One of the best short films ever made... "Change for a Dollar"

This is a MUST see short, drop everything you are doing and watch it now - it is amazing! I was crying within two minutes and couldn't stop sopping until the end. However, it's not sad at all - it's inspiring and uplifting and will make you feel better about humanity.

"Change for a Dollar" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DXL9vIUbWg

I had to post about this right away because I am so moved and deeply touched by the journey this film takes us on in just ten minutes and with only six words of dialogue. I wanted to share it so hopefully you are as well.

I've always believed that the homeless are actually highly evolved souls that come here as teachers for all of us. The first time I heard this was in "Embraced by the Light" which is a beautiful book that really looks at our homeless in a very different way.

What came forward for me while watching this is that homeless men and women truly are angels. Especially the one in this film. Why, you might ask? Because if we are ever triggered by them or get emotionl - they are being of service to our own personal growth and healing.

There is nothing less human about them because they don't work or because they might be a little dirty from the streets. They are still divine beings having a human experience just like the rest of us and it is a simple choice to shower them with compassion rather than judgment.

Every single time I see a homeless person I say the following blessing: "peace be with you" and this has been a silent prayer for years for me and I know some day one of them will look at me and say "and also with you" because I KNOW they are connected and tapped in to Source. We are no different and in fact, we are all connected.

I am so grateful for this video, the different and refreshing perspective, and for the acts of kindness so gracefully demonstrated. The only thing that is wrong with our homeless population is our own greed and any collective consciousness regarding lack.

It is time America to live more simply, do with less and help our brothers and sisters with what they need. There is ENOUGH, we are enough.....let's start acting like it.

My heartfelt prayer is that more of these films are made and seen, so we can look into the mirror to a better humanity. My promise is that I will do everything I can to see this happen.

- Kate Neligan
Founder/CEO of Synergy TV
Enterain - Enlighten - Inspire

THE HORSE BOY Movie Review

THE HORSE BOY is an inspirational documentary about one family’s journey to find a miracle in Mongolia.  If you love horses, are affected by autism, or crave an epic travel trip, this movie is for you. Unlike other documentaries with loads of information and too many experts, this film breaks the mold and takes you to a far-away land with a cast of lovable characters that are on a mission to heal.

In the film, we get to follow Rupert, his amazing wife Kristin, and their adorable son Rowan on a journey on horseback (and in a van!) across the beautiful landscapes of Mongolia. The trip was sparked by Rupert's realization that his son’s autism lessens when he is on top of a sweet mare named Betsy. Being a journalist who has studied the healing world of Shamanism, Rupert asks the question:  what if the combination of horses and shamanism could heal my son? His quest for an answer leads to a crazy adventure across the world to meet with a remote reindeer tribe of Shamans.

I was so excited to finally watch this movie as I was lucky enough to meet Rupert at a Horseboy training camp at Connemara Ranch where I trail ride. I was immediately pulled into his blunt, hilarious, and loving approach to working with horses and autistic children. I’ve always wanted to volunteer with horses and this was my first step into the world of service with my favorite creatures on Earth. Rupert is quite simply a brilliant trainer, rider and father. His story of how he has helped his son, Rowan, deal with autism is awe-inspiring.

It is quite miraculous to witness Rowan’s transformation in the film as he works with various shamans. It is also fascinating to watch his mom Kristin, who is somewhat skeptical, experience the magic in this healing. The audience will quickly fall for Rupert who just adores his son and will do anything for him. We feel compassion for him as he judges his choice to take him to Mongolia. We watch the terror and challenges the parents face as they deal with an incontinent and tormented child. The tantrums are tough to watch and yet make the miracle of Rowan’s transformation all that more meaningful.

I don’t want to ruin any of this film for you as it is truly worth watching. But I have to admit that I too was somewhat skeptical of shamanism (and I’m open to many healing modalities). This film made me a believer. It was so inspiring to see so much love and transformation in this film. I couldn’t help but think that Rupert and Kristin were the perfect parents to conceive an autistic child because it made them so strong and deeply loving and patient. It also led Rupert to his dharma to start the Horse Boy Foundation which helps many autistic children and their families. He is living a life of purpose and his son was just the start of his service to humanity.

