This Is Not SadFace

Bruce Blanco, a decadent retired rockstar, is the founder of the legendary band SadFace. Bruce aspires to revive his days of glory. After Bob's death, a former member of the band, Bruce sees an opportunity to bring SadFace back to life when he meets Remy, Bob's son. Remy, a misfit teenager with three friends, wants to follow his father's step by becoming a rockstar himself. Bruce, Remy and his friends will struggle together to rescue the band out of oblivion, but their aspirations will be threatened by Asli, Bradley's daughter, another former member of the band who had an overdose. Asli blames Bruce for his father's death, so she will do anything to stop him from reviving SadFace.

  • Jose Salaverria
    Director
    La Jaula
  • Jose Salaverria
    Writer
    La Jaula
  • Jorge Luis Moreno
    Producer
    Los Habitantes
  • Jose Salaverria
    Producer
    La Jaula
  • Jorge Luis Moreno
    Key Cast
    "Bruce Blanco"
    Los Habitantes, El Silencio es Bienvenido, El Estudiante
  • Fefi Oliveira
    Key Cast
    "Julieta"
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Esto No es SadFace
  • Project Type:
    Feature
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 23 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    April 1, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    180,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Mexico
  • Country of Filming:
    Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Language:
    Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    RED
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jose Salaverria

José Ignacio Salaverría is a vegan activist film director born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in 1984. He is known for directing outstanding film in Venezuela, including The Cage, the first Venezuelan sci fi, distributed by High Octane Pictures and awarded in several film festivals. Also, he directed This Is Not SadFace, con Jorge Luis Moreno y Fefi Oliveira. Currently, he is post producing his next film Nuncio Alberto Wants to Die. After every one of his projects, Salaverria shows his commitment to the creation of innovative and relevant, defending his vegan values and his passion for social justice.

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Director Statement

This Is Not Sadface is a film that explores the nostalgia of what it was like to be a teenager at a time when the Internet did not yet dominate our lives and personal relationships were built on the street, with the limitations of available music and physical. Although the story is set in Maracaibo, Venezuela, the theme of music and rock is relevant in all parts of the world.

The film also reflects on how life can force us to leave behind our innocence and face adult situations that don't always turn out as we expect. It talks about how the death or loss of a loved one can change our perspective on life and how friendship can help us overcome these difficulties.

As a director, my goal was to capture that feeling of longing and loss of innocence, as well as show the importance of friendship in the construction of our lives. I wanted to create a film that was a tribute to the music culture of the 2000s and how it shaped the identity of a generation.

I also wanted the film to talk about how personal relationships and art can be a shelter for the increasing influence of technology in our lives, and how despite generational differences, we can find similarities in the way we face life. and in our quests to find our place in the world.

In summary, "This is not Sadface" is a film that invites the viewer to reflect on nostalgia, friendship and the search for our identity in a constantly changing world."