The holiday season is here, which means love is also in the air!

As aspireTV prepares to countdown the days to Christmas, viewers are in for a treat with the premiere of Nochebuena, a title that is much more than a holiday film, but rather a celebration of culture centered around themes like family, love, togetherness, and most importantly, holiday joy. 

 

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“While holiday films often center around universal themes like family, love, and togetherness, these themes can vary widely across cultures,” said Tina Rodriguez, Senior Director of Content Strategy and Acquisition at UP Entertainment, in a previous interview. “By showcasing an Afro-Latinx perspective, Nochebuena expands the range of what holiday joy looks like and creates space for viewers who may not always see themselves reflected in seasonal programming. It’s about making sure that everyone’s holiday experience is celebrated and that our audience sees the full breadth of who we are as a multicultural world. Representation Matters.”

aspireTV also had the opportunity to chat with the film leads Rene Rosado who portrays the character Junior, Carmen Morales who stars as Mel, and Tanairi Sade Vazquez, who breathes life into the character Jennifer, about their respective characters, the importance of representation on the television screen, and more.

Tell us about Mel! How would you describe her personality, and what makes her such a fun character to play?

Morales: “Mel brings joy and a little chaos to the story. Not taking things too seriously is her bag and she clutches that bag tight. She’s not afraid to be silly or playfully, stir the pot a little. It’s one of the things I loved most about her. The whole film is so heartfelt and full of emotions that it was almost as if Mel was the ice breaker; the tension relief, if you will, in moments that were all too intense. To be completely honest, as a comedian the humor is easier to come by than the heartfelt moments. It’s a natural defense mechanism for a lot of us haha. Vulnerability is always harder for me as an actor; it’s the opposite of how I personally would react. So, regardless of how uncomfortable it made me, I loved that I could explore that more and give Mel more depth than just the comic relief.”

Could you tell us a little more about Junior’s character in Nochebuena? 

Rosado: “Junior is a good soul, who experienced the devastating loss of his mother at a tender age. This tragedy forced him to move away from his hometown, seeking to escape the weight of his grief, while striving to carve out a successful life for himself. However, in his pursuit of ambition, Junior never confronted the emotional scars left by his mother’s death, leading him to disconnect from his friends and family back home. Especially his childhood crush.”

What was it like stepping into the role of Jennifer in Nochebuena? How did you connect with her character and story?

Vazquez: “I fell in love with Jennifer the moment I finished reading the script for the 1st time. She reminded me a lot of myself actually. Jennifer is a hopeless romantic which I’ve always been and big on family and those she keeps close in her life, like Junior and Melissa in the film. I am very much the same and love the people I have in my life. I grew up with a very similar best friend like Melissa and their relationship in Nochebuena brought me back to my personal memories. Nochebuena has always been my personal favorite Puerto Rican holiday filled with food, music, dancing and traditions with family and friends, just like Jennifer. I am very proud to be Boricua, and it was just easy to tap into the culture because those are my actual roots.”

Fans will be excited to hear that your on-screen romance with Rene Rosado blossomed into real life! Could you share how you two connected and what drew you together during filming?

Vazquez: “I learned so much from working with Rene Rosado. It was my first time being a leading lady in a feature film and I honestly was very scared to dive into such a big role. Rene was so patient and grounding in his energy on and off set that he made me feel comfortable and seen when we worked together. He is one of the most beautiful and passionate souls I’ve ever met, and I am so grateful that we shared this moment together. We will have Nochebuena the film to always look back on.”  

 

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Nochebuena is filled with warmth and tradition, and Mel’s humor adds a fresh spark. How did you approach bringing out the comedy in a story that also carries emotional depth?

Morales: “For me, it comes down to representing the authenticity of our Latinx culture. We are, as a people, full of warmth, tradition and humor. So, I drew from my own family, my own Nochebuenas if you will. Emotions, especially heavy ones like loss and true love and regret, can carry such weight. I think levity oftentimes is what makes these kinds of feelings more palatable and easier to digest. Oh yeah, charm helps too.”

How does it feel to bring an Afro-Latinx story like Nochebuena to a wider audience on a major platform like aspireTV?

Rosado: “Culture and Tradition brings Unity. The Celebration of Noche Buena, in its purest form, is a celebration that shares love and compassion, with friends, family and the community. Having Noche Buena reach a wider audience through Aspire TV, means that we can share our story of love and compassion with the world in a time where the world needs it the most.”

Morales: “I am truly grateful to be able to be part of this culturally rich and diverse film. It’s so important that a project like this, which portrays Afro-Latinx as grounded, emotionally rich characters instead of just stereotypical caricatures, gets elevated. I think it’s extraordinary that a major platform like aspireTV has the willingness to showcase that.” 

Vazquez: “I believe all stories and representation on the screen are important. When I saw Rita Moreno in West Side Story, I felt seen and represented which inspired me to be where I am in my career today. I want to be that representation for this new generation of Latinas and also not just share our stories to our community but to educate other communities of the beauty, history and joy we have in our rich Puerto Rican Culture.”

With Nochebuena opening doors for more Afro-Latinx stories, are there any other kinds of stories or roles you’d love to bring to life that showcase this intersection of cultures?

Rosado: “Latinos have been around since the beginning of time. I think as important as it is to show our culture in films, it’s just as important for us to see ourselves in every and any character. We can be anything, because we have been everything.”

Vazquez: “I really hope our story impacts the industry in a way of taking a chance on stories like ours, that aren’t seen as much on screen, like others. And to give more opportunities to Latinx talent because we have so much to give, say and share. I also hope this film inspires up and coming Latinx writers, producers, directors to take a leap and create their own stories with their voice. Your voice matters!”

 Morales: “I hope Nochebuena will bring some humanity to audiences, provide some insight into our culture, and showcase that we are different, but perhaps, not so different after all.”

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Every Friday, aspireTV is bringing you a new Holiday Homecoming movie premiere, beginning December 6 with Nochebuena! But why wait? You can watch Nochebuena early, right now on aspireTV+! Visit aspire.tv for more info and keep it locked right here for more stories about the culture.