What I witnessed with Rowan and his animal friends in the movie, and with an autistic child at Connemara Ranch, was shocking. It is as though autistic children and animals, especially horses, speak the same language. Horses become gentle as though they know they need to nurture and treat these children with special love and understanding. It makes me appreciate them even more and helps me to believe in magic and miracles as well.

THE HORSE BOY helps us to see that not everything can be explained. That the spiritual side of life is mysterious and profound. And that sometimes all we need for healing it to believe it's possible. Rupert and Kristin show us that hope and an open mind can completely change our lives. And most importantly, the film highlights the importance of the human virtues of love, patience and perseverance. I highly recommend this dose of inspiration and enlightenment. That is what we are about here at Synergy TV: opening your mind and heart while leaving you feeling better about humanity. The film also left me pondering these questions: How far would you go for your child? How can we respect animals more and tap into their magical healing powers?  What would you be willing to do for a miracle?

BRAVE Movie Review

The latest Disney & Pixar spectacular was definitely touching and beautiful, but not as amazing as I was hoping for on the big screen. I saw BRAVE opening night because I was waiting for this film for months as the marketing grabbed me from first glance. However, I was really hoping for it to be deeper. I was ready to see a heroine that really inspired me but the story was still a little surface-level. The film does a great job of being a fit for both adults and children, but it is not as clever as the SHREK series, as deep as UP or as transformative as THE LION KING.

That said, the animation in BRAVE is stunning and it is amazing to me how far our technology and graphics have evolved over time. Pixar proved they are still the best animators in town! The film is set in Scotland and the culture and landscape are brilliantly showcased. Having been to Scotland and having lineage to that country, it felt like a bit of homecoming for me.

The themes of BRAVE are worth mentioning and make it a film that could be classifed as mindful. One of the best lines is: “your destiny is inside, you just have to be brave enough to see it” which was the core of the film and the question: “if you had the chance to change your fate, would you?” is the dilemma that shapes the main character, Princess Merida’s journey.  The theme that we can choose our path and create our own lives once we step into courage was prevalent and a wonderful message, especially for young women.

The true beauty in the film surrounds the lessons that unfold from the mother-daughter relationship. Merida challenges her mother’s (Queen Elinor) position and the kingdom’s custom on marriage.  Merida believes in marrying for love rather than tradition and takes her fate into her own hands when she visits a witch and causes a lot of mischief. The consequences of a spell take both characters on a life-changing journey. An old prince’s tale is woven together with Merida’s and the audience sees another clear lesson that self-centeredness will only turn you or your loved ones into something dark and unBEARable.

It was refreshing to see a strong, independent female lead that loves her archery set and horse as much as her family. Princess Merida is spirited, curious, loving and stubborn and throughout the film she learns that trying to change someone else has ramifications.

Another theme worth noting is the one of feminity portrayed in the movie. Queen Elinor is often telling the Princess how to be a "lady" but through their shared journey we see she learns a lot about what being a true Queen really means. When Merida or Elinor enters a room the men stop fighting to watch and listen to these women. There is a great scene where the Princess speaks to all of the warriors with compassion and understanding and they join together, clearly seeing a new way. This scene is a signpost of how things can be for women when they stand in their truth and demand respect with gentleness, bringing unity to their community. I really enjoyed seeing the impact the Queen and the Princess had when they stood in bravery and feminine power. 

So even though I had huge expectations of this film and it was a bit over-hyped for me, I still think it is beautiful, touching, and has important and positive messages, especially for girls and women.  The lessons about family, peace, courage, feminine power and unity are keys for all of us who wish to live more peacefully with each other. We need to be brave and also realize our destiny is tied to each other.

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder & CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment LLC
www.synergytvnetwork.com

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME Movie Review

The first time I saw the synopsis of JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME I knew I had to see the film so I decided to rent it from Redbox (recently out on DVD/VOD). The movie really delivers on all levels and is very realistic, fun, and spiritual.  It’s not only hilarious but also touching and deep. The filmmakers accomplished so much in a short time and kept the story fresh and original. Some of my favorite actors, Susan Sarandon who plays Sharon, Ed Helms (from “The Office”) who plays Pat and Jason Segal who plays Jeff, star in this film and they all did a fantastic job with their characters.

