Inside Landmark Forum (transcript)
(THIRD DAY AT LANDMARK EDUCATION) 37:17
NARRATOR
Sunday morning, in the north of Paris, the Landmark Education personal development workshop continues, on the third day. At the entrance to the room are two assistants. Their mission: hand out name tags to the participants. For the, volunteering for Landmark changed their lives.
REPORTER
I’ll keep the name tag.
LANDMARK VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT 1, MAN
Oh! Bad boy.
NARRATOR
You’re a volunteer here? For a long time?
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT 1
No, this is the second time. In any case, the second Forum.
NARRATOR
And really feeling the change?
LANDMARK VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT 2, MAN
My family says I’m completely transformed. In my professional life, they trust me like they didn’t trust me before. For people who live an ordinary life, I’ve become the guy they go to. But I don’t have more technical skill than before.
NARRATOR
Because you got the possibilities you wanted to create?
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT 2
Yeah, because I confirm, because I take into account what people say, because I’m present for people, present for everyone, for my colleagues as well as my bosses. It’s Landmark that transformed me.
NARRATOR
This man admits that he is heavily recruiting people around him.
VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT 2
My ex-wife and daughter are coming, I have colleagues that are coming, There are people I work with in other associations that are coming, They go nuts. They ask me “How do you do it?” You want to see? Fine. I’ll invite you to a presentation. It’s no mystery.
NARRATOR
Today the workshop takes a new direction. Forgotten are the insults and public humiliations. Today, Alain Roth offers the workshop participants what, according to him, is a different way of life.
ALAIN ROTH
So, how to be authentic? Here’s the bad news: For everyone, without exception, it starts by being authentic through your inauthenticity. That’s how it starts. We enroll people by saying, “I’m a great guy.” Thinking positively by saying, “I’ll talk about myself, and reveal I’m an asshole.”
NARRATOR
To make his point, Alain Roth prompts Jacques, a doctor and father, to call his son to ask his forgiveness. Word for word Jacques rehearses his lesson with Alain Roth.
JACQUES
I’m calling because I’m thinking about you. I was reflecting on the relationship we have and I’m not on a good course with you. What I wanted was for you to make me happy, and I didn’t really think of you. I’d like that to end. Would you help me do that?
ALAIN ROTH
No! And I created the possibility – I created the possibility…
JACQUES
And I created the possibility by calling you, so we can discuss it.
ALAIN ROTH
No. To be -
JACQUES
- to be your father.
ALAIN ROTH
Will he be moved?
JACQUES
Oh yes.
ALAIN ROTH
Not, “Oh yes!” Will he be moved?
JACQUES
I will make sure he is.
NARRATOR
Once these phrases are learned, Alain Roth asks everyone to write to their parents, or call up friends with only one goal: to ask forgiveness. Most of the students do it.
LANDMARK FORUM PARTICIPANT, WOMAN
I just wanted to talk with Mom just for 3 minutes, if she has time.
NARRATOR
Back in the room, Jacques, the father, is relaying to the audience the details of his conversation with his son.
JACQUES
Hey big guy, I’m doing something that’s about you. I talked about you because that was why I came to this Forum. And I noticed something, that I’ve spent my life doing this shit to you to make you into this gem, into an image that flatters who I am. The kid cracks. He cries. And I say, “I propose a solution. Now I will be your father, and be there to help you, and not give you shit all the time. Do you want me as a father like that?” “Oh,” the kid says, “Yes, I’ll take it.” “Good. Listen, we’ll talk. I love you.” He says, “I love you.” I haven’t said that in 25 years.
NARRATOR
There’s general euphoria. Like Jacques, many students are under the spell. The rest of the exercise is instructive. We now have to learn to help others. How? By inviting them to an evening at Landmark Education.
ALAIN ROTH
Ultimately, what creates dignity in being human is to be prepared to make a difference in others’ lives. If you could bring your parents together again, your father and brother the joy of being brothers. And for you and your brother, and for your wife, a taste for life. Nothing would make you happier than that. That takes the courage to say, “It shall be.” Now, there’s a path that takes you there, and it’s called The Forum. It’s necessary, and effective. It lasts 3 and a half days. Does it mean more clients for Landmark Education? Yes. So what?
NARRATOR
It’s almost midnight. Before the workshop ends, surprise! Alain Roth has homework for us to do. With at least three people who haven’t done Landmark Forum, share what is has done for you, and invite them here for your graduation Tuesday night.
(END OF THIRD DAY)
PIERRE, ANONYMOUS LANDMARK FORUM GRADUATE
It was part of our exercises and that’s what we had come for, the exercises. So I spent my evenings on the telephone, at work too. Sure. It wasn’t difficult, since it’s why we were there, part of our exercises.
LAURENT MOURNAIS, FORUM GRADUATE
I wasn’t pushed to invite my parents. It was I who decided to, but they did push us to invite people close to us, with whom we weren’t authentic, and be able to explain ourselves.