Tip#895: The Power In Documenting, Part 2 - The Visit

When my close friend, Lynn Manwar, passed away a few weeks ago from cancer (see tip#891) I created a memorial graphic from one of my top favourite photos of her. I wanted to document Lynn’s greatness so others for years to come will remember her discover her legacy. Thankfully I feel I have a gift for bringing out the best in people for others to see.

I love taking photos and have been doing it all my life. I love capturing the moment because I am so aware they will never come back. In high school I was the yearbook editor and editor-in-chief where my focus was to create a book that would be meaningful decades later. I also have a passion for posting my photos on Instagram to help people dealing with depression and remind them of the joys in life through uplifting images of food, friends and movie recommendations. See Instagram: The Film Food Friends Project 

Click image of Promo Graphics to enlarge

And now, thanks to my friend Lynn, I was inspired to create a new service called Promo Graphics where I custom design graphics that can be used to promote a service, a message or used as a memorial. It excites me to be able to help others to tell their stories! See details: Promo Graphics

The Visit (2015)

The horror, comedy, drama film, The Visit, is shot in the style of found footage and is about two young siblings Becca (Olivia BeJonge) and Tyler (Ed Oxenbould) who spend a week with their grandparents Nana (Deanna Dunagan) and Pop Pop (Peter McRobbie). This movie is a unique balance of frightening and funny sequences that will keep you riveted to the mysteries that unfold. See: movie trailer 

What is intriguing is the use of the found footage style of storytelling. You'll witness how the brother and sister each overcome personal adversities coming from the scary situation they are trapped in. And yet no matter what happens they continue to video record the story they wanted to tell from the very beginning. They realize the importance of documenting their experience, good or bad, which is what you are watching.

Inspiring themes:
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Creative Expression
• Documenting Experiences & Stories
• Supportive Relationships

Documentary films, written biographies and photos document stories and legacies of people still living or that have passed. Make sure you are documenting the best of who you are because your legacy may inspire future generations of family, friends or people you may never meet around the world. Your story right now is worth documenting!

Related Tips:
Tip#124: The Power In Documenting, Part 1 - Cloverfield
Tip#895: The Power In Documenting, Part 2 - The Visit
Tip#189: Storytelling Will Lift You Up – The Fall 
Tip#671: Be Inspired by Amazing True Stories, Part 1 - Stories We Tell 

NEED FAST TIPS FOR STAYING POSITIVE & RESILIENT?
SEE MOTIVATORMAN’S RESILIENCE RESOURCES: Click here 

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



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#894: Cultivate Community, Part 11 - Learnography - The Rainmaker

Do you know what it feels like to show up at a social event alone and not know anyone there? And do you know what it feels like when a stranger comes up to you and welcomes you with positive energy and a smile? That happened to me recently when I attended an open house for Learnography and it felt so good to instantly be welcomed to a warm community!

Kate Salmon, Communication Specialist first approached me and later Amy Coupal, CEO. Both said hello and introduced themselves and we immediately bonded over movies and our common services of helping others in their professional and personal development. Learnography is part of the E-Learning industry and provides resources, instructional design, media and evaluation.

1st Photo: Kate Salmon, Communications Specialist and Danijel Margetić, Media Manager
 2nd Photo: Amy Coupal, CEO

Shaan Singha, Media Coordinator

I believe Learnography is about putting people first as Kate and Amy (and others I met there like Shaan Singha, Media Coordinator) had demonstrated in how warmly they welcomed me. And when it comes to my Recipe for Resilience I share in my motivational talks and this movie blog, cultivating supportive relationships is extremely key to accomplishing goals and getting through difficult times or depression.

The Rainmaker (1997)

The drama film, The Rainmaker, is about an underdog lawyer named Rudy Baylor (Matt Damon) who takes on a fraudulent Insurance company. This highly entertaining and engaging movie is directed by Francis Ford Coppola and has a wonderful cast that includes Danny DeVito, Claire Danes, Jon Voight, Mary Kay Place, Danny Glover, Virginia Madsen and Mickey Rourke. See: movie trailer

This movie is filled with inspiring themes like confidence, courage, perseverance and resilience. Most of all Rudy inspires with his compassion for each person he meets that needs help. For him, people came before money or his desire for fame or recognition. This results in cultivating supportive relationships and a strong sense of community.

Inspiring Themes:
• Passion
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism
• Confidence & Courage
• Strategic Thinking & Creative Thinking
• Resourcefulness
• Leadership
• Supportive Relationships/Teamwork
• Community

I’ve always loved seeing this movie ever since if first came out and am continually inspired by Rudy’s quiet confidence, skill sets and his passion for helping people. He demonstrates the lasting benefits of putting people first in any situation!

Be inspired by movie heroes, people in real-life and organizations that acknowledge people as the bottom line. Remember that supportive relationships are key to being part of your own Resilience Resources whenever you face difficult times.

