"In Irma's Wake" : Documentary Short

In Irma’s Wake; Those Who Stayed and Those Who Came is a Documentary Short that shares the sites, sounds, and stories of the