An Interview with Adam Lopez & Carmen Morales from ‘Nochebuena’

We meant when we said that the aspireTV feature, Nochebuena, was ‘one of the most refreshing holiday films in years.’ Simply because it offered us so much and accomplished so much from a storytelling standpoint, and that is why we sat down with the film’s director, Adam Lopez, and one of its stars, Carmen Morales, who plays Mel… to further deconstruct this special film.
 
John Betancourt: I Would like to start by getting to know what inspired each of you want to be involved with this project.
 
Adam Lopez: First of all, Glenaliz Quezada wrote the script, and I was showing my last project short Adam at a film festival. She said, “Hey, I wrote this Christmas movie. Will you take a look at it.” And when I read it, I was like, “Oh my gosh. I like, I lived this as a kid, like, I remember the parrandas when I was a kid” and, there was, like, little things that she littered throughout the script that I thought, “Oh, this, this feels like home.” And so, it really resonated with me. And then when she asked me to direct it, I was, I was just completely honored and excited to jump on board.
 
Carmen Morales: Oh, I Well, honestly, it was a story that I had never heard put out there, and you don't often get an opportunity to read a script that hasn't been done yet. I'm sure you know that John… it seems like everything has already been done. So, this was a story that I was like, not only was it new, but not new, but it was like something that I hadn't seen, but it also had a lot of life in it, and there was a lot of heart in it. And that was something that was like, it's, those are the things you really want from a Christmas movie and for a holiday film. And that was the whole thing, is, we've seen so many holiday films done ad nauseam that are the same three beats, the same things over and over and over again, the same thematically. I mean, I'm certain, you know, you know which ones I'm talking about. Don't make me say it. (Laughter) Um, so this wasn't like that. You know, this is a story that was told, and it also had, it also had Afro Latinos and Latinos in general, acting like real people and not like caricatures of themselves, and all of those things put together. I was just like, yes. How could I say no to something like this? This is… I want to be a part of this story.
 
John Betancourt: Now you both bring up great points about the realism present here, and there are moments in this movie I relate to as well. So, I want to talk about that in detail, and Adam, to start with, what went into the decision to make this story so authentic and so realistic?
 
Adam Lopez: I think my background in acting really helped me. I mean, I get incredibly frustrated when I watch… and I'm not trying to be a hater. But like, you know, you see people put on the Hispanic accent, and, my big note was, as I was communicating with the actors, is like, listen, just, let's not do that. Like, that's not what it is. It's not my reality, it's not how I sound, you know. And so that was definitely an active choice in the casting process and on set, you know, try to be as collaborative. Carmen brought so much colors to what she was doing on set. I also, you know, it's like, I got the take we did. We did the take where it was scripted, and then it was like, alright, Carmen, do your thing. And, you know, having Carmen, who's got so much experience on stage doing stand up, you know, it was a lot of fun just to sit back and watch her play, you know, and just take it off the script and add, you know, all these cool buttons that, you know, made it into the film, and, you know, punched it up, really, and gave it a lot of life. So, you know, I just, I kind of on set, you know, you try to be, you know, as collaborative as possible, you know, while going like, “Hey, this is the goal. We're trying to get this. These are the beats we're trying to hit.” And I just didn't want it to be stereotypical.
 
John Betancourt: That leads me right to my next question to Carmen, because now that I know that there was some improv in there, some of which explains a lot of the great jokes in the film. I mean, the beauty of it too, is, again, your acting work on this is phenomenal. Mel, feels like several people that I've known throughout my life. And I'm just curious how you as an actor, made Mel just so realistic.
 
