English Titile: No+Unemployed
Original Title: No+Para2
Duration: 15´54´´
Name Director: Javier Urtasun Palacios
Name Producer: Javier Urtasun Palacios
Name Editor: Javier Urtasun Palacios
Genere: Documentary, Comedy, Human Rights, Mockumentary
Theme: Social issues, Inequalities, Economy, Employment, Humor, Psychology, Mental Health, Theater
Year of production: 2024
Filming location: Pamplona, Spain
Language: Spanish
Original format: Digital 4K
Country: Spain
Subtitles: available in English, French, German and Spanish
Contact: javiurtasun@gmail.com
Website: http://www.nomasparados.org
IMDB link: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32105763/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
Trailer: https://youtu.be/AsDDfa1FyKo
Short synopsis:
An unemployed film director, equipped with a mobile phone, fights for the government and the media to stop using the term “unemployed”.
Long synopsis:
Javier Urtasun was born in Pamplona in 1980. Since he was not a good athlete as a child, he had to work as an advertising creative copywriter when he grew up. This is how he discovered his passion for cinema, quitting his job to film Superzebraman, the first Hispanic-Nigerian co-production of the history of cinema in Nollywood, that got him a scholarship to study film in Los Angeles. After graduating he tried to make another film and it didn’t work out so he ended up being unemployed for 5 years. Moment in which he realizes that the term “unemployed” is not very motivating and decides to start a campaign to change it. Thus Javier becomes active and undergoes a change himself, he goes from apathy to the illusion of having a mission in life.
First he thinks about what term should replace “unemployed.” And while “inflation regulator” makes sense, he ends up opting for “searcher”. Javier is aware that this mission is very ambitious, going to the press to ask for such a change is very daring. He must go with the topic very prepared and begins a research phase. Maybe he is the only one sensitive to words? And he finds similar cases with the word lawyer, luxury, gypsy, black, Jew…Javier analyzes the power of words in the mind of a human with a PHD in psycho linguistics, and she tells him how words affect the unemployed. Everyone agrees with Javier and tells him that “unemployed” does not help the person “searching for employment.” Calling someone who is “looking for a job” “unemployed” is a contradiction, demotivates and misleads.
Director Bio:
Javier Urtasun Palacios was born in 1980 in Pamplona/Iruña. After passing his university entrance exams, he decided to study Business Administration at the University of Deusto in San Sebastián. During an exchange semester in Buenos Aires, he discovered dramatic arts, and upon his return, after obtaining his degree, he moved to Barcelona to study video production.
After finishing his studies, he found himself in an environment where cinematic creativity was not easily monetized, so he directed his professional career towards advertising, working as an online copywriter for brands such as BMW, IKEA, and SEAT.
Finally, in January 2009, he decided to quit his job to write, produce, direct, and star in his first movie, which was also the first Spanish-Nigerian co-production in history, Superzebraman. To accomplish this, he moved to Nollywood (the nickname for the Nigerian film industry in Lagos) and recorded a documentary about the adventure. After three years of hard work, during which he alternated editing the documentary with freelance work, Superzebraman was finally presented in Pamplona/Iruña on June 26, 2012, with the final support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture.
Two months later, thanks to an international projection grant from the Government of Navarra, Javier traveled to Hollywood to study a Master’s in Film Direction at the New York Film Academy. In September 2014, he presented his thesis short film Happiness under the Tree and graduated.
He currently resides in Pamplona, working on the script, production, and direction of that final master’s project, Happiness under the tree, which has been expanded into a feature film, as well as the documentary No+Para2.
To view his work, please follow the YouTube links. Thank you.
Director’s filmography:
Superzebraman the first Spanish Nigerian film ever (2012), Batholics (2014), Happiness under the tree (2014)
Director statement:
I woke up one day after 5 years unemployed feeling sick, and then I realized may be I am doing something else than being unemployed, I consume at least, I am something else than an unemployed. And then I thought may be we should change that horrible name for a new one more positive and accurate. Why not seekers? It´s proactive and guides you towards your goal that is finding a job and a life. Because life without a job is really difficult, emotionally and financially. And we are called unemployed, but we have a employment, we are searching, we are searchers, seekers.
Director past presence in Press:
Director in the past was selected with Superzebraman in this festivals:
OPENEYES SHORT FILM FESTIVAL (Germany)
FESTIVAL DE CINE DE ASTORGA (Spain)
FESTIVAL INTERNAZIONALE DEL CINEMA D’ARTE DI BERGAMO (Italy)
FICT – FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CORTOMETRAJES DE TORRELAVEGA (Spain)
HUHEZINEMA, FESTIVAL DE CORTOMETRAJES VASCOS (Spain)
FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DE GIBARA (Cuba)
FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DE LANZAROTE (Spain)