pineda journey documentary

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

“Well-chronicled and fascinating, Don’t Stop Believin’ is a cinematic journey well worth taking.”

—usa today.

Now in Theaters and On Demand

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Hit Man Link to Hit Man
• Am I OK? Link to Am I OK?
• Jim Henson Idea Man Link to Jim Henson Idea Man

New TV Tonight

• The Boys: Season 4
• Bridgerton: Season 3
• Presumed Innocent: Season 1
• The Lazarus Project: Season 2
• The Big Bakeover: Season 1
• How Music Got Free: Season 1
• Love Island: Season 6

Most Popular TV on RT

• Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• Eric: Season 1
• Ren Faire: Season 1
• House of the Dragon: Season 2
• Sweet Tooth: Season 3
• Dark Matter: Season 1
• Evil: Season 4
• Clipped: Season 1
• Fallout: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1 Link to Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

30 Most Popular Movies Right Now: What to Watch In Theaters and Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Weekend Box Office: Bad Boys Ride to $56.5 Million Debut

Movie Re-Release Calendar 2024: Your Guide to Movies Back In Theaters

• Trending on RT
• The Acolyte First Reviews
• Vote: 1999 Movie Showdown
• TV Premiere Dates
• House of the Dragon First Reviews

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey

Where to watch.

Rent Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

An energetic but thin portrait of the venerable rock band Journey, Don't Stop Believin' gets a boost from new singer Arnel Pineda's charming personality.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Ramona S. Diaz

Arnel Pineda

Ross Valory

Jonathan Cain

Deen Castronovo

More Like This

Related movie news.

World Premiere

Don't stop believin': everyman's journey, female director(s), documentary, music, cast & credits, ramona s. diaz, director of photography, associate producer, primary cast, executive producer, domestic sales contact, main contact, foreign sales agent.

This film is appropriate for teenagers and up.

Co-hosted by:

Tribeca Festival Partners

Presenting partner, signature partners.

Friends of the Festival

Media Friends of the Festival

Industry Partners

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Movie Reviews

'everyman's journey': don't believe everything you hear.

Scott Tobias

Arnel Pineda's journey from obscurity to international fame as the new frontman for the rock band Journey is the narrative thread that drives Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey. Cinedigm Entertainment Group hide caption

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey

• Directors: Ramona S. Diaz
• Genre: Documentary
• Running Time: 113 minutes

With: Arnel Pineda, Neal Schon, Jonathan Cain

Some bands are born of passion and deep camaraderie, a collective desire to rebel against authority — or at least to look cool. Others are born because a major label threatens to drop them if they don't find a lead vocalist.

It's possible that Journey started as the former before morphing into the latter. Most people know the band as the hit-making arena rockers responsible for "Don't Stop Believin'," "Open Arms," "Faithfully" and other songs you danced to at your cousin's wedding. But before Steve Perry's soaring voice and lustrous hair launched them into the '80s stratosphere, Journey was a Bay Area jam band, turning out technically proficient prog rock with a jazz-fusion bent. When CBS Records demanded they change course after their first two albums flopped, they reinvented themselves as a pop act with Perry at the center.

The chart-topping Journey of the early '80s — Perry, guitarist Neal Schon, keyboardist Jonathan Cain, bassist Ross Valory and drummer Steve Smith — was only good for a few years, plus a reunion or two, but the nostalgia tours haven't stopped in the three decades since. Journey minus Steve Perry may sound unthinkable to some, but the core group of Schon, Cain and Valory has forged on with a succession of new lead singers and session players and a few modest-selling albums to tour behind. The question of artistic legitimacy post-Perry doesn't matter: Journey is a cash register that never stops ringing.

The thin documentary Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey tells the remarkable rags-to-riches story of the band's latest vocalist, Arnel Pineda, a Filipino singer whose uncanny cover of "Faithfully," posted on YouTube , caught Schon's attention one night. After eight years with Steve Augeri as frontman — a period that ended with a throat infection and accusations that the band was piping in pre-recorded vocals — and an aborted attempt to recruit Jeremey Hunsicker, the lead singer of a Journey cover band, Schon and company were desperate for a viable frontman. In the wake of The Sopranos ' series finale, which famously (and notoriously) ended with "Don't Stop Believin' " pumping through a diner jukebox, the time was ripe for a world tour. And with Pineda, they wound up hitting the jackpot.