Interconnected storylines often make for great films and this one was no exception. In the vein of CRASH, or Fox’s new TV series “Touch”, JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME explores how life is like a webbed tapestry of impact. Right from the beginning we see that Jeff wants to know his destiny and fate. He spends a while thinking about this and is always looking for signs. He believes everything happens for a reason and there are no wrong numbers or coincidences. One could easily pass off his beliefs as naïve or the mind of a stoner, yet as the story unveils we get a glimpse into his heart as well as a deeper explanation of our world.

One of the reasons this is such a great film is that it’s very real and believable.  We see Jeff as a hopeful character full of acceptance and introspection. The only thing he seems to have in common with his brother is the loss of their dad since Pat is full of anger and focused on materialism. There is a realistic fight scene between them that reminded me of the fights I used to get into with my brother. The relationship between Pat and his wife was also very realistic: a typical strained marriage where neither really listens and no one knows how to communicate or understand one another.

In fact, the desire to be understood is another theme in the film. Jeff feels like his family misunderstands him, Pat’s wife doesn’t feel heard and Sharon just wants someone that gets her. I feel as though we can all relate to this theme, as often our families don’t get us. I know my brother and dad rarely understand my empathic nature and, similar to how Pat feels about Jeff, I know they wish they could see the world the way I see it as well: with a lot of compassion and a big open heart.

Jeff is also judged for living at home and not doing anything major with his life, yet his relationships with others is beautiful to watch.  He is patient, grounded, loving, and has a great sense of curiosity.  He pays attention to everything and is present. It’s this presence that is actually his contribution to the world and not what he does for a living.  While his destiny is related to what he does, it’s primarily about who he is.

This movie had me thinking - what if I woke up one day and let everything be a sign and followed my “gut” or intuition? What would that journey look like? What would happen? How would my life change and how would I change others? These are deep and important questions to ask because we so often think we know best or that we SHOULD do certain things each day. Most of the time we live on auto-pilot but what if the all-intelligent “source” knows more than us and we could know the plan if we listened?

What if true happiness actually came from being guided by a much more powerful voice than our egos? What if we asked the question: “Love, how can I serve you today, what would you have me do and where would you have me go?” I’ve found magic when I’ve paid attention to the subtle clues/messages/signs and connections the Universe is always sending.  Noticing signs is just like being tuned into a specific radio station or television channel. In this film we get to see Jeff do this for one day and his journey is transformational.

Synchronicities and serendipity is a big part of this film as well as my daily life.  I’ll often receive direct messages from license plates, songs on the radio, actual billboards, or from people and animals. Or I’ll ask a question and then wait to see the answer show up sometimes in mere minutes. It’s truly wonderful to live life this way – as Einstein says, “as though everything is a miracle.” I used think this was “stupid,” the way Pat does in the movie, and everything should be scientifically proven. But how can you prove magic and miracles? We just need to believe. We don’t manifest what we want, we manifest what we believe.

In this movie Jeff believed, listened and followed something greater than his rational mind. He surrendered and an amazing thing happened; his destiny to help others appeared in both big and small ways. In fact, all destinies are tied to each other and to serving others; it’s just a matter of recognizing this and then watching the opportunities appear.

I believe that the Universe puts us in the right place at the right time, especially for all of our life-changing events, such as when we meet our soul mates, when we receive our dream job, or when we get the chance to impact someone else. It is true that we may never know what we are here to do, yet if we listen and follow the signs we will gather glimpses into a much greater knowledge.

JEFF WHO LIVES AT HOME is truly the perfect “synergy film” or “mindful movie” as it makes you laugh and cry and also imparts wisdom and truth through quirky characters and a real story. I loved that the movie started with a quote from Jeff that says, “Everyone and everything is interconnected in this universe. Stay pure of heart and you will see the signs. Follow the signs, and you will uncover your destiny.” I would have to agree with this wise 30 year old man that lives in his mom’s basement!

The messages in this film are clear: surrender to the signs and watch your destiny unfold. True understanding is really listening and loving. Whether it’s listening to our brother, spouse, co-worker, or the Universe, as human be-ings we get to choose the loving way.