Carmen Morales: Well, that was because… even in stand up, I oftentimes like, I never get compared to another comedian. I've never been compared to another comedian. I'm always hearing like, “You remind me of my cousin, you remind me of my sister, you remind of my best friend, you remind me of….” It's always somebody in their family. And I was like, “Why don't I take all of that information and bring that into this person?” Because you do want to see that. And especially in a holiday film, those people are always around. So, I wanted to make sure to showcase having that person there and what, what kind of brightness it does bring, and how it activates all of the other characters too. Um, because you saw me and Rose's (Bianco_ dynamic, I absolutely loved in the film, where we could go back and forth, because we were kind of, like giving that same married couple energy of like bickering and stuff like that. And then she was, she loves me, but I get on her nerves.
 
And that's also something that your cousin or your best friend or your sister would be doing, you know. So, I wanted to try to, I wanted to try to bring all of those in, like pulling from my own life and pulling from friends that I've had and from my own nochebuenas, characters in my past that I was like, “Oh, I would, I would love to have some of that life in this character.” So I was, it was a big deal for me to make sure that she was real and that she wasn't, because especially whenever you're doing anything comedically, there's a line between character and character, and I didn't want it to be, you know, I'm not trying to do a slapstick -- this isn't a slapstick. But I did want her to be funny, because a lot of those friends and cousins and sisters are inherently funny without trying to be. And that was what I was trying to encapsulate.
 
John Betancourt: I think another piece that I appreciate about this, in addition to the realism in the authenticity, is just that it's such a moving and beautiful piece of work. I think what I really appreciate is the fact that you have so many layers to this story, which is also kind of rare for holiday film that's usually kind of A to B, you know, and love trumps all. But there's so much more depth here about grief than loss and wonderful things that you don't hear people talk about enough. And I'm just kind of curious. Let me start with Adam again. What you hope the audience takes away from a messaging standpoint.
 
Adam Lopez: Man, that's a really good question. My goal for this film was for the movie as a whole, to transcend it being an Afro Latino film, you know. And we got lucky with aspireTV, and it's like the proof is in the pudding that it lands at a place like aspire where obviously it's working, it speaks to everyone and for me, that was just my that was my goal. And, you know, accompanying the images with a pretty traditional American composition, you know, having, this Latino story backed by, you know, this big sound. And so, when people watch it, I just hope they, they feel like they’re home. You know, they feel, they have all those emotions that come up throughout the holidays. You know, sometimes holidays are sad. You know, it can be a nostalgic time for a lot of people, and it can make them go back to people that are no longer in their lives. And, you know, the big, the core of the thing is that something bigger is at play. And you know that thing, you know, what's meant for you will always be for you. I mean, that is, that's the root of the story. And, you know, hopefully people watching, they'll have a little bit more faith in what's meant to happen for them.
 
Carmen Morales:  I also, I mean to jump off of that. I also feel like a lot of times, especially holiday films, it's usually the same three beats and the love conquers all and stuff like that, and it doesn't really address any of the other feelings. It kind of just brushes over it and ignores everything else. It's kind of like how when everybody is celebrating Mother's Day or Father's Day, it's completely neglecting people who don't have those people in their lives. And this is addressing those things as well. It's like a head nod to all of the things that holidays bring up, the frustrations of dealing with your you know, the loudmouth character, the frustrations of my significant other isn't going to be here, like this should matter, and all of that, and in the significance of dealing with those feelings of loss, and how you go through the holiday with and without these people, all of those things I thought were all kind of beautifully meshed together in this script. And I'm just, I'm happy that we were able to convey that message, you know, I because I thought that was really important.
 
And, and doing it all in 90 minutes, you know what I mean, doing it, getting it done, and have it still b real. You know? That was really. It. And everybody on set really tried their best to do it. And I think, and I think everybody succeeded, because that was the other thing too, is it was important on set and offset. And I you could tell in post too that this isn't just a Latin film, man. This is… like my I have friends from Sri Lanka that connected with it, and it reminds them of her grandmother and there's characters in this that remind me, you know, my friends from all over the world, they're connecting with it. So, it's not just, it is a holiday film. It is not a specific genre of holiday film.
 