Journey takes a pragmatic-old-pros approach to integrating its new lead singer; though Don't Stop Believin' emphasizes Pineda's rags-to-riches story, it's clear from the film that the band's main goal is the continuity of its business and brand. Cinedigm Entertainment Group hide caption

Journey takes a pragmatic-old-pros approach to integrating its new lead singer; though Don't Stop Believin' emphasizes Pineda's rags-to-riches story, it's clear from the film that the band's main goal is the continuity of its business and brand.

The disparity between Journey's mercenary nature and Pineda's inspiring triumph over adversity comes through starkly in Everyman's Journey , but director Ramona S. Diaz doesn't seem conscious of it. She gets terrific footage of Pineda's rough initial studio sessions with the band, when he struggled to harness his voice, and of his first night on tour in Chile, where the adrenaline rush of performing before thousands of screaming fans had him zipping wildly around the stage. But in both cases, Journey members and management take a coolly analytical view of Pineda's flaws: His excitement is getting in the way of the pristine vocals the band (and its fans, presumably) has come to expect.

Sticking close to Pineda, Diaz hears heartbreaking stories of his broken family and deep poverty, including a period where he slept in a public park and literally sang for his supper. Had a fan not spent hours in an Internet cafe uploading grainy videos to YouTube, Pineda might still be belting out covers in the lounges of Manila, so he's understandably thunderstruck by the opportunity when Schon contacts him from out of the blue.

It's a dream come true — but it comes with a set of anxieties, too: Perry's shoes wouldn't be easy for any singer to fill, but for a poor young man from an underdeveloped country, the expectations of the band — and those of thousands of skeptical fans — are difficult to bear. Everyman's Journey glances at some of Pineda's problems on the tour, from a pesky cold to bouts of homesickness to the ugly specter of racist Journey fans, but it papers over them too quickly. Diaz insists on selling Pineda's promo-friendly myth at the expense of the richer, more complicated story of a dreamer who learns to become the durable professional his bandmates expect.

It's a cold-blooded business — and all sentiment aside, it's clear that Pineda is as replaceable as anyone.

This movie is no longer available.

Copyright © 2024 Apple Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Internet Service Terms Apple TV & Privacy Cookie Policy Support

• Movies & TV
• Featured Categories
• Documentary

Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime Try Prime and start saving today with fast, free delivery

Amazon Prime includes:

Fast, FREE Delivery is available to Prime members. To join, select "Try Amazon Prime and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery" below the Add to Cart button.

• Cardmembers earn 5% Back at Amazon.com with a Prime Credit Card.
• Unlimited Free Two-Day Delivery
• Streaming of thousands of movies and TV shows with limited ads on Prime Video.
• A Kindle book to borrow for free each month - with no due dates
• Listen to over 2 million songs and hundreds of playlists
• Unlimited photo storage with anywhere access

Important:  Your credit card will NOT be charged when you start your free trial or if you cancel during the trial period. If you're happy with Amazon Prime, do nothing. At the end of the free trial, your membership will automatically upgrade to a monthly membership.

Buy new: #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-whole { font-size: 28px !important; } #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-fraction, #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-symbol { top: -0.75em; font-size: 13px; } $39.99 $ 39 . 99 FREE delivery Monday, June 17 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: NYC Partners

Return this item for free.

Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges

• Go to your orders and start the return
• Select your preferred free shipping option
• Drop off and leave!

Save with Used - Good #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-whole { font-size: 28px !important; } #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-fraction, #buybox .a-accordion .a-accordion-active .a-price[data-a-size=l].reinventPriceAccordionT2 .a-price-symbol { top: -0.75em; font-size: 13px; } $35.22 $ 35 . 22 FREE delivery Monday, June 17 Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Flippin Fountain's

Image unavailable.

• Sorry, this item is not available in
• Image not available
• To view this video download Flash Player

Dont Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey

• Prime Video $3.79 — $9.59
• Blu-ray from $17.17

Purchase options and add-ons

Customers who bought this item also bought.