I hope this film delights you as much as it did me.  I highly recommend it and it will most definitely go on my Top 10 Mindful Movies of the year list!

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan

Founder & CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment LLC

 P.S. Best line from the film: “Yoda would be killer in a business meeting.” I’ll be remembering that in my next one and allowing my inner-Yoda to shine!

MORNING GLORY Movie Review

I wasn't expecting much from MORNING GLORY, a $31 Million grossing movie from Paramount, since it seemed to be in and out of theatres so quickly. However, I adored the film.  I'm a huge fan of Rachel McAdams (from THE NOTEBOOK) and will see anything she is in, which is why I bought this DVD. I totally fell in love with the story, Rachel's character, and the romance between her and Patrick Wilson's character in the film. I have also never seen so much of myself in a character on screen before, which made me smile.

The film starts off when Becky Fuller (Rachel McAdams) is out on a date in NJ and she references one of my stomping grounds back home, Matthew's diner in Waldwick! Being a former Jersey-girl, and still one at heart, I immediately fell for the film. Becky works at "Good Morning New Jersey," a local morning show, as a producer and has her dreams set high on becoming the show's exectuive producer. She knows she is a natural born leader and has worked hard to move up the ladder in the TV business. When she is called into her boss's office everyone expects her to receive a big raise and promotion but to everyone's surprise she is actually fired. This is a turning point for her as she is forced to leave the "nest" and seek out a bigger life.

The conversation between Becky and her mom after she loses her job pulled at my heartstrings.  Her mom tells her that her dream was cute when she was a kid but it is now an embarrassment because she has not yet achieved it and soon her path could lead to heart break. I felt so much for Becky as so many of us are told to give up on our dreams, expecially if we have not achieved them by a certain age. In true Jersey girl fashion, Becky is way too strong and driven to give up and she makes incessant calls for job openings. 

While I saw myself in this character from the opening scene, I also noticed the same  "Go Confidently in the Direction of your Dreams" mug on her nightstand, which allowed me to relate most to her persistence in her career. When she lost her first job that she loved and moved to the Big Apple for her dream, I had a similar experience when I moved to Los Angeles for mine. I couldn't help but smile at how confident Becky is in her career and her ability to perservere. I have always had this sense of inner drive and confidence without ever knowing where it came from and it is what has led me to success over and over again. In my career I feel as though I can achieve anything. Becky is the same in this movie as she sets out to accomplish the impossible in TV. I have always loved and agreed with Les Brown's quote: “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”

Becky continues to be one of the quirkiest characters we have seen on screen in ages and dazzles us with her clutziness, over-sharing, endless energy, creativity, intelligence, big smiles, and persistence.  She is a self-admitted rambler and puts her career before everything and everyone else, sometimes to her own detriment as she starts a new relationship with Adam (Patrick Wilson).

Again, the projections I saw and parallels to my life were continual and so I could not help but identify with the lessons in the film to slow down, never give up, and be clear about your priorities with others.  One of my favorite parts was when she learns to put her phone in the freezer when it starts to ring off the hook with work! How many times have we all wanted to do this?! I believe that we can all learn ways to unwire and unplug from the constant demands of others so we can be more present with ourselves and our loved ones.

This film is not only heartwarming, refreshingly unique, sweet and touching but also hilarious. I laughed quite a few times at the clever one-liners and the ridiculous characters. It is clear that Becky and her team at Daybreak are underdogs, especially next to the giant Today Show and yet they become a close-knit family helping each other open up in new ways.  The casting of the two co-anchors that host the morning show, Diane Keaton, who plays Colleen, and Harrison Ford who plays Mike, is superb and it's great to see these acting giants supporting Rachel McAdams as the star. 

My favorite message from the film is that while we can accomplish our dreams at work, we are really here to create connections with each other.  Becky's relationship with Mike is comical, troubled and endearing but she helps him to become a better man.  She opens up a part of Colleen that was ready to come out and play, and she not only saves her co-workers but also inspires them at the same time.  The film and Becky's work are truly meaningful because of the bonds created and the transformation that occurs. 