John Betancourt: Carmen, you bring up exactly what I want to talk about next. What does it mean for each of you to be part of a movie that really is kind of a revolutionary holiday film, because we don't see these types of stories very often for it?
 
Adam Lopez: Oh, thank you. That's a really nice compliment. You know, I've I kind of always secretly wanted to check this genre off my personal life goals of stories that I want to tell. So, for it to be a film about, you know, the Puerto Rican culture as a backdrop, it's just, it's really cool for me, like, I'm, like, over the moon. Pun intended, you know, but, like, it's really, really exciting for me to be a part of it, and I'm really, really proud of this film, and to have worked with so many of my friends, you know, that I went to high school with Carmen. She was in the first play that I ever did, when I read it, and I'm like, “Oh, this is, you know, I see Carmen,” you know, and I just saw her, you know. And I was like, I know who, exactly who Mel is. And I mean, there's something really like, I said, there's something bigger at play with this movie. I feel like… It was like, all the things that have happened to me in my personal life have led me to, you know, the opportunity to make this kind of movie. And it's just, I'm just really proud of it, and I'm really happy with it. Found such a good home at aspire. They're treating it like their own movie, and they've given it so much love and attention. And, you know, as an independent filmmaker, I couldn't ask for more.
 
Carmen Morales: I um, I think that I'd be… sorry. I was just, I'm… I'm just flattered. I guess that you called it a revolutionary film, that I was just like, “My god. I guess it kind of is,” I didn't even think about it like that. But, um, it's also, yeah, I hope people can connect with it emotionally, because I think that is what is lacking in a lot of other holiday films, and it's also a film that your husband or boyfriend isn't forced to watch like, you know what I'm saying, like everyone can watch it together, and there’s not someone that's eye rolling. Because that was the whole thing, is that I think the realism in it is what made it a better film than your average holiday film. And with that, then it's easier for human beings to connect with, not just, you know, sad white ladies. (Laughter from everyone.)
 
I mean, they could still get into it too, but it's just, you know, it's not the same story, and it's a story that, because I feel like a lot of other people during the holidays, get neglected as far as being represented in a holiday film. So, this is, it's nice that it's, I mean, based on, like, how you received it, it. It makes me feel good that people are receiving it correctly, you know. And I hope people continue to do that, this is a film that's got some unity in it, and that's really beautiful. That's really the point of the holidays.
 
John Betancourt: The last question that I have for you two today, relates to the fact that there's not enough Latin representation on television. I'm Mexican American, and there's only so many shows that I watch that that feature Latinos. And that's, that's, that's of concern.
 
Carmen Morales: And then if we are represented, it's always in a in a goofy way. It's gotta be the sultry Latina or you it's somebody working a taco truck, or it's somebody it's like, they’re caricatures, and this is a real story about real people.
 
John Betancourt: Yes! That’s a perfect way to sum up the problem! So, the last question I have for you two today is what it means to each of you to be offering up such an important story when it comes to representation?
 
Carmen Morales: I mean, I think it's incredible. Incredible, to be part of that, because it's something that I've been screaming from the rooftops, even in in this stand-up space, because that's where I thrive the most, as a comedian. So, I've been talking about this for years, so it's nice to be able to see it in the in the film space, to see it come to fruition in any kind of way, especially in a way that's done authentically. So, I think it's super important. And I hope that's their takeaway from it.
 
Adam Lopez: Representation matters. I've, you know, I lived in Los Angeles for 11 years. And, you know, I did, I did… I played a gang member, you know, I played the guy handing out the pizza behind the counter. And, you know, I just had, I just said, you know, enough's, enough. I'm going to champion and make my own movies, you know. And so, anybody watching this that has an idea, you know, tell your stories because it matters. And, you know, you can't sit around, sit around and wait for somebody to give you permission. So, I hope it inspires, you know, other filmmakers to tell their stories is, you know, especially, especially Latinos.
 
This interview has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.