inspiration
• Altruism
• Redemption

Danny Collins is one of the greatest movies I’ve seen that show enduring passion, persistence and perseverance! Plus it features many beautiful songs by John Lennon. The story is actually based on a true story concerning Lennon’s letter. This is really a hidden gem of a film!

When you are dealing with difficult times, unexpected crisis or depression remember that you can find strength in movie heroes. Be inspired by cinematic role models that will show you the way! They can help you how to re-energize your perseverance and indestructible optimism. 

Related Tips:
Tip#334: Power of Persistence – Billy Elliot 
Tip#534: Passion & Perseverance, Part 1 – 100th Year Anniversary - Titanic 
Tip#543: Passion & Perseverance, Part 2 – The Natural, Director's Cut 
Tip#652: Passion & Perseverance, Part 3 - The Company You Keep 
Tip#691: Passion & Perseverance, Part 4 - Rocky
Tip#731: Passion & Perseverance, Part 5 – The Right Kind of Wrong
Tip#752: Passion & Perseverance, Part 6 - Dolphin Tale
Tip#760: Passion & Perseverance, Part 7 - Today’s Special
Tip#774: Passion & Perseverance, Part 8 - Roger Ebert - Life Itself
Tip#864: Passion & Perseverance, Part 9 - Danny Collins
Tip#885: Passion & Perseverance, Part 10 - Outbreak
Tip#953: Passion & Perseverance, Part 11 - Eddie the Eagle

NEED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ON RESILIENCE?
For your workplace, AGM, Conference or special event...
Contact Motivatorman now! See topics: Click here 

Remember How Movies Can Help You: 
A) Entertain & Escape 
B) Re-energize & Release 
C) Insights, Epiphanies & AHA moments 



Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker & Resilience Expert
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience in Your Work & Life!
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2015

Tip#863: How Movies Saved My Life, Part 2 - Depression & Mental Health - Inside Out

"Inside Out is the greatest all-ages movie about depression, a brilliant creative masterpiece for mental health education and a visual delight on so many levels! I absolutely loved it! If you are dealing with depression you must see this fantastic Disney Pixar film asap on the big screen!" 
Emmanuel Lopez aka Motivatorman

I wanted to start off this blog post with my own quote to share my overflowing enthusiasm for a special movie! I was so happy I got to see Inside Out on opening weekend with some close friends and have a lively discussion afterwards.  It was also synchronistic timing with my current journey with chronic depression called dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder). More details see: tip#855

I am with group of friends to help support Inside Out movie at the Yonge Dundas Cineplex Theatre!

Since my diagnosis (now 5 months ago) I’ve dealt with the shock of the news and have persevered with revitalizing my mental health with various methods and tools. One of them is a 15 week group program called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) which has been amazing in helping me be more aware of how my thoughts, emotions and behaviors keep feeding each other in an endless loop of depression.

Through weekly group sessions, written homework assignments (thought records) and reading chapters of the book Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think I am now expanding my awareness of what is happening in my brain and understanding that all my emotions, especially sadness, have great value. That’s why it is almost magical timing that the film Inside Out was released at this point because it deeply mirrors the key CBT topics I’ve been learning!

Inside Out (2015)

The animated fantasy comedy-drama film, Inside Out, is about the five emotions in a young girl’s mind, Riley (Kaitlyn Dias), who help her to cope with moving to a new city with her mother and father. Visually imaginative, highly engaging and brimming with educational material on mental health awareness this fantastic film has wonderful characters and voice performances like Joy (Amy Poehler), Sadness (Phyllis Smith), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black) and Disgust (Mindy Kaling). See: movie trailer

The detail and information in every scene about our thoughts and emotions is staggering and I am already eager for repeat screenings! I truly believe this film will help decrease the stigma surrounding depression because it helps to illustrate difficulties behind why depression can be so debilitating. The film also shows that each of our emotions has great value especially sadness.

Inspiring Themes:
• Family support
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Depression & mental health education
• Problem solving

According to the World Health Organization, globally more than 350 million people of all ages suffer from depression. I am one of them. I have a strong belief that Inside Out can be a powerful inspirational, resilience resource for those suffering and for their loved ones who want to help and understand more about this mental health challenge. See: Depression Fact Sheet 

If this article resonates with you then I highly recommend you see this film on the big screen as soon as possible. You will fill yourself with feel-good energy and unlimited hope for persevering in your life and work challenges!

“You can’t focus on what’s going wrong, there’s always a way to turn things around!” 
Inside Out (2015)

Related Tips:
Tip#855: How Movies Saved My Life - Depression & Mental Health - Tomorrowland
Tip#811: Resilience Resources, Part 4 – Top 15 Movies for Dealing with Depression, Winter Blues & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

NEED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ON RESILIENCE?
For your workplace, AGM, Conference or special event...
Contact Motivatorman now! See topics: Click here 

Remember How Movies Can Help You:
A) Entertain & Escape
B) Re-energize & Release
C) Insights, Epiphanies & AHA moments



Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker & Resilience Expert
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience in Your Work & Life!
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2015

Tip#862: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 2 – Jurassic World

It’s an amazing, feel-good feeling when a sight or sound triggers nostalgic memories. Hearing John Williams’s stirring, majestic music in 2015's Jurassic World triggered those feelings and transported me back 22 years to when I first saw Jurassic Park in 1993. Spielberg’s original film captured the awe-inspiring magic of these magnificent creatures come to life so realistically! And I loved dinosaurs growing up so it was a dream come true to see.

Listen: Jurassic Park themes by John Williams

The latest film also makes many references to the original movie like showing memorable items and the building from the final scene now abandoned. All this and the music were like a time machine that transported me back to really joyful memories.