I turned off this movie with a big smile on my face, acknowledging my own quirkiness, and knowing there is hope for my love life even when I have workaholic tendencies.  I felt secure and happy remembering that I can achieve anything I want in my career with my drive, confidence and a dash of my good-ole strong Jersey girl work ethic and attitude! :)  I hope people continue to see this film because it is not only fun but also has a great message, especially for women in their careers.

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder & CEO of Synergy TV and Mindful Media Entertainment
www.synergytvnetwork.com

MONEYBALL Movie Review

Overall MONEYBALL drew a bit more hype than it deserved, but it’s definitely worth a watch, especially if you happen to enjoy baseball or Brad Pitt.  Though it doesn’t compare to most inspirational sports movies like FIELD OF DREAMS, it does have mindful messages and inspirational themes. 

The film – another example of a live action drama showcasing true events - is more engaging and successful than any documentary could have been with the same story. Brad Pitt (“Billy Beane”) and Jonah Hill (“Peter Brand”) made a great pair. Refreshingly, Hill, who is known more for comedy, was excellent in a serious role. 

  In fact, Hill shines in the best scene of the movie which occurs towards the end of the film. In this exchange, Brand explains a baseball play to Beane that is a huge metaphor for life. I don’t want to ruin this scene if you haven’t seen the movie yet; but it hit me in a powerful way. It helped me to see that we all have limits to our thinking and to seeing ourselves as hugely successful.

Our fears and our blocks often get in the way of understanding the truth about ourselves.

One of the themes that I really enjoyed was Beane’s drive to make a profound and lasting impact on the sport.  He didn’t just want to win the last game of the season; he wanted to bring justice to a system he viewed as unfair because of money. 

I’ve been a big Yankees fan my entire life.  I remember going to games with my dad and brother as a kid, and I’ve held onto a deep sense of love and pride for the pinstripes.  I used to blindly defend them even when others would criticize them for monopolizing the sport.  Now I can see how unfair the system is and how the Yankees have been blessed with more prosperity. I feel like MONEYBALL helped me to see the truth about America’s favorite pastime.

It was also enlightening to see the power money has always had to buy talent, how some players are paid far more than they’re worth, and yet others are vastly underpaid. I couldn’t help but recognize the parallels to many corporations and high-level business executives. I loved that MONEYBALL showed us another way: a system that gives the underdogs a chance to shine. 

The formulas and numbers make sense in MONEYBALL, and yet this plan didn’t succeed at first.  I believe that the A’s consistently won because Beane, the GM, managed the team with care and creativity. The film portrays their turn-around as occurring when Beane took an interest in the players, and when he started to explain their statistics and encouraged Dave Justice (one of my all-time favorite players) to be a leader. It was clear to me that the attention and love was the changing force, not the mathematics.

It is the same in business. I found myself flourishing in my job when my boss coached me, and I noticed that when I mentored my staff, they were more willing to step up. It’s like Dr. Seuss says in THE LORAX, “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

The theme of winning/losing and success/failure was evident in this film. It’s apparent that Beane’s flashbacks to his years as a player and his perceived failure, was a driving force for him to succeed as the GM of the Oakland A’s.  He saw an unfair system and realized there was another way.  He met Peter by chance, but he also recognized talent when he saw it and was willing to adopt a new perspective when all of baseball disagreed with him.

In fact, Beane’s persistence to be a changer-maker, even in the face of failure, was one of the most inspirational aspects of the film.  His ripple effect was significant as well since the Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918 only two years after implementing his controversial approach to the game. 

SPOILER ALERT!  However, most inspiring of all was his decision to stay with the team that he loved rather than taking millions of dollars to move to the Red Sox. It was surprising to me that he would walk away from so much money and opportunity.  Yet if he left, he would have been no different than Giambi and Damon, two of his former players, if he too had jumped ship for a bigger paycheck. Billy’s decision to follow his heart demonstrated his integrity, his priorities and strength.

I admire Beane for his drive, his steadfast belief in his vision, and his courage to be an agent of change.  It’s not just sports, but all areas of our society that need these kinds of leaders who are ready to shake up the old systems that no longer work.  It is time to provide new opportunities for talent to shine and for outside-the-box thinkers to make positive, lasting changes, despite the status quo.  These leaders will rise in this new era of consciousness; we need to be ready for them.   

