Never stop believin’

Within every family is a success story anchored on faith — blind faith, calculated faith. But faith, nevertheless, than within one’s dreams lies a fuel depot that would propel one to success.

Today, my high school batch at the Assumption Convent San Lorenzo proudly presents the Manila premiere of the film, Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey. It follows the real life rock ‘n roll fairy tale of Pinoy Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from YouTube to become the front man for iconic American rock band Journey.

In this Cinderella story for the ages, Arnel, having overcome a lifetime’s worth of hardships, must now “navigate the immense pressures of replacing a legendary singer and leading a world-renowned band on their most extensive world tour in years.”

Our batch mate Ramona “Monina” S. Diaz is the film’s producer, director, writer and co-editor. 

“Don’t stop believin’” may well be Monina’s own mantra. The film is a tribute to her stubborn belief in her material, its timing (now!) and the source of its funding. For Journey, she took a bet on her staunch faith in Arnel’s journey — and won.

“It was the winter of 2008,” Monina recalls, “and I had just finished shooting a documentary that took two years to film, and I had to face the daunting task of sifting through six terabytes of footage. As I was procrastinating, an e-mail from a cinematographer friend from Manila caught my attention. It was titled ‘Best US Embassy Visa Application Story I’ve Ever Heard.’ I read it and was in stitches.”

It was written by one of the immigration agents at the American Embassy in Manila, and it was about Arnel Pineda, who said that the reason he was going to the US was that he was invited by the band Journey to audition for lead vocals. He was asked to prove himself with a song — and how! Arnel got his visa.

Monina forwarded the e-mail to her manager in Los Angeles, Peter McHugh, with a note saying someone should really make a documentary film about this. He e-mailed her right back with “YOU should. I will track down their management.”

Peter soon enough was talking to John Baruck, the band’s manager. After some back and forth, they decided that they were not ready for a documentary to be made about them. “Maybe next year,” was the decision. Monina said, “Next year, there is no story. This year is the story.”

Her faith was rewarded when she was finally allowed to film Journey for one day and  when she met Arnel in person.

“I found him to be profoundly articulate about his inner life, and a genuinely nice person with an extraordinary personal history. Documentary gold.”

She sent the 10-minute sample of her docu to John Baruck who called her up and said, “Okay, when can you get your crew out here?”

But Monina had no money to go out there and just follow the band on tour! And lo and behold, Capella Fahoome Brogden, an established producer based in Baltimore, got in touch after seeing the sample. “I told her where I was with it and she said, ‘Let’s just do it.’ I reminded her that these things cost money. She had a little put away and she was willing to gamble what she had to start the process. So with a lot of trepidation and a gigantic leap of faith — I had never made a film without funding in place — we crewed up and joined the band on tour.”

Don’t stop believin’, right?

***

In the US, Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey has received much praise, not just for Monina’s technical skills, but also for her choice of subject: Arnel Pineda’s journey.

USA Today described the film as, “Well-chronicled and fascinating, Don’t Stop Believin’ is a cinematic journey well worth taking.”

The Boston Globe said the documentary was, “Inspiring.”

Steve Zeitchik of The Los Angeles Times said he believed that,  “Even in the age of YouTube discoveries and American Idol-fueled fame, Pineda’s tale stands out.”

The racism card is inevitably brought up, and part of the film’s impact is its tackling of how an Asian singer overcomes obstacles to success.

Jim Farber of the New York Daily News said of Monina’s film, “Given the fact that no Asian rock band has ever had a huge US career, Pineda’s placement in Journey may provide the highest profile platform ever for someone of his race. Don’t think American Filipinos don’t know it. There’s generous footage of them treating Pineda as a godsend, and, hopefully, a sign of their future. It’s a theme winning enough to woo even the staunchest Journey foe.”

***

Monina’s credits include Spirits Rising, an hour-long documentary about women’s role in the 1986 People Power Revolution in the Philippines. It received a Student Academy Award, the Ida Lupino Director’s Guild of America Award, a Golden Gate Award from the San Francisco International Film Festival, a Certificate of Merit from the International Documentary Association and a Gold Apple from the National Educational Media Network.

Diaz’s film Imelda, a full-length documentary about former first lady Imelda Marcos, garnered the Excellence in Cinematography Award for documentary at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and the ABC News Videosource Award from the IDA. 

Two years ago, our Assumption batch also showcased her last project, The Learning, a documentary film about the lives of four Filipino teachers recruited to teach in Baltimore City’s Public Schools.

Tonight’s screening of Everyman’s Journey will be for the benefit of the Assumption Cares in its efforts to help rebuild and provide livelihood for the town of Mercedes in Eastern Samar, which was greatly affected by typhoon Yolanda

Tonight’s premiere of Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey is the product of people who never stopped believing in their dreams, and dedicated to people, who, despite Yolanda’s wrath, should never stop believing in theirs, either.

(Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey premieres at 6 and 8:30 tonight at the Rockwell Powerplant Cinema 6. Tickets are at P1,000 each available at the gate. For inquiries, text 0917-8306883.) (You may e-mail me at [email protected].)