Currently In post-production (expected release: 2026
Assistant Director / Creative Direction, Storytelling, Art Direction, Film Producer
Dominican rock was never just music. It was a rebellion. An identity.A creative uprising in a land where tropical rhythms ruled the system.But in the cracks of the mainstream, something louder was growing. This is the story of a sound born from friction between tradition and freedom, silence and expression.From backroom jam sessions in the ’60s to underground legends and festival anthems, Rocas Dominicanas traces the heartbeat of a movement that rose without permission. We follow its journey from the first cover bands of the 1950s echoing foreign sounds in borrowed chords to the rise of original voices that would grow, fight, and redefine what it meant to make music on this island.Told through rare archives, intimate testimonies, and the voices of those who lived it, this film captures more than a genre it captures resilience.The courage to create.The will to continue.The wave that never stopped building. A reminder that when something matters enough, it finds a way to exist even when the system says no.Rocas Dominicanas Still loud. Still alive. A love letter to resistance and to the bold, human need to be heard.
Film Synopsis
The story unfolds over time beginning with the echoes of 1950s cover bands and rising, decade by decade, into a voice of its own. We followed the thread of influence, curating only the most defining artists, bands, and voices that shaped the movement. The film stands as a cultural archive of Dominican rock. In a country rooted in tropical rhythms, it tells the story of how rock stayed and why it still matters.
Storytelling
Album covers from films archive
Throwback Photography from films archive
The atmosphere of Rocas Dominicanas is raw, vibrant, and steeped in nostalgia. It reflects the duality at the heart of Dominican rock rebellion on one side, introspection on the other. Visually, the film makes a bold use of color, drawing from the Dominican flag, red for urgency, blue for reflection. Nostalgia runs deep throughout the story designed to connect with those who lived and breathed the scene, while stirring something real in new generations. Handheld cameras in packed clubs. Distorted sound. Rhythmic edits. Archival textures. Nothing is polished but everything is intentional.Every shot pulls you deeper into the soul of the genre.
Evoking energy, Memory and Movement.
Atmosphere
Location
Each location in Rocas Dominicanas was chosen with intention to ground the story in places that hold real cultural and emotional weight. From the iconic Casa de Teatro, a historic hub for Dominican creatives, to the personal studios of the musicians, where sound and soul come to life, every space reflects the spirit of the movement. These environments allowed us to capture not just interviews, but energy, intimacy, and truth.
Some of the filmed locations
The set design embraces organic imperfection over artificial polish. Every element is intentionally chosen to reflect the raw spirit of the genre natural wood textures, exposed brick, worn leather, vintage décor, analog equipment, and personal artifacts like instruments and band memorabilia. Only props that add meaning and support the storytelling are included. The design grounds each scene in truth and texture, allowing the environment to amplify the emotion the film seeks to convey.
Set Design
Photography
The film’s photographic style is guided by a bold yet refined visual language, centered around a complementary lighting palette that brings contrast and emotional weight to each frame. Tones inspired by rebellion and reflection are used to subtly enhance the atmosphere—evoking the raw intensity and introspective nature of the Dominican rock scene. Dark, ambient backgrounds give the film a nocturnal elegance, mirroring the spirit of a subculture that came alive after hours. The result is an aesthetic that doesn’t just represent the lifestyle—it immerses the viewer in its rhythm, mood, and energy.
Interviews were captured using a static camera setup, with two simultaneous shot types: wide compositions to frame the subject within their environment, and close-ups to highlight emotion and presence. This balance between proximity and space creates a dynamic, layered portrait of each voice. Flashbacks are rendered in black and white, subtly textured with grain and infused with undertones that hint at the visual language of the present—bridging past and present without breaking flow. This treatment brings authenticity and nostalgia to the archival tone, grounding the film’s memory sequences in both time and emotion.
Logo Rational
The design uses a bold, red textured typeface to represent strength, heritage, and the raw character of Dominican identity. The textured letters feel carved and show the detailed and crafty talent on the island.Behind it, the moving
water contrasts that solidity, hinting at the island’s constant dialogue with the sea. It speaks to motion, change, and the
ever-present force of nature around the Caribbean.The white, clean type used for the director’s credit offers clarity and balance respecting hierarchy without drawing focus from the title. Together, the elements create a cinematic mood: rooted in place, shaped by water, and powered by story.
Before
After
Color grading
The image shows a clear transformation after color grading. In the “before” (left), the tones are muted and flat, with cooler lighting and less visual contrast, giving the scene a more neutral, documentary feel. In the “after” (right), the colors are warmer and more vibrant, with enhanced saturation and lighting that adds depth and mood. The guitars and background come to life with richer hues, and the subject stands out more clearly—creating a polished, cinematic look that feels intentional and engaging.
Poster
The poster for “Rocas Dominicanas” captures the spirit of Dominican rock through a striking visual metaphor — a red electric guitar painted with the national colors floating in the ocean. It symbolizes how the genre was born in isolation yet remains resilient and alive, carried by the waves of an island that has always found rhythm in resistance. The drumsticks drifting beside it hint at collaboration and rhythm, while the bold title emerging over the horizon stands as a tribute to the strength, pride, and identity of Dominican rock.
Credits
A Film by Rodrigo Vega
Written and Directed by
Rodrigo Vega
Produced by
Rodrigo Vega, Christian Pérez, Jorge Canó
Executive Producers
William Alexander Vega, Vilma Hlranya Fernández
Creative Producer
Edgar Del Toro
Director of Photography
Damian Serrano, Juan Carlos García
Art Director
Edgar Del Toro
Post-Production / Editing
Horacio Dalmau Guilliani
Color and VFX
Horacio Dalmau Guilliani
Sound Design and SFX
Horacio Dalmau Guilliani
Sound Recordist
Sebastian Naranjo
Sound Assistants
Emily “Leona” Polanco, Joshua Polanco
Camera Assistants (Clapper Loaders)
Emily “Leona” Polanco, Daniel Wong
Gaffer
Daniel Wong
Key Grip / Chief Machinist
Daniel Wong
Gaffer & Grip
Edgar Winter, Alejandro Batista
Assistant Director
Edgar Del Toro
Animation
Horacio Dalmau Guilliani
Graphic Design
Edgar Del Toro
Behind the Scenes (BTS)
Camilo Núñez, Christian Pérez