Demi Lovato: Stay Strong

Demi Lovato: Stay Strong

Promotional poster
Genre Documentary
Directed by Davi Russo[1]
Starring Demi Lovato
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
Production
Producer(s)
Running time 42 minutes
Release
Original network MTV
Original release
  • March 6, 2012 (2012-03-06)
External links
Website

Demi Lovato: Stay Strong is a 2012 documentary film about American singer Demi Lovato which follows her recovery after leaving rehab and her return to the music industry after abrubtly cancelling her tour with the Jonas Brothers, putting her career on a hiatus in order to seek treatment. It premiered on March 6, 2012, on MTV.[1] The documentary depicts her reflecting on her road to recovery, addressing several of her emotional and physical issues, celebrating Thanksgiving with her family in 2011 and returning for the very first time to the treatment facility she retreated to back in 2010.[3] Demi Lovato: Stay Strong received generally positive reviews from mainstream critics, who acclaimed Lovato's strength and honesty in addition to the explicit rawness of the film.[4][5][6]

Background and production

Lovato performing during the Jonas Brothers Live in Concert World Tour in September 2010, about one month before the singer abrubtly withdrew from the tour.

Lovato had suffered from depression, an eating disorder, self-harm and being bullied before she went into rehab at the age of 18.[7][8] On October 30, 2010, she left the Jonas Brothers Live in Concert World Tour, entering a treatment facility for "physical and emotional issues" in November 2010.[9] She decided to enter treatment after punching female dancer Alex Welch; her management and family confronted her in a formal intervention after this incident to convince her she needed help. Lovato agreed to seek help and took "full responsibility" for the incident.[7]

On January 28, 2011, Lovato completed inpatient treatment at Timberline Knolls and returned home. She acknowledged that she had had bulimia, had harmed herself, and had been "self-medicating" with drugs and alcohol "like a lot of teens do to numb their pain".[10] In addition, Lovato said that she "basically had a nervous breakdown" and was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during her treatment.[11] Lovato later added that she had used cocaine several times a day and smuggled cocaine onto airplanes.[12] After finishing her treatment, Lovato returned to work on her third album in February 2011.[13] In April 2011, Lovato announced she was leaving Sonny with a Chance, where she portrayed the main character Sonny Munroe, because she wanted to focus on her music career rather than acting.[14]

Lovato's third album, Unbroken, was released on September 20, 2011 and was met with mixed to positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 and was eventually certified Gold.[15] The R&B-infused album was preceded by Lovato's critically acclaimed top ten single "Skyscraper" and spawned the triple-platinum certified hit single "Give Your Heart a Break". On February 21, 2012, Lovato announced on Twitter that a television special she had worked on with MTV would premiere on March 6, 2012, while she also revealed its title #StayStrong and the promotional poster for the documentary, showing Lovato's "Stay Strong" wrist tattoos as well as her scars.[16] An official trailer was released by MTV on the same day.[17]

Synopsis

"I don't think I'm fixed. People think that you're like a car in a body shop. You go in, they fix you, and you're out. It takes constant fixing."

— Lovato describing her path to recovery.[18]

Demi Lovato: Stay Strong commences with fans shouting Lovato's first name, while waiting for her to arrive at the Fox Theatre in Detroit where she is about to perform on November 16, 2011.[3] The tour date marks the opening night of the Unbroken Tour and her first tour date since the sold-out An Evening with Demi Lovato two-date promotional tour that took place in September 2011.[19] Lovato starts reflecting on the rough road that led her to self-harm and addiction, while scenes of Lovato getting ready for her performance in the dressing room are interwoven featuring a short cameo appearance from her manager Phil McIntyre.[3] She says she "had so many issues underneath that needed to be taken care off" and that "it literally ended up driving [her] insane". Shortly after, Lovato's home in Los Angeles is shown where she is seen hugging her mother Dianna Lee Hart, whereas Lovato's half-sister Madison De La Garza is also featured.[3]

As soon as Lovato's makeup and hair is done, she is ready to go on stage and a huge audience is seen cheering for her.[3] Lovato confesses, "I cannot tell you that I have not thrown up since treatment. I cannot tell you I’ve not cut myself since treatment. I’m not perfect. This is a daily battle that I will face for the rest of my life."[20] She's then seen performing the track "All Night Long". Lovato reveals that her new, bigger purpose in life is to "inspire people," and "get people through their days and their problems".[20] Some interviewed fans express what they think about Lovato's recovery and how she is an inspiration to them, while praising her strength.[20]

Lovato performing in the dress she wore when she let the "special" fan on stage, December 2011.

