[Haiti] Appeal for help in facilitating travel to Haiti by prominent filmmaker

[martinrs at aol.com]

This message is an appeal for some organization to facilitate travel to  
Haiti of a filmmaker, Gerry Straub, a former Hollywood soap opera producer  
who is now working through the San Damiano Foundation to help the  poor 
through filmmaking, inspired by the spiritual values of St. Francis and St.  Clare 
of Assisi.  His Christian organization and supporters would likely be  able 
to provide some resources to a sponsoring organization, either medical  
supplies or perhaps even financial resources. 
 
The Foundation is a new CCIH member applicant, sponsored by Ralph  Plumb, 
who is well known to CCIH Board President Milton Amayun.  If you are  
interested, please contact Ralph immediately at _replumb at aol.com_ 
(mailto:replumb at aol.com)  or phone 760-834-5789. 
 
For some compelling footage of the poverty and slums of Port au  Prince 
shot by Gerry just a few weeks ago, go on You Tube at 
_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRojV-Z1rk_ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvRojV-Z1rk) 

For  more information about Gerry and the San Damiano Foundation, go to 
_http://www.sandamianofoundation.org/_ (http://www.sandamianofoundation.org/) 
 
Here is an appeal from an area Catholic leader, slightly edited, for help  
in getting Gerry and one associate  to come back to Haiti to shoot more  
footage to help communicate to Americans the desperation and needs of the 
people  of Haiti, and to mobilize for action:

Gerry returned from Haiti about two weeks ago after filming for more  than 
a week in Port-au-Prince, principally in the slum of Cite Soleil. I have  
viewed many hours of his filming, and I must say that it is the most powerful  
footage that I have ever seen of the desperate situation in Cite Soleil. 
Gerry  and his crew are anxious, even more than anxious, to return to Haiti 
and  incorporate the devastation of the earthquake and initial relief work 
into  their production with the sole purpose to benefit the poor of  Haiti.
If you are not familiar with  Gerry, a few years ago he was a famous 
Hollywood producer of daytime soap  operas. At the time an avowed agnostic, 
perhaps atheist, he decided to write a  novel set in the middle ages. In 
researching his novel in Rome, he had a  conversion experience in a small Franciscan 
church. (His autobiography, The  Sun and the Moon Over Assisi, details his 
life.) Since that day, Gerry has  given his life and talents totally to the 
poor, living a life of utter poverty  and simplicity while producing thirteen 
films about the poor in all corners of  the world. Gerry does not benefit 
from any of his films, but every project or  person whom he has filmed has 
been wonderfully  blessed.
As creator and  producer for all Teleketics and Franciscan Communications 
productions for some  thirty five years, I have considerable experience in 
the media. I do not know  anyone that could do a better job in documenting the 
devastation and relief  work that is beginning in Haiti than Gerry  Straub. 
      
Gerry  and his crew will fly to anywhere in USA to join a sponsoring agency 
with a  flight into Haiti. 
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