Product Description

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey follows the real life rock 'n' roll fairy tale of Filipino 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.

Even in the age of YouTube discoveries and American Idol -fueled fame, Pineda s tale stands out. --The Los Angeles Times Audience Award Winner --Palm Springs International Film Festival 2012 Official Selection --Tribeca Film Festival; San Francisco International Film Festival; Silverdocs; Palm Springs International Film Festival

Product details

• MPAA rating ‏ : ‎ NR (Not Rated)
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 0.7 x 7.5 x 5.4 inches; 2.72 ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ 26921374
• Director ‏ : ‎ Ramona S Diaz, Ramona S. Diaz
• Media Format ‏ : ‎ Multiple Formats, Color, NTSC, Widescreen
• Run time ‏ : ‎ 1 hour and 53 minutes
• Release date ‏ : ‎ August 20, 2013
• Actors ‏ : ‎ Emily Magee, Arnel Pineda, Neal Schon, Rene Pape, Patricia Risely
• Subtitles: ‏ : ‎ English
• Producers ‏ : ‎ Ramona S. Diaz, Capella Fahoome Brogden
• Studio ‏ : ‎ New Video Group
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00BT2E9IM
• Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1
• #2,495 in Documentary (Movies & TV)

Videos for this product

Click to play video

Don't Stop Believin: Everyman's Journey

Publisher Video

Customer reviews

Our goal is to make sure every review is trustworthy and useful. That's why we use both technology and human investigators to block fake reviews before customers ever see them.  Learn more

We block Amazon accounts that violate our community guidelines. We also block sellers who buy reviews and take legal actions against parties who provide these reviews.  Learn how to report

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

Top reviews from other countries

• Amazon Newsletter
• About Amazon
• Accessibility
• Sustainability
• Press Center
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell on Amazon
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Supply to Amazon
• Protect & Build Your Brand
• Become an Affiliate
• Become a Delivery Driver
• Start a Package Delivery Business
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Become an Amazon Hub Partner
• › See More Ways to Make Money
• Amazon Visa
• Amazon Store Card
• Amazon Secured Card
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Credit Card Marketplace
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Amazon Prime
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices
• Recalls and Product Safety Alerts
• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey

Don't stop believin': journey's neal schon on finding a fron.

Journey band member Neal Schon describes how he discovered their newest member, Arnel Pineda, on YouTube, in this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, Don't Stop Believin'.

Previews + Extras

Don't Stop Believin': How a Fan Video Led to a Real Life Roc

S14 E18 - 1m 57s

Arnel Pineda tells the story of how a fan's video shot in the Philippines led to his being invited to join the band Journey, , in this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, Don't Stop Believin'.

Don't Stop Believin': Journey's Arnel Pineda Recalls His Deb

S14 E18 - 2m 41s

Journey frontman, Arnel Pineda describes what his debut performance with the band was like. , in this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary, Don't Stop Believin'.

Don't Stop Believin' - Preview

S14 E18 - 30s

Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey follows the real life rock ‘n’ roll fairy tale of Filipino Arnel Pineda, who was plucked from YouTube to become the front man for iconic American rock band Journey.

Similar Shows

Shuttlesworth

Indie Films

Indie Alaska

Native Ball: Legacy of a Trailblazer

Out of Exile: The Photography of Fred Stein

PBS Short Film Festival

The Secret Song

Weta passport.

Stream tens of thousands of hours of your PBS and local favorites with WETA Passport whenever and wherever you want. Catch up on a single episode or binge-watch full seasons before they air on TV.

• Get WETA Passport

Get the Latest from WETA

Journey Recount Singer’s Wild Ride in ‘Don’t Stop Believin” Doc

By Steve Appleford

Steve Appleford

It’s never been easy to replace the singer of a hugely popular rock band. After Steve Perry left Journey in 1998, the platinum-selling Bay Area act moved on with a series of vocalists to varying degrees of success, but it wasn’t until guitarist Neal Schon landed at an obscure video on YouTube late one night that he knew he’d found his man — in Manila.