Related Tips:
Tip#172: Cultivate Community, Part 1 – Witness
Tip#651: Cultivate Community, Part 2 - Defiance
Tip#656: Cultivate Community, Part 3 – Swapsity - Phenomenon 
Tip#658: Cultivate Community, Part 4 – Into the White
Tip#668: Cultivate Community, Part 5 – Be Kind Rewind 
Tip#686: Cultivate Community, Part 6 – Ip Man
Tip#687: Cultivate Community, Part 7 – Rotary Club - Groundhog Day
Tip#707: Cultivate Community, Part 8 – Movie Nights - Christmas in Connecticut
Tip#781: Cultivate Community, Part 9 - The Hundred-Foot Journey
Tip#853: Cultivate Community, Part 10 - Endurance - McFarland, USA 
Tip#894: Cultivate Community, Part 11 - The Rainmaker

NEED FAST TIPS FOR STAYING POSITIVE & RESILIENT?
SEE MOTIVATORMAN’S RESILIENCE RESOURCES: Click here 

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



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#893: Focus & Resilience, Part 2 - The Walk IMAX 3D

I remember a powerful team building retreat I attended years ago where we each walked along a telephone pole over 20 feet above the ground. I was surprised at how paralyzing it was not being able to take my first step out. Though I had a safety harness I just couldn’t move. It was pure fear. Then I heard my team below shouting encouragements and saying, “one step at a time”.

So I focused my mind and eyes on just the pole in front of me and remembered to breathe. In my peripheral vision I could see my destination at the end. And then ever so slowly slide one foot forward, then another and then another. Soon I was halfway and my courage and confidence had increased. By the end of the pole I felt fantastic! I felt like a king!

This was a life-changing event and I would later apply what I learned with any challenge I’d face when I felt overwhelmed with a task. I’d welcome encouragement, breathe, focus and then take one small step forward. It was thrilling to see this process of focusing in the highly entertaining movie The Walk!

The Walk (2015)

The biographical drama thriller, The Walk, is based on the true story of French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974. This cinematically dazzling experience must be seen in IMAX 3D! Each scene is visually rich and often breathtaking thanks to director Robert Zemeckis’s imagination as seen in his other films, Back to the Future, Forrest Gump, Contact and Castaway. See: movie trailer

This film is also rich with inspirational themes. Petit demonstrates great passion for making his dream and vision come true of walking the twin towers. He shows great resilience and focus both on training, strategizing his goal AND then on the actual event of the walk. This is where a powerful scene is shown of how he prepares his mind to focus on being in the moment and 100% present to achieve his goal. Petit also comes to realize and appreciate the members of his team that helped him achieve his dream and vision. In the end the movie is a love letter to the memory of the World Trade Centers.

Inspiring Themes:
• Passion
• Perseverance & Persistence
• Indestructible Optimism
• Resilience
• Following a dream
• Having a vision
• Focusing on Goal/Task
• Strategic Thinking/Creative Thinking
• Supportive Relationships/Teamwork

You have the ability to focus and be resilient with any challenge, task, dream or goal you face. It may take time to accomplish and yet all you have to do is take that first step. And even before you take that step remember to welcome help and encouragement, breathe and focus!

Related Tips:
Tip#389: Focus On The Reality You Want – Inception
Tip#665: Your Greatness, Purpose & Focus – Man of Steel
Tip#725: Focus & Resilience, Part 1 – Hunger Games: Catching Fire – 42 
Tip#893: Focus & Resilience, Part 2 - The Walk IMAX 3D
Tip#957: Focus & Resilience, Part 3 - Race

NEED FAST TIPS FOR STAYING POSITIVE & RESILIENT?
SEE MOTIVATORMAN’S RESILIENCE RESOURCES: Click here 

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



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#892: Resilience Resources, Part 18 – Problem Solving - The Martian

“I guarantee you that at some point everything’s going to go south on you. You’re gonna say, ‘This is it. This is how I end.’ Now you can either accept that or you can get to work.” 
The Martian (2015)

In the past five years, after I lost my home and my business (see tip#400), there were many times I wanted to end it all because I'd see no way out or feel hopeless. But what outweighed those low times was my indestructible optimism. That shining inner light taught me to have unlimited faith, focus on a brighter future and to recognize what I was learning from my adversities.

What I learned was to do things that made me smile and laugh as much as I can. I learned to be extremely resourceful with what little cash flow I had and I learned to surround myself with encouraging, loving, supportive people. And, of course, I learned to build a library of resilience resources for uplifting movies with empowering movie heroes and stories to fuel my drive to never give up!

The Martian (2015)

The science fiction, adventure thriller film, The Martian, is about astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) being stranded on the planet Mars and utilizing his wits and spirit to survive. With the great Ridley Scott directing, this astoundingly entertaining movie is magnificent on so many levels. It showcases a great story, stunning visual effects and landscapes, Damon’s engaging performance and a stellar cast that includes Jessica Chastain as Commander Melissa Lewis. See: movie trailer

The most exciting allure of this film is the problem solving aspects. These impossible situations our hero faces are riveting and inspiring at the same time. The real-life NASA had a huge hand in advising on the science of the film's solutions Watney and mission control on Earth discover and implement. Wait until you see Watney’s garden! Its scenes like this as well as Watney’s humour, desire to live and indestructible optimism that was inspiring to witness. Nothing is impossible.

