“Inspiring …a pearl of Wisdom!”

Austin American Statesmen

About the film...

HAPPINESS IS…a cinematic road trip that explores the myths and the truths of the “pursuit of happiness” in America. It is the second film from Andrew Shapter, Director of the critically acclaimed documentary, Before The Music Dies. The film journeys through history–without boundaries or prejudices–in an attempt to understand what Happiness truly is, in the face of what the definition of Happiness has become.

Shapter and his small team traveled coast-to-coast, speaking to all sorts of Americans they encountered along the way in an attempt to discover what it means to be happy. In addition to examining the phrase “the pursuit of happiness,” the film guides us through the eyes of spiritual leaders including the Dalai Lama, philanthropists, scholars, and the occasional celebrity (including John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson), and a wide range of happiness “experts” as they describe their experiences and definitions of Happiness. Understanding what it means to be happy and the goal of obtaining happiness is an individual journey protected by our forefathers in the Declaration of Independence. HAPPINESS IS, your road map to happiness!

Cast :

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama Spritual Leader • Willie Nelson, Musician • John Mellencamp , Musician • Elaine Irwin Mellencamp, Model/Spokesperson • Pinetop Perkins, Musician • Dan Millman , Author, Way of the Peaceful Warrior • Louis Beareagle , Native American Shaman • Leanne Morgan , Comedian • Darrin McMahon , Author, Happiness: A History • Alan Graham , Mobile Loaves and Fishes Founder • Dr. Daniel Gilbert, Author, Stumbling on Happiness • Matthew Dowd, Political Strategist/ABC News Commentator • Bengt Washburn , Comedian • Gretchen Rubin, Author/Blogger, The Happiness Project • H.W. Brands , Author • American and Americans from coast to coast.

Happiness Is will be screened across the country beginning July 30th 2009.

Director's Statement :

 My goal was to find common ground and a common voice 

throughout all of the different cultures that live in the U.S. We all 

share the common goal of achieving happiness, but we define it in 

so many different ways. I think I discovered only the tip of the 

iceberg in making this film, but I hope that what it does illustrate 

causes audiences to think in a new way about what their happiness 

means to them, as well as how they can contribute to the happiness 

of others. 

It's such an important thing that ultimately, I discovered that what I 

truly wanted--and needed--to do was to use the film as a tool to try and achieve that 

happiness goal by turning each screening into a fundraiser for a charitable cause.