See Journey and 14 Other Bands That Hired New Lead Singers

The voice singing Journey hits in the lo-fi video belonged to Arnel Pineda, a Filipino singer who grew up in poverty and sang in local cover bands with no expectations of rock stardom. All Schon knew was that the guy sounded just like Perry, and he soon had Pineda on a plane to San Francisco to audition for the gig in late 2007. Months later, Pineda made his debut as the band’s new singer in front of 20,000 fans at the Viña del Mar International Song Festival in Chile. “He’s a clutch hitter, this kid,” guitarist Jonathan Cain tells Rolling Stone . “He comes through.”

The story of Pineda’s dramatic first year in the band is told in the documentary Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey , which is set to air September 30th on the PBS series Independent Lens . Directed by Ramona Diaz, the film won raves at festival screenings last year and will be released August 20th on DVD and Blu-ray.

Pineda’s first year was a grueling trial for the singer, whose dream gig came with the physical challenge of international touring and the expectations of Journey fans as he ran through an FM radio hit parade of “Faithfully,” “Any Way You Want It” and “Who’s Crying Now.” He faced moments of loneliness, stage-fright and genuine racism, but still remains with the band after six years, and will be back on the road when Journey tours next year with the Steve Miller Band and Tower of Power.

He has yet to meet Perry, but knows what he’d say if that encounter ever happened, and without a hint of sarcasm: “Can I have your autograph?”

Editor’s picks

Every awful thing trump has promised to do in a second term, the 250 greatest guitarists of all time, the 500 greatest albums of all time, the 50 worst decisions in movie history.

In Los Angeles, Pineda, Schon, Cain and bassist Ross Valory spoke with Rolling Stone about the documentary and Journey’s new era as a truly international rock act.

The lead singer position is historically a very hard spot to fill. Neal Schon: There were guys being pitched to us — people in L.A. and New York that have been doing the classic rock thing for a long time — and I really was not moved by it. I was looking for some serious talent, somebody that we could move forward with — and have serious pipes and go in new directions with us as well as cover our old stuff very well. When I found Arnel, I went, “That’s the guy.” I’d never heard any singer cover that broad of a spectrum. He’ll do Nat King Cole for you right now, and you’ll go no way. Sing for him, Arnel. . .

Arnel Pineda: [ Singing ] Unforgettable, that’s what you are . . .

It seems like a crazy idea to find your singer that way from across the world. Schon: I didn’t think it was that crazy. Everybody was concerned that he was in Manila and does he speak English? I’d go, “I just watched 40 videos and he’s singing all songs that are in English. If he doesn’t speak good English, he can always learn.”

Jonathan Cain: Ironically, the Internet proved to be a friend. When Arrival first came out [in 2001], Napster stole the album. We spent a ton of money flying to New York making this record only to have it up there for fans to get it for free, so I hated the Internet. Then it comes around to serve us well in the future. It’s quite a tool and for us it was a blessing.

What was it like for you to suddenly be immersed in Journey’s world? Pineda: It was my world being turned upside down — but in a good way, a fantastic way. I’m still in disbelief. I’m in front of thousands of people singing all these songs that I listened to when I was 18 years old. Now I’m with the big boys and it’s such a blessing. It’s one in a million.

Schon: He brings it. He sings his heart out every night, and it’s not an easy menu. Our songs are so difficult to sing. It’s going on six years now and we’ve toured a lot.

What was it like as a new performer to be faced with all the pressure that comes with playing to large audiences? Pineda: I had to give up a lot of foods that I’m accustomed to eating: dairy products, beer, wine, spicy food. And no talking. I like talking. It’s become a luxury to last even through a 10-minute talk with you. I have to go back to my room and my silence — until the next gig happens.

Steve Perry Signs to New Label, Contemplates Solo Tour: 'I Miss It Terribly'

Hear the journey tune steve perry rerecorded with steve lukather's son, journey's bassist ross valory opens up about the band's saga — and his adventurous solo album.

Was there another downside to having this all happen at once? Pineda: I get really homesick inside. I would miss my life with my wife.

Schon: In the very beginning, we threw him in the fire, no doubt about it. I remember we’re getting ready to go on in Viña del Mar and it’s sold out and it’s live to 25 million people all over South America. Arnel is like, two seconds before we go on: “Can I go home? I don’t want to go out.” It was fear and loathing to the max, but then he went out and he went for it and the audience went nuts.