Another huge theme is that people around the world wanted to help this one person get back home. Watney's problem unites the people of Earth. This film will motivate you to never give up in the seemingly hopeless situations you may be facing in your workplace or life.

Inspiring Themes:
• Problem Solving
• Perseverance
• Resilience
• Indestructible Optimism 
• Strategic Thinking/Creative Thinking
• Resourcefulness
• Supportive Relationships/Teamwork

Always remember that problems may appear hopeless and that your first step is to decide to overcome your adversity or give up. And when you are stuck remember that cinematic heroes can inspire you to persevere, be resilient and know there are good people around to help!

“Every human being has a basic instinct: to help each other out.” 
The Martian (2015)

Related Tips:
Tip#804: Resilience Resources, Part 1 - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - The Theory of Everything
Tip#805: Resilience Resources, Part 2 - Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - It’s Kind of a Funny Story
Tip#810: Resilience Resources, Part 3 – Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - A League of Their Own
Tip#811: Resilience Resources, Part 4 – Top 15 Movies for Dealing with Depression & Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Tip#812: Resilience Resources, Part 5 – Mental Health - Mumford
Tip#813: Resilience Resources, Part 6 - 50 First Dates 
Tip#819: Resilience Resources, Part 7 - Wild 
Tip#822: Resilience Resources, Part 8 - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Tip#823: Resilience Resources, Part 9 – Super Bowl -Invincible
Tip#825: Resilience Resources, Part 10 – Mental Health & Healthcare - Big Hero 6
Tip#829: Resilience Resources, Part 11 – The Tartigrade – Mr. Deeds Goes To Town
Tip#830: Resilience Resources, Part 12 – Depression & Graham Moore - The Imitation Game 
Tip#833: Resilience Resources, Part 13 – Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Tip#834: Resilience Resources, Part 14 - Top 10 Movies for Inspiring Resilience in the Workplace
Tip#857: Resilience Resources, Part 15 - Instagram - Pitch Perfect 2
Tip#873: Resilience Resources, Part 16 - Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation
Tip#881: Resilience Resources, Part 17 - Love & Mercy
Tip#892: Resilience Resources, Part 18 – Problem Solving - The Martian 
Tip#896: Resilience Resources, Part 19 - Depression – J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Tip#910: Resilience Resources, Part 20 – Depression – A Christmas Carol – It’s a Wonderful Life 

NEED FAST TIPS FOR STAYING POSITIVE & RESILIENT?
SEE MOTIVATORMAN’S RESILIENCE RESOURCES: Click here 

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



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#891: The Uplifting Power of Nostalgia, Part 3 - The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension

Nostalgia:
A bittersweet yearning for things, persons or situations of the past

When I feel nostalgic there is always a twinge of sadness and in the past week several events triggered this feeling. I first attended an art gallery opening for the father of a high school friend Joe and had a heartwarming reunion with another high school art colleague Heather. It touched my heart to be reminded of good times we had during my teen years.

Next, my favourite band ELO also released a single from their first album in almost 15 years called When I was a Boy. Mostly a solo album by leader Jeff Lynne, it still invoked nostalgic memories of the late 70’s albums I loved like “Out of the Blue” that featured Sweet Talkin’ Woman and Mr. Blue Sky. Listen: When I was a Boy

And sadly my friend Lynn Manwar, who I’ve featured in my Movies for Motivation book, finally passed away after a long battle with cancer. She was the angel who came to my rescue and offered her condo’s extra room when I needed a home. And she had inspired me with her incredible resilience and indestructible optimism for the years I’d known her. Lynn’s passing was tearful but later made me remember all the fun social events we’d see each other constantly at during a time we were socializing almost every day!

The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension (1984)

The science fiction adventure comedy film, The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension, is about the multi-talented Dr. Buckaroo Banzai (Peter Weller) a physicist, neurosurgeon, test pilot and rock musician and how he saves the world from inter-dimensional aliens. This imaginative, eclectic movie features hilarious dialogue and performances by John Lithgow, Christopher Lloyd and Jeff Goldblum. See: movie trailer 

Seeing this film recently really triggered nostalgic feelings of high school with its 80’s sounding music soundtrack and fashions. Its creative spirit reminded me of my own overflowing creativity in the mid 80’s while attending the art college OCA (now OCADU). It’s movies like this, good friends and music from the past that trigger that deep, profound feeling inside me that's both happy and sad at the same time.

During the film there are characters that pass away. But what I loved is during the end credits all the characters come back and join Buckaroo Banzai as they walk joyfully together with a happy soundtrack playing. That is what I picture for my friend Lynn and other loved ones I’ve lost when it’s my time. We’ll all see each other again in another life.

Nostalgia can feel happy and sad and yet it can also be uplifting. Find those friends, music and movies that remind you of happy times from your life today! Drink in the memories and smile!

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 FAST TIPS FOR STAYING POSITIVE & RESILIENT?
SEE MOTIVATORMAN’S RESILIENCE RESOURCES: Click here 

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



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

© Emmanuel Lopez 2015