Thank you Billy Beane for trailblazing a new path, and for showing us that heart and connection are more powerful than money!

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder/CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment

DOLPHIN TALE Movie Review

Why do we all love movies that are inspired by a true story?! I think because the word "inspired by" is part of it and they often are very inspirational.  DOLPHIN TALE is no exception to this successful formula. I have to admit I always thought this was a Disney movie and it was really positioned exactly as it delivered - family friendly and adorable! However, the accoloades belong to Warner Brothers who made this PG rated film which feels as wholesome as a G. I don't remember the last time I saw a PG film and it was refreshing to see an engaging and entertaining film that had no violence, major conflict, or negativity.

I had meant to see DOLPHIN TALE 3D in theatres and while many did ($72 Million in Box Office!) it still looked amazing on Blu-Ray. The film lives up to its hype as a heartwarming movie. All of the characters are sweet and lovable especially Dr. Clay (Harry Connick Jr.), Lorraine (Ashley Judd), Dr. Cameron (Morgan Freeman), Sawyer and Hazel. I was pleasantly surprised to discover new acting talent in Cozi Zuehlsdorff who played Hazel. She is an actress to watch as she was captivating and pulled you into the story. 

However, most of the movie is focused around Sawyer (Nathan Gamble) the little boy who seemed lost and disinterested in life until he meets Winter the dolphin. It was touching to watch this youngster transform as he found something to be passionate about. He quickly steps into service and out of his protective shell as the events around Winter's rescue unfold. With the help of his new friend Hazel, he begins to change the lives of everyone he meets, especially his beloved dolphin. This young team becomes a powerful force as they fight for everything they believe in and never give up. The friendships that are developed and the change that is created in their community is both moving and beautiful to witness.  It helps to remind us that no matter what age, we can make a difference.

Winter the dolphin is truly the biggest inspiration in the film. This powerful little dolphin also never quits despite all of the odds against her. She also shows her human companions how to see things differently. Winter is the only dolphin to ever survive and live without a tail and luckily humans took a chance with her or we wouldn't have this inspirational tale to tell. Winter could be considered a "service animal: as she demonstrates to the disabled that living with a prosthetic can be a life of acceptance and joy. She serves as a living testimony to the power to overcome adversity and a sign of hope for many.

As Morgan Freeman says in the movie to a recently disabled war veteran, "you aren't broken".  Many times we may think we are broken and don't have the will to live and yet if this dolphin can not only survive but thrive, I believe we all can.  The message is to find a reason to live and never give up.  Having gone through a dear friend losing his hand, I have been an intimate witness to some of the devastation and yet powerful recovery that can transform a man intro a stronger living inspiration.  I have found that the inner work and willingness to serve can get us through pretty much anything.  I love that this dolphin has worked with many who have lost limbs. There is something innately healing about animals if we just allow them to be and to teach.


I have loved dolphins my whole life and just seeing one in the ocean lights me up.  I have been lucky enough to swim with them (see photo) which was one of the top five moments of my life and #1 on my bucket list.  I highly recommend researching a place before you swim with them to make sure their involvement with dolphins is both loving and safe for these creatures. The experience is truly magical and if you get the chance to meet them in the wild take a moment to marvel at their magnificence.  You can also visit Winter in Flordia.

The film ends with some of the real footage from Winter's rescue and I realized this film was so much powerful and prosperous than any documentary about Winter's life could have been.  While I'm a huge fan of documentaries, it's true that a live-action film like this one with an amazing cast can reach more people and make more money than any documentary ever could and yet the message and story is the same!  We need to find ways to make our entertainment enjoyable to watch and yet deliver the power of transformation and inspiration.

Synergy TV has this mission and intention so be ready to see great things from us.  If you are ever feeling down, just rent or buy DOLPHIN TALE and you will feel lifted up to place of gratitude for all that you do have and for the powerful change-agents in your life!

Entertain, Enlighten, Inspire,
Kate Neligan
Founder/CEO of Synergy TV & Mindful Media Entertainment