How nervous were you? Pineda: I was terrified to death. It took years, but I survived it. I’m still here.

Other bands have tried to replace a popular singer with an unknown and failed. Cain: It is rare that the audience goes with you like that.

Schon: The good news is that when he came in, it was a breath of fresh air for all of us and every scenario that went with it. All of a sudden, instead of us being a band from the U.S.A., we became a worldwide band. We’re accepted worldwide everywhere we went with him in markets we were never accepted before. There’s always going to be the naysayers who cant live with anything but exactly what it was from the beginning. You can’t please everyone.

In the film, it shows that some of the early reactions were very negative, even racist. How did you deal with that? Pineda: I just didn’t bother to get intimidated with those words. I’m not trying to compete with Mr. Perry. I’m trying to help out here. I am so blessed to be in this position, to be the one to carry the legacy.

Cain: Back in ’98, when we started with Steve Augeri [as singer 1998-2006], I was worried about him getting shot. We took a lot of flack. We used to get hate mail. Somebody got my number and would call me: “You son of a bitch!” They were reading us the riot act because how dare us be Journey without Steve Perry?

Schon: It was vicious, man.

Pineda: This is the first time I’ve said this — my wife was so freaked out with all these racist comments that she told me to bring a bulletproof vest: “You might get shot there!”

Because of your history together, you must still have business with Steve Perry. Ross Valory: Steve has been really, really cooperative. He helped produce the greatest hits video. It’s unfortunate we don’t have a physical relationship with him.

Martha-Ann Alito Condemns Pride Flags, the Left, and the Media

Justice alito caught on tape discussing how battle for america ‘can’t be compromised’, young thug's lawyer taken into custody on contempt charge, jimmy buffett is gone, but the coral reefer band play on with new 'tribute' tour dates.

Schon: Working on it though. I have ultimate respect and love for the guy this many years later. I’m getting older, man, and you don’t want to hang onto all the stupid things that you do in your life. You start looking back and I’m cherishing all the good times that we had — and the first time I sat in a room with him and wrote “Patiently” in 10 minutes. The door’s always been open. Arnel’s even open. If he ever wanted to come onstage with us and do a song, we’d be like, “Come on!”

What was your reaction to the documentary? Pineda: I’m so happy that it’s out there. I think it’s going to give a tremendous amount of inspiration for all of these hopeless musicians out there — especially those we will never learn about how fantastic they are. Second, it’s like I’m not supposed to be there — I look at it and it’s an ill fit. But it’s how I look and how I was born, so I’m going to live with it. It’s my journey. I’m so grateful for what’s happened, and it’s still going strong.

Jelly Roll 'Couldn't Believe' Eminem Wanted to Perform With Him

• It's Real
• By Tomás Mier

Judge Spikes Settlement Claim in Battle Over Late Madonna Concerts

• "Harassment Campaign"
• By Nancy Dillon

Young Thug's Lawyer Taken Into Custody on Contempt Charge

• By Jon Blistein

Simon Cowell Doubts One Direction Will Reunite, Wishes He Could Still Profit Off Band's Name

• No 1D Anymore?

Across 'The Metroverse': Metro Boomin to Launch Comic Book Series

• Trust Metro
• By Mankaprr Conteh

Most Popular

Rob schneider booted mid-set from another stage after attendees walk out, daytime emmys 2024 full winners list: 'general hospital,' 'kelly clarkson show' win top awards, insiders claim prince harry is reportedly ‘pulling strings with his own contacts’ for meghan markle’s potential next era, kyrie irving's shoes draw stares from collectors and congress, you might also like, ‘arcane’ animation studio fortiche production preps sci-fi feature ‘penelope of sparta,’ inspired by greek mythology (exclusive), golden goose first trading day expected on june 21, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors, kelsey grammer, david oyelowo, and matt bomer celebrate the endless search for artistic authenticity at indiewire’s consider this event, adam silver considering task force to fix broken nba replay.

Rolling Stone is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2024 Rolling Stone, LLC. All rights reserved.

Verify it's you

Please log in.

