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Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark

"Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark" is the story of the people of Puerto Rico and the faith, strength, and hope that has sustained them in the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

  • Maria Luskay
    Director
  • Aime Rodriguez Semder
    Director
  • Maria Luskay
    Executive Producer
  • Rachel Skopp-Cardillo
    First Assistant Director
  • Joseph Gonzalez, Adina McCray, Kelly Whritenour
    Location Assistant Directors
  • Adina McCray, Gabriel Rivera, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo
    Assistant Producers
  • Priscilla Lopez
    Narrated by
  • Nick Aquilino, Adiba Sikder, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo
    Story Development
  • Rachel Skopp-Cardillo
    Production Manager/Continuity Supervisor
  • Christian Arriaga-Flores, Carmen Ballon, Seoyoung Hong, Adina McCray, Francy Rios Germosen, Gabriel Rivera, Aime Rodriguez Semder, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo, Kelly Whritenour
    Shot on location in New York― Camera, Lighting, Sound
  • Nick Aquilino, Christian Arriaga-Flores, Carmen Ballon, Gabriela Corey, Joseph Gonzalez, Seoyoung Hong, Matt Martinez, Adina McCray, Francy Rios Germosen, Gabriel Rivera, Felicia Robcke, Blake Rozelle, Adiba Sikder, Devin Stafford, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo, Max Vuolle, John Watson, Kelly Whritenour
    Shot on location in Miami and Puerto Rico― Camera, Lighting, Sound
  • Blake Rozelle
    Gimbal Operator
  • Kelly Whritenour
    Post Production Manager
  • Kelly Whritenour
    Lead Editor
  • Joseph Gonzalez, Blake Rozelle, Devin Stafford
    Assistant Editor
  • Carmen Ballon, Matt Martinez, Adina McCray, Gabriel Rivera
    Additional Editors
  • Joseph Gonzalez, Kelly Whritenour
    Media Managers
  • Joseph Gonzalez
    Equipment Manager
  • Max Vuolle
    Animation & Graphics Designer
  • Carmen Ballon
    Post Colorist
  • Gabriela Corey, Adina McCray
    Story Producers/Editors― Aguas Buenas, Naguabo
  • Carmen Ballon, Devin Stafford
    Story Producers/Editors―Arecibo, Yauco
  • Seoyoung Hong
    Story Producers/Editors― Bayamón, Quebradillas
  • Blake Rozelle, John Watson
    Story Producers/Editors― Caguas, Culebra
  • Gabriel Rivera, Matt Martinez
    Story Producers/Editors― Ponce, Utuado, Vega Baja
  • Francy Rios Germosen, Felicia Robcke
    Story Producers/Editors― Carolina, Humaco
  • Joseph Gonzalez, Blake Rozelle, Matt Martinez
    Story Producers/Editors― San Juan
  • Max Vuolle
    Titles
  • Joseph Gonzalez, Blake Rozelle
    Audio Editing
  • Blake Rozelle, Devin Stafford, Max Vuolle
    Sound Mixing
  • Drew Torres
    Original Music
  • Lou Guarneri
    Audio Engineer
  • "Rynos Theme" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licnes/by/3.0/
    Additional Music
  • Nick Eisenberg, MoleHouse Post
    Audio Narration Recording
  • Jeanette Rivera
    Spanish Subtitles
  • Christian Arriaga-Flores, Carmen Ballon, Francy Rios Germosen, Gabriel Rivera
    Spanish Translations
  • Felicia Robcke, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo, Devin Stafford, Max Vuolle
    Closing Credits
  • Nick Aquilino, Christian Arriaga-Flores, Carmen Ballon, Gabriela Corey, Joseph Gonzalez, Seoyoung Hong, Matt Martinez, Adina McCray, Francy Rios Germosen, Gabriel Rivera, Felicia Robcke, Blake Rozelle, Adiba Sikder, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo, Devin Stafford, Max Vuolle, John Watson, Kelly Whritenour
    Research Team
  • Sarah Burns-Feyl
    Librarian
  • Felicia Robcke
    Social Media Supervisor
  • Gabriela Corey, Rachel Skopp-Cardillo
    Social Media Team
  • Lindsey Ah Soon, Tina Argyros, Sierra Bauer, Erika Becerra, Gabriella Camacho, Ashley Escobar, Gary Frayter, Tabatha Gonzalez, Morgan Hennessey, Faye Hicks, Alexander Lamoreaux, Jamila Lindo, Margaret Maclean, Joanne Nevares-Cardoso, Samantha O’Rourke, Justin Reina, Kaelyn Urena, Hannah Wood
    Event Planning
  • Cristina Alvarado, Tina Argyros, Griselle Castillo, Morgan Hennessey, Ashley Johnson
    Public Relations Campaigns
  • Kristina Byrne, Raymond Cortell
    Travel Arragments
  • Con Edison, Jeannette Rivera, Michael Trangone, Parroquia Nuestra Sra del Carmen Punta Santiago, Roberto Negron Cruz, YMCA- Ponce & San Juan
    Special Thanks for Hospitality in Puerto Rico
  • Ada Monzón, Andrew Scurria, Antonio Torres Torres, C-SPAN, FEMA, Florin Lepadatu, Josefin Dolsten, M2 Aerials, MSNBC, Mouta Massi, NASA, National Nurses United, NOAA, National Weather Service, NBC-Mike McGrath, New York Senate, Ricky Miranda, Ricky Navarro, Roberto Negron Cruz, Salvador Gomez-Colon, Vivan Godoy
    Additional Footage and Images Provided
  • 🇵🇷The Citizens of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷, Chris Lengers, Hispanic Federation, Jacob Burns Film Center, Joran Johnson- YMCA, Marvin Krislov, Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts, MSNBC, Ray Vasquez, Shirley Acevedo Boyontempo, Vanya Quinoes, Paul Ziek
    Special Thanks
  • Anne Bishop, Cara Cea, Jennifer Magas, Ryan A. Milan, Angela, Nally, Marie Ternes, Diane Wai
    Publicity
  • Ryan A. Milan, Diane Wai
    Poster Title and Art Work
  • Pace University, Dyson College of Arts & Sciences― Department of Media, Communications, and Visual Arts
    This Program Was Produced by
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    Puerto Rico: Esperanza en la Oscuridad
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Student
  • Runtime:
    47 minutes 47 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 30, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    Puerto Rico
  • Language:
    English, Spanish
  • Shooting Format:
    4K, 24fps
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Pace University
  • Best Shorts Competition 2018 Humanitarian Awards
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    February 15, 2019
    Honorable Mention
  • International Puerto Rican Heritage Film Festival
    Brooklyn, New York
    United States
    November 14, 2018
    Selected
  • WTTW (PBS): "Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark"
    Chicago, Illinois
    United States
    September 28, 2018
  • Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance-Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark
    Manhattan, New York
    United States
    September 23, 2018
  • Spotlight Documentary Film Awards
    Atlanta, Georgia
    United States
    June 25, 2018
    Spotlight Silver Award
  • Best Shorts Competition
    La Jolla, California
    United States
    June 18, 2018
    Award of Merit- Special Mention
  • Miami Independent Film Festival
    Miami Beach, Florida
    United States
    June 9, 2018
    Selected
  • Rye Brooke Public Access Television
    Rye Brooke, New York
    United States
    May 28, 2018
  • Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark
    New York, New York
    United States
    May 8, 2018
    Michael Schimmel Center for the Arts
  • Jacob Burns Film Center: Puerto Rico: Hope in the Dark (PREMIERE)
    Pleasantville, New York
    United States
    May 1, 2018
    Jacob Burns Film Center
Director Biography - Maria Luskay, Aime Rodriguez Semder

Dr. Maria T. Luskay: Professor Luskay leads the Media and Communication Arts travel documentary course at Pace University in Pleasantville, New York. The Producing the Documentary course is a well-regarded, award winning program at Pace. It has provided opportunities for many undergraduate and graduate students to broaden their knowledge and skill set in the areas of communications, research, and production. This marks the 15th year that Dr. Luskay has been teaching this course and this is the 15th documentary from that course.

Aime Rodriguez Semder: Started her News 12 career as an intern at News 12 Westchester. Aime was hired after college as an Assignment Desk Editor for News 12 the Bronx and later spent time on the desk at News 12 Long Island as a Planning Editor. She is a graduate of both Pace University's BA and MA in Media and Communication Arts programs.

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