Jurassic World (2015)

The science fiction adventure film, Jurassic World, takes place 22 years after the events of the movie Jurassic Park and is about the fully functioning dinosaur theme park experiencing more disasters. A genetically altered dinosaur called Indominus rex escapes causing a chain reaction of other dinosaurs to attack everyone on the island. This film is visually dazzling and features more amazing dinosaurs come to life like the massive Mosasaurus sea creature. See: movie trailer

Though I had mixed feelings about this installment I still recommend it as an enjoyable popcorn thriller. What I loved was seeing the first film’s vision of the theme park finally realized. Seeing adults and kids interact with the dinosaurs and the holographic exhibits made it feel like it was a real park. In the end it was the nostalgic feelings of the music that made me feel so good.

Whenever you are feeling down remember the uplifting power of music and nostalgia. Music like your favourite movie themes or songs from when you grew up can time travel you back to happy memories. Let those feelings in and embrace them. You’ve just filled your heart and spirit with positive emotional energy to make your day a little brighter!

Related Tips:
Tip#356: Feel Good from Nostalgia - Big Trouble In Little China 
Tip#631: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 1 - Paul Williams Still Alive 
Tip#862: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 2 – Jurassic World 
Tip#891: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 3 - The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension 
Tip#935: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 4 – Logan’s Run
Tip#1019: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 5 – E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Tip#1023: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 6 – Rocky Balboa & Creed - Double Feature 

NEED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ON RESILIENCE?
For your workplace, AGM, Conference or special event...
Contact Motivatorman now! See topics: Click here 

Remember How Movies Can Help You: 
A) Entertain & Escape 
B) Re-energize & Release 
C) Insights, Epiphanies & AHA moments 



Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker & Resilience Expert
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience in Your Work & Life!
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2015

Tip#861: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 9 – Netflix’s Sense8

“I’m losing my mind.” 
“No it’s just expanding.” 
Sense 8 (2015)

When I first saw The Matrix I was excited not only by the groundbreaking special effects but by the metaphysical, spiritual concepts it communicated. Its ideas of freeing your mind from internal and external obstacles and unleash your super self would inspire me for years! Later the directors, the Wachowskis, created another innovative film called Cloud Atlas that once again blew my mind with its multiple “quantum narrative” while communicating that we are all connected even in multiple lifetimes.

The Wachowskis, along with J. Michael Straczynski, then created Sense8 for Netflix that take the concepts of The Matrix and Cloud Atlas and raises it to a higher level. Sense8 is a play on the word sensate meaning aware. I found the first two episodes to be a little slow and confusing but once I saw the end of the third show it blew my mind at the exciting, massive potential of what the show is talking about! Once again I am compelled to feature this series on my blog as if it were one epic movie.

Sense8 (2015)

The science fiction drama web television series, Sense8 is about eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly become telepathically linked mentally, emotionally and on other deeper levels. As each episode unfolds you begin to see the exciting examples of being able to access or offer a person's knowledge, language, skill sets and memories to each other at times of crisis.
See: cool concept trailer
See: official trailer

The 8 Sensates:
• Capheus/Van Damme (Ami Ameen) – Van driver - Nairobi
• Sun Bak (Bae Doona) – Chief Executive & kickboxer - Seoul
• Nomi Marks (Jamie Clayton) – Computer “Hacktivist” – San Francisco
• Kala Dandekar (Tina Desai) – Pharmacist - Mumbai
• Riley Blue (Tuppence Middleton) – DJ - London
• Wolfgang Bogdanow (Max Riemelt) – Locksmith & safe-cracker - Berlin
• Lito Rodriguez (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) – Spanish actor – Mexico City
• Will Gorski (Brian J. Smith) – Police officer - Chicago

Sense8 is groundbreaking, brilliant and mind-expanding web television! It explores how connected we all are despite differences in language, political/religious beliefs or sexual preferences. Heterosexual, gay, lesbian and transsexual relationships are explicitly explored with each sensate. Actress Jamie Clayton happens to be a real transsexual playing a transsexual character. And wait until you see the cross-continental telepathic sensate orgy in episode 6!

I am ultimately inspired by the concept of community spirit taken to a metaphysical level through the power of thought and focus. If you are going through depression or difficult times imagine being able to simply send out a mental SOS and have someone (or more) appear to help you persevere and stay resilient.

Science fiction can open your mind to new ideas that could inspire new ways to look at your problems. It can also expand your awareness of seeing past our differences and preferences and recognize we are all sharing this great big planet together. Discover how imaginative movies and TV can unleash your super self today!

Inspiring Themes:
• Perseverance
• Indestructible Optimism 
• Resilience 
• Supportive Relationships
• Community Spirit/Team Spirit
• Teamwork

“I’m not just a me. I’m a we.”
Sense8 (2015)

Related Tips:
Tip#748: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 1 - After the Dark 
Tip#772: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 2 – The Congress - Under the Skin
Tip#778: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 3 – I Origins
Tip#789: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 4 – Coherence
Tip#790: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 5 - Frequencies
Tip#803: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 6 – Interstellar
Tip#809: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 7 – The Man from Earth
Tip#852: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 8 - Ex Machina
Tip#861: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 9 – Netflix’s Sense8
Tip#1004: Expand Your Mind with Science Fiction, Part 10 - Arrival

NEED A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER ON RESILIENCE?
For your workplace, AGM, Conference or special event...
Contact Motivatorman now! See topics: Click here 

Remember How Movies Can Help You: 
A) Entertain & Escape 
B) Re-energize & Release 
C) Insights, Epiphanies & AHA moments 



Emmanuel Lopez-Motivatorman
Motivational Speaker & Resilience Expert
Discover How Movies Inspire Resilience in Your Work & Life!
See website: www.motivatorman.com

© Emmanuel Lopez 2015