• Jon Bon Jovi Can't Tour
• Bon Jovi Plays Surprise Show
• Bon Jovi Clarifies Girls Comment
• Why Reunions Haven't Happened
• Rock Pseudonyms
• Albums Without Their Title Songs

Journey Documentary Film Debuts First Trailer

Arnel Pinada isn't the first cover band singer who's been hired to replace the guy he sounds like -- in fact, as former Judas Priest frontman Ripper Owens would be quick to point out, his story isn't even the first to inspire a movie. However, as the first trailer for the upcoming Journey documentary takes pains to argue, Pineda's tale might be the most inspiring.

After setting the stage for original vocalist Steve Perry 's departure (without ever mentioning him by name), the trailer details the band's search for a replacement -- conveniently skipping over the tenures of Pineda's predecessors, Steve Augeri and Jeff Scott Soto, who kept the band touring and recording between 1998-2007. Those quibbles aside, the trailer for 'Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey' does make an undeniably compelling case for the journey of a Filipino vocalist who, in his own words, "was singing just to survive" until guitarist Neal Schon happened to see a YouTube video of his cover band in action.

"I looked and looked and looked, and I was ready to give up," Schon recalls in the trailer. "I just looked at one last link, and I pushed it, Arnel popped up, singing with his band ... This is too good to be true."

Of course, Pineda's background presented obstacles -- and not just because, as he quips at one point in the trailer, "I'm short...I'm so Asian," but because he was completely unfamiliar with an operation of Journey's size and scope.

"His voice is huge. But can he speak English?" keyboard player Jonathan Cain remembers asking. "How do you take someone from a third world country and throw them into this circus?"

Drummer Deen Castronovo had his own concerns -- as he put it, "What's he gonna look like on stage? He's never played big places." But if you've ever seen an episode of 'Behind the Music,' you know there's an inspirational final act in store, and the trailer hints at it with another quote from an enthusiastic Castronovo, who insists, "Arnel is like David Lee Roth and Bruce Lee put together" before letting out a mock scream.

"I'm speaking to those people who believe in me," Pineda explains at one point, and with a U.S. theatrical run reportedly around the corner, it looks like a safe bet he'll be speaking to more of them soon.

Watch the Trailer for 'Don't Stop Believin': Everyman's Journey'

More From Ultimate Classic Rock

Her husband died of ALS. Now, her story is featured in an Amazon Prime documentary.

EAST GREENWICH – A diagnosis of ALS is devastating, not only for the patient but for their loved ones.

It’s considered a death sentence in many respects, but a new documentary streaming on Amazon Prime instills hope that treatment could be around the bend.

“ For Love and Life: No Ordinary Campaign ” chronicles the revolutionary patient-and-caregiver led I AM ALS movement and the extraordinary strides it has made in ALS advocacy and care in less than a decade.

The film features Christa Thompson, an East Greenwich woman who lost her husband, assistant federal public defender Olin W. Thompson III , to the disease in 2022.

Thompson threw herself into I AM ALS advocacy following her husband’s diagnosis in December 2018, rising to become co-chair of legislative affairs as the group pushed – and succeeded – in getting changes to speed the path to a cure. 

“This is how I was able to move through the trauma of the disease – finding a community,” said Thompson, who is now district director in the office of U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I. 

An inspirational journey

The documentary captures the inspirational journey of Brian Wallach and his wife, Sandra Abrevaya, who met as staffers on the Obama for America campaign in New Hampshire in 2008 and embarked on a fairytale romance. 

In 2017, a doctor diagnosed Wallach with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease after the powerful New York Yankees slugger. The diagnosis came on the same day the couple was bringing their second daughter home from the hospital.

Wallach, a lawyer who worked as White House counsel under President Obama and a federal prosecutor, was 37. He was given six months to live.

Wallach and Abrevaya in 2019 launched I AM ALS, a patient-centric cause intended to bring attention to the disease. Patients and caregivers, including Thompson, would lead the fight to bring about change, taking their message straight to Washington, D.C.

“It allowed people to look at ALS in a way they didn’t before. It’s easy not to look at people with ALS,” Thompson said. “If there’s a disease that would make you want to hide in your house, ALS is one of them.”

The group networked, urging friends, family, neighbors to contact their congressional leaders to advocate for increased research, treatment advances and more.

“This is something people could do,” said Thompson, who has three sons. 

D.C. savvy and grassroots power

They enlisted the likes of Dan Tate, an ALS patient and founding partner of the D.C. lobbying firm Forbes Tate Partners . I AM ALS evolved into an organization with D.C. savvy and a vast grassroots community, all aiming to remove the barriers to ALS treatment and care.

“If you don’t keep people alive long enough, you’ll never be able to advance the science,” Thompson said.

The group’s accomplishments include the passage of legislation, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., that exempted ALS patients from the five-month waiting period to receive Social Security Disability benefits. 

In 2021, President Biden signed into law Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act ( ACT for ALS ) to support advances in ALS treatment.

Since the inception of I AM ALS, federal funding for ALS research has increased by $1 billion. Last year alone, the organization procured $321 million in federal appropriations for the disease. It has established caucuses in the U.S. House and Senate. The organization’s membership has grown to more than 40,000 advocates.

Legislation that usually would take years to pass was enacted in a year with overwhelmingly bipartisan support, thanks to the group’s advocacy. The hope is that research will benefit other people suffering from other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.

“We put this remarkable thing together,” Thompson said. “It worked because it was very authentically done. He let the patients drive it.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 12,000 to 15,000 people in the United States have ALS. Another 5,000 people each year learn of their ALS diagnosis. Most people live three to five years after the onset of symptoms.

'It's so uplifting'

Though the documentary is about a grim disease that robs people of their ability to move, the message is decidedly uplifting. It documents a movement driven by the patients themselves and their incredible accomplishments in such a short period of time, in addition to a beautiful story of a couple’s love and dedication.

Directed by Christopher Burke, the film also features cameos of Obama, former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, and Thompson. Former "Today" show host Katie Couric is an executive producer.

“It’s so uplifting. It’s so inspiring,” Couric said on a "Today" show segment about the documentary .

“I hope people watch the documentary, because I do think it’s important to understand rare diseases are not rare,” Thompson said.

• Share full article

Talking About Periods Is Taboo. So We Talked About Them.

Supported by

By Lina Lyte Plioplyte

Ms. Plioplyte is a documentary filmmaker and film educator. This short film is based on her feature documentary “Periodical.”

The Opinion video above dives headfirst into a topic that remains stubbornly taboo: menstruation.

In a lively 3 minutes 33 seconds, 10 people describe their feelings about their own periods, from love and pride to discomfort and hate. The wide-ranging chorus is testament to how every woman has a different way of experiencing and relating to her own menstrual cycle.

“It’s just not talked about enough,” one participant declares, an admonishment that stands as the film’s call to action.

Tell us about your journey to motherhood

Times Opinion is working on a project about how women pursue motherhood amid personal, professional, biological and financial pressures. A reporter or editor may contact you for more details. We will not share your personal information or comments without your consent.

Lina Lyte Plioplyte is a documentary filmmaker and film educator. This short film is based on her feature documentary “Periodical.” Images courtesy of MSNBC Films and XTR.

Opinion Video combines original reporting with creative storytelling to produce visually transformative commentary. Pitch a video Guest Essay here.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Advertisement

• Cast & crew

Something to Stand for with Mike Rowe

Join America's favorite storyteller on an epic journey to the heart of Washington DC. This cinematic tour de force will take viewers to the frontlines of the American Revolution, World War I... Read all Join America's favorite storyteller on an epic journey to the heart of Washington DC. This cinematic tour de force will take viewers to the frontlines of the American Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and more. Join America's favorite storyteller on an epic journey to the heart of Washington DC. This cinematic tour de force will take viewers to the frontlines of the American Revolution, World War II, the Civil Rights movement, and more.

• Jonathan Coussens
• Barbie Bailey
• Barry Wayne Barnhart

• Dr. William Beanes

• Francis Scott Key

• Newspaper Editor
• Daniel Wells

• Nichelle Nichols

• Mary Shields

• Billy Beanes

• Tripoli Marine

• Abraham Lincoln

• Levi Lincoln

• James Shields

• (as Brian Grace)
• Recruiting Officer

• Unknown Soldier
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

• June 27, 2024 (United States)
• Impact Productions
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 36 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.