Film explores human connection

>>> now it's often in times of crisis like that in japan that we face deep questions about the human condition and our connection, even to those far away . that's the subject of a new movie called "i am." am shadiac hit the jackpot of the american dream , success, money, until a bike accident left him wondering if he'd got it all wrong.

>> when i improved to the point write could actually tolerate travel, i decided to grab a camera and a crew film of four and started journeying to find those who helped me question my life and to understand more and to spark a conversation around two challenging and rarely asked questions.

>> director of "i am" joins us now. we're delighted you're here, tom.

>> thank you for having me.

>> you talked about the fact that when crises occur, human beings wake up to their predicament. what do you mean by that.

>> i think it gives us a chance to see who we are. much of life as it is is a numbing effect. you know, in rome they believed bread and circus. crises wake us up. you see who we are as we respond in our hearts to tragedies in japan. it shows us your biology is wired to help. that's why we leap to tragedies like those in haiti.

>> when the money was rolling in for you and people were giving you huge amounts of agelation with t was numbing you.

>> yes, it's an extrinsic goal. they want to achieve that money and the definition that our society has for success it didn't make me happier. it was neutral. as i emptied myself, shared more, simplified my life, i found my life has blossomed and buoyed. i have family and community and friends thatet edifying.

>> isn't much of our society based on the desperate desire for fame and money? look at those people who are desperate for five minutes of fame, like on " american idol ."

>> i spell american idol , i-d-l-e. we're told not to worship idols in our community. we have it backwards. you know, we have it backwards and we just haven't woken up to the fact that we're seeing things not as they actually are. i made this movie so i could have a conversation about what we're not talking about in america, which is why things are the way they are in the world. we see things symptomatically. we see the gap between the rich and the poor and the voirmtal crisis. we never have a conversation as to why those things might be happening.

>> you're sounding like a theologian who might say the love of money is the root of all evil .

>> yes, don't store up treasures on earth. you can't serve two masters, god and money. you have to be empty to be full. we know this in our religious face but somehow we put blinders on as we walk in our business lives. and we -- there's a new business model to be had.

>> i know you've been relatively humble about this particular issue but just pin it down for me. did you literally give your money away.

>> not all of it but much of it, yes i have much more to go.

>> you've divulged yourself of your possessions.

>> i live simply, i live well, i live comfortably. it's what st. augustine said, the remainder is needed by others. i know my needs now. i'm not doing my needs by what society tells me i need but what my true needs are. they're simple and the rest goes to others.

>> a profound thought and a profound film. thank you so much.

>> thank you, brother.

>> we'll be right back. oh,