FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:Carlin R. Comm
BlueStar Productions
207 Yakima Street, Suite 205
Wenatchee, WA 98801
http://www.ncwvideo.com
bluestar@televar.com

Independent Video Documentary of Hurricane Katrina and Rita Survivors

Memphis, TN -- 25 October 2005 --

What is it really like to be homeless, hungry, hot and sweaty, nearly broke, or shivering and alone? While many of us have seen it on TV, what would it take for someone to leave his home and drive across the country to experience it first hand?

On 26 September 2005, Carlin Comm left Wenatchee, WA, driving cross-country, to make an independent video documentary of the survivors of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Rather than being funded by corporate sponsorship or other media organization, its largely self funded, and supported by friends, neighbors, and family.

Initially, the plan was to drive into Texas first, as many of the New Orleans survivors had been taken there. Then Hurricane Rita was forecast to hit Texas. Knowing it would take several days to drive into the area, the route was changed to drive the northern states, check the news on the way, and adapt as the situation developed.

Memphis, TN, became the first stop, spending a few days with the Red Cross, and then several more days staying at a shelter with some families. While at the shelter, Carlin interviewed several survivors for the documentary, including a man and woman from New Orleans who were planning a wedding the following weekend. This wedding had been completely sponsored by the surrounding community, and was held at the shelter the Bride and Groom were both living at.

As the documentary project has been largely funded by donations, Carlin has spent most nights sleeping in the van, at shelters, rest stops, and truck stops. While on the road, he has learned through direct experience to empathize with what the survivors have been through. Lessons learned include how good it is to take a shower at a truck stop, after 5 days in the van with no air conditioning. How good a home cooked meal tastes after a week on the road, and how nice it is to sleep on someone's couch for a night, after too many cramped nights in the back of the van.

Says Carlin "I felt this project was something I had to do, and it was something that I would regret not doing for the rest of my life. There were days that I didn't even set up the cameras, I just sat with the survivors, and listened. Sometimes we just sat in silence."

"I literally left home with almost enough money to get there, and left the rest to the universe. Its been a huge leap of faith, but deep inside, I felt if I was doing this for the right reasons, it would work out. Soon it will be time to go home, and I know when I need it, the gas money will be there. I'm not looking to get rich here, but if a few people can help out with a few dollars, I'll make it home. I have a page on my website about this documentary, and there is a PayPal button there where people can contribute."

For more information about the project, or if you would like to help Carlin finish the project by donating gas money, please check out the website and Blog URLs below.

Carlin Comm is the owner of BlueStar Productions, a wedding and event video production company located in Wenatchee WA. He has been provided video and photo service for over 50 weddings, as well as video programs for Wenatchee area organizations such as the Wenatchee Figure Skating Club, the Short Shakespeareans, and several local school productions. Prior to 2001 he was employed as a computer network technician for several years, and was also honorably discharged from the US Navy after 9 years of service as an aircraft technician, including deployment for Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

For More Information:
http://www.ncwvideo.com/survivors_stories/ - Project Website
http://survivors-stories.blogspot.com/ - Project Blog, which gets updates.
Email at: bluestar@televar.com