The cameras follow her home where she spends her first Thanksgiving out of treatment and Lovato explains how her eating disorder had developed. "This year I am definitely not taking any holiday for granted," she says about spending Thanksgiving with her family.[21] After Thanksgiving, Lovato keeps thinking about what she ate on the holiday, cries about it and feels uncomfortable before going on stage.[22] She feels sick, but still decides to perform. A small part of her performance of the song "Fix a Heart" is shown, as well as Lovato taking pictures with fans at her meet-and-greet.[22]

One of her fans, a cancer survivor, tells Lovato inspired her to go to the meet-and-greet without her wig.[5][22] Sitting in front of the piano on stage, Lovato expresses how thankful she is to be there, "because not long ago I was in a treatment facility" and she "was so scared and was so alone but I had you guys [the fans] by my side". She mentions the "beautiful, beautiful girl that I met", tells the audience why the girl went to the concert without her wig and states, "That's why I continue to do this [performing] every single day of my life no matter how hard it gets."[22] The singer adds, "It's the people sitting in this audience and the strength that you guys possess, so just keep inspiring people 'cause you're inspiring me to stay so strong til this day. So, thank you." and starts singing her song "Together" while letting the "special" girl join her on stage to perform a duet.[22]

The singer revisits Timberline Knolls, the treatment facility in Lemont, Illinois she entered back in 2010, for the very first time since she was released in mid-January 2011.[23] Lovato recalls on her way to Timberline Knolls, "The first time that I walked into Timberline Knolls, I sat there to eat my first meal, and it was chicken, rice, vegetables and milk, and I took like two or three bites of the chicken and was like 'OK, I'm done'." adding, "That’s when I realized maybe I do belong here because I can’t finish a meal."[23] She confesses about the room she stayed in during her treatment, "I got so completely vulnerable and so raw, when I even step into this room I feel naked." Showing her wrist tattoos, she reveals how meaningful they are to her and she didn't get them just to cover up the scars she had, but also because her fans kept encouraging her to stay strong while in rehab.[23]

"I wish that every single person here could just live in freedom," Lovato tells the patients at Timberline Knolls while delivering a speech.[24] It was at Timberline Knolls where she was first diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[11] She admits that she didn't realise that she was ill before her treatment and used to assume that "writing seven songs in one night was normal". Bringing her guitarist and friend Mike Manning with her, Lovato gives an intimate acoustic performance of her empowering hit song "Skyscraper" after her speech and gets emotional, saying "Utilize your time here, 'cause this place will change your life, 'cause it changed mine."[24]

Lovato opens up about how she realized that she could use what she was for in the treatment center "for the better".[24] Instead of keeping her struggles and demons to herself, she decided to share her story with the world "because some people need to hear it". She wanted to inspire others with her story and prove that no matter what people are going through at the moment, they will get through it. The acoustic "Skyscraper" rendition at Timberline Knolls flows into a piano-driven performance of the song at a concert venue and Lovato is seen going into the crowd.[24] The singer and her crew dance to "B.M.F." by Rick Ross in her tour bus after the concert while she acknowledges that "recovery doesn't have a day off".[2]

Promotion

Lovato smiling while performing on Good Morning America in July 2012 as part of their Summer Concert Series.

On the morning of March 6, 2012, Lovato made an appearance on The Today Show to promote the documentary which would premiere on MTV that night. She performed her single "Give Your Heart a Break".[25] "I've decided to tell my story because there are a lot of young teens, girls and boys, that are dealing with the same issues that I've been through. If I'm able to use my voice to do good in the world then I definitely want to do that," she told Today anchor Ann Curry.[26]

After the documentary film was premiered, Lovato immediately appeared on Demi Lovato: Stay Strong — The After Show in order to react to her documentary and do a special question-and-answer session. The show, hosted by MTV's SuChin Pak, was broadcast live from the MTV Studios in Times Square.[27] Fans could participate in the conversation on Twitter by tweeting the hashtag #StayStrong and ask Lovato questions by using the hashtag #AskDemi. "It feels really awesome. Doing the documentary was so interesting," she shared when talking about how she felt after releasing the documentary.[27] She added, "I felt really vulnerable, and I still kind of do tonight. I wouldn’t change it. I'm doing awesome right now. I'm living a really healthy lifestyle. It's not easy. I struggle. But each day gets easier." Lovato announced during the post-show that she would have an upcoming appearance in Punk'd.[27]

The after show also featured some unaired extra footage.[28] In the extra footage the singer explains every story behind her tattoos, including the reason why she got the signature heart from the Here We Go Again cover art tattooed on her wrist. She states that she sees it as a unique connection with her fans who "would draw it on their wrists every day" until she left treatment.[29] Several fans featured in cameos raise their voices praising Lovato for being an anti-bullying advocate. Lovato says that people can make a difference by speaking up when they experience or witness (cyber)bullying and admits that she suffers from cyberbullying, but expresses that she really doesn't care about what haters think about her.[30]

Reception

The documentary was met with generally positive reviews.[4][5][6] Writing for Hollywood Life, Jennifer Velez described the documentary as "so inspiring" and referred to Lovato as "a great role model". She praised the singer for making "it clear to viewers that recovery is a lifelong struggle".[4] Joshua Lyon of The Huffington Post did not expect much from the documentary at first, but admitted in a favorable review that he was happy to be proven wrong since "the show is shockingly raw" much to his surprise.[5] According to Lyon, the "moment that hit hardest" is when Lovato confesses she cannot claim she did not throw up or self-harm after rehab.[5]

The television special also garnered critical acclaim from Lovato's friend Perez Hilton who said that the documentary "is definitely worth a watch".[6] Hilton called the documentary "powerful, touching, and truly an inspiration". Furthermore, he opined how proud he was of Lovato and stated, "For such a young woman, we really cannot commend her enough for being so candid."[6] One of the celebrities who voiced their support of Stay Strong was One Direction band member Niall Horan who applauded Lovato's "amazing story" on Twitter.[31]

References

  1. 1 2 Gael Fashingbauer Cooper (March 6, 2012). "Demi Lovato to participate in live Q&A Tuesday on MTV". Today. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  2. 1 2 "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - Celebrating The Road To Recovery". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - How Things Got Out Of Control". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 Velez, Jennifer (March 7, 2012). "Demi Lovato Reveals In 'Stay Strong' Special: I Thought I Was Fat At Four Years Old". Hollywood Life. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Lyon, Joshua (June 3, 2015). "Demi Lovato's Long Road to Recovery". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Hilton, Perez (March 7, 2012). "Did You Miss Demi Lovato's Documentary Stay Strong Last Night? Don't Worry, You Can Watch It In Full HERE!". PerezHilton.com. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Johnston, Janice (April 19, 2011). "Demi Lovato Interview: Teen Star Opens Up on Bulimia, Cutting Issues". ABC News. American Broadcasting Company. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  8. ↑ "Demi Lovato Still Has "Nightmares" About the Childhood Bullying She Endured". E! Online. June 28, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  9. ↑ Finn, Natalie (November 1, 2010). "Demi Lovato Enters Treatment Center for 'Issues'". E!. NBCUniversal. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Demi Lovato Exclusive Interview". Seventeen (Hearst Corporation). Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  11. 1 2 "Disney Star Demi Lovato: I'm Bipolar". Fox News Channel. 21st Century Fox. April 20, 2011. Retrieved March 14, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Demi Lovato Admits: I Would ‘Smuggle’ Cocaine On Airplanes (Exclusive)". Access Hollywood. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (January 28, 2011). "Demi Lovato Leaves Treatment". MTV. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  14. ↑ Cotliar, Sharon (April 19, 2011). "Demi Lovato Is Leaving Sonny with a Chance". People. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  15. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (September 28, 2011). "Tony Bennett, 85, Achieves First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 20, 2013.
  16. ↑ Anitai, Tamar (February 21, 2012). "Demi Lovato Tweets About New Special, ‘Stay Strong,’ Airing March 6 On MTV". MTV News. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' Trailer". MTV. February 21, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn (March 7, 2012). "‘Demi Lovato: Stay Strong': ‘Why Not Air All My Secrets?’". MTV News. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  19. ↑ Schillaci, Sophie (August 28, 2011). "Demi Lovato NY, LA Shows Sell Out in Minutes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - Finding 'A Bigger Purpose'". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
  21. ↑ "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - First Thanksgiving Out Of Treatment". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - One 'Beautiful' Fan". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  23. 1 2 3 Vena, Jocelyn (March 5, 2012). "Demi Lovato Recalls Entering Rehab In ‘Stay Strong’". MTV News. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 4 "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - Demi Performs 'Skyscraper'". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  25. ↑ Bain, Becky (March 6, 2012). "Demi Lovato Performs On ‘The Today Show’". Idolator. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  26. ↑ "Demi Lovato Previews New Eating Disorder Documentary On 'Today' Show (VIDEO)". The Huffington Post. March 6, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 Vena, Jocelyn (March 7, 2012). "Demi Lovato ‘Stay Strong': Inside ‘The After Show’". MTV News. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  28. ↑ Wilson, Gaby (March 7, 2012). "Demi Lovato Talks Tattoos In ‘Stay Strong’ Bonus Clip". MTV News. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  29. ↑ "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - Tattoos". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  30. ↑ "'Demi Lovato: Stay Strong' - Cyber Bullying". MTV. March 7, 2012. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  31. ↑ Niall Horan (March 7, 2012). "just watched #staystrong @ddlovato ,amazing story!". Twitter. Archived from the original on January 20, 2016. Retrieved January 20, 2016.

External links

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