The Shift (Video 2009)
"Ambition to Meaning: Finding Your Life's Purpose" (original title)

Director:

Michael A. Goorjian

Writer:

Kristen Lazarian

Stars:

Wayne Dyer, Portia de Rossi, Edward Kerr

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Wayne Dyer	...	Himself (as Dr. Wayne W. Dyer)
Portia de Rossi	...	Denise Moore (as Portia De Rossi)
Edward Kerr	...	Chad Moore
Michael DeLuise	...	David (as Michael Deluise)
Ron Marasco	...	Joe
Shannon Sturges	...	Quinn Harper
Maury Sterling	...	Jason Harper
Ethan Lipton	...	Himself
Molly Bryant	...	Sarah
Don Franklin	...	Rob
Ron Garcia	...	Ron
Karen Kondazian	...	Sophia
Ethan Kelley	...	Brandon Harper (as Ethan Kelly)
Jack Kelley	...	Kyle Harper (as Jack Kelly)
Joel Virgel	...	Homeless Man (as Joe Virgel)

Storyline

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Shift

Filming Locations:

Asilomar Conference Grounds, Pacific Grove, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,200,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lyceum Films

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Surround)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Jason Harper: What, you think I am going to leave you here all alone?
Quinn Harper: Jason, every cell in my body wants to stay here just a little bit longer.
Jason Harper: Um, I'm hearing you but I have no idea what you're saying.
Quinn Harper: I need to reorient myself, I need to find my way back, and I need solitude to do it.
Jason Harper: Quinn, you're the mother of two small children. You don't get solitude.

User Reviews

Potential to be life-altering

This is a two-DVD set: the first DVD is the "movie" (which is more of a docudrama) and is 2 hours long. The second is a supplemental disc containing about 2+ hours of interviews, additional movie footage, and music. Both DVD's are excellent and worth a few dollars more for the set, as compared to the single DVD version that is also available. The second DVD contains the taped interview with Dr. Dyer that the movie was ultimately written around. It goes into depth into areas sometimes only touched on in the movie itself.

The movie follows the stories of various guests checking into a beautiful resort along the California Coast: a young family; a wealthy couple with a troubled marriage; and my favorite, an ambition-driven director, wonderfully played by Michael Deluise, whom I remember as a frequent guest star on the Gilmore Girls. (Some trivia here - he is also the son of Dom Deluise.) The director and his small crew are filming a docudrama starring Dr. Dyer (played as himself).

All of the key characters in the film experience what Dr. Dyer describes as a "quantum moment". It opens the door to transformation for them as they recognize and begin to live "the music inside" that Dr. Dyer teaches we were all born with but too often push aside while we are busy living our lives. One of the key points in the movie: what if we come to the end of our life and discover it was all wrong?

The three stories (as well as some additional, interesting character development) are expertly woven throughout the movie and accompanied by voice-over's from Dr. Dyer. His deep, soothing voice always seems to hit the mark and works perfectly within each scene that it is added to. (Not too much, not too little.) The dramatizations are used to illustrate Dr. Dyer's timely teaching of transformation from a life of ambition into a more meaningful life; a life that can be just as successful and full of prosperity and ambition as you desire but with greater significance through a deeper, spiritual motivation. It is a wonderful departure from the usual "live-audience seminar" format of most personal growth DVD's.

The narrative and story lines used as a way to exemplify the ideas presented here remind me of another Hay House production also directed by Michael Goorijan "You Can Heal Your life" starring Louise Hay, as well as another docudrama (not related to Hay House or Goorijan) "What The Bleep Do We Know?". (I recommend the "Quantum Edition", as you can edit out the sometimes tasteless dramatizations, & it offers hours of additional interviews). Although both of these are excellent DVD's and highly recommended, "Ambition to Meaning" is so expertly written, directed, acted and produced that it has raised the bar and taken this genre to a whole new level. The cinematography of the Monterey Coast is absolutely breathtaking. The tranquil original musical score is worth noting as well. Especially nice are the original piano pieces played by "Joe, the Janitor" mid-way through the movie. (Don't ask... you just have to see the movie - it really does work.)

I have watched "Ambition to Meaning" countless times now and continue to learn something new and unexpected about myself with each viewing. You will find the movie inspiring if not life-altering.