Utter Devastation Strikes the Caribbean and Mexico; Millions Need Your Help

The devastation from Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico is so extreme many maybe without electricity for months. Congress has yet to allocate an aid/reconstruction package to Puerto Rico. The entire island electrical and communications network was destroyed, along with devastation to houses, infrastructure and essentially everything else. Those with medical problems cannot necessarily get medical help as hospitals themselves have been severely damaged.

Sadly Puerto Rico is but one place that has severe hurricane damage. Many other Caribbean Islands also had considerable damage. The Virgin Islands, though a part of the United States like Puerto Rico, similarly have not had an aid package passed. A number of prominent politicians are now urging Congress to step up the help for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Meanwhile, other nations in the Caribbean also have horrible devastation. The Dominican Republic had considerable flooding. Flooding to this degree can spread disease, at a time with medical facilities are damaged.

Mexico has recently had two major earthquakes. Rescue crews are still digging people out of the ruble. There have been over 300 confirmed deaths in the second earthquake, and 96 confirmed deaths in the first earthquake. Mexico has also had substantial property damage.

Potentially tens of millions of people are affected. There are a number of ways to assist.

American Black Cross

Como Ayudar Mexico

Caritas Mexico

Caritas Dominican Republic

Caritas Puerto Rico

Emergency Supplies to Loiza, Puerto Rico

Purchase David Ortiz T-Shirt to Help the Caribbean

St. John’s Rescue, Virgin Islands

Post Production of Wine Tasting

Post Production was January and February. During the post production, the film's official website was made. Scored music was added to te film, and all the needed film editing was done. During post production we began to discuss the film's official distribution plan, discuss our next projects, etc. We settled on Amazon Video and overall VOD distribution, while we would submit the film to various film festivals for screenings. During this time we worked on a trailer for the film as well, as well as the cover art and necessary associated photos. All fun. We also finalized the film's IMDb profile. The final film can be found here.

The Filming of Wine Tasting

Wine Tasting was filmed in Los Angeles just before the holidays. Josh Mitchell and his crew worked fast, and the film was shot in mid Dec and wrapped up before the holidays. The shoot went well and everyone had fun. I was not able to be present as I was finishing up my last semester at Columbia University, where I graduated with a MA in English Education. Still I got the daily photo updates on Wine Tasting's official Facebook. The film can be viewed here.

How Wine Tasting Became a Film

The first draft of Wine Tasting was written in 2013. The final draft of the spec script was written in 2015. In between I'd received feedback from BlackList readers and did my revisions. I entered Wine Tasting as a screenplay into some festivals, and it placed as finalist in Sunscreen Film Festival West, Beverly Hills Film Festival, and Evolution, Mallorca Film Festival. Wine Tasting placing as finalist got me some interviews. I was interviewed by La Libertad, Search My Trash, and by Cinemaddicts. Josh Mitchell of Wickid Pissa took notice. He proposed that he direct Wine Tasting. I agreed and worked on raising the budget till I got it. The film can be viewed here.

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New Film Wine Tasting Available on Amazon Prime

My film Wine Tasting is now on Amazon and will soon be on other VOD platforms. Wine Tasting was accepted into several film festivals, including Finisterra Arrabida of Portugal, Premios Latinos, Evolution, Mallorca, and LA San Rafael of Spain, and Beverly Hills Film Festival and Sunscreen Film Festival West in the United States. Wine Tasting-written by Justin Samuels, directed by Josh Mitchell and produced by Anjanette Miller has been released on VOD. Wine Tasting follows the lives of four men who are professional wine tasters. They sacrifice considerable sums of money and time in order to pass the sommelier exam. Their relationship is tested when one out of the four guys doesn't pass - leading to a series of scandalous repercussions. The film is free for those on Amazon Prime.

Wine Tasting Trailer

Check out my film Wine Tasting.  Please leave comments and share the trailer with your films.  Soon Wine Tasting will be on Amazon and other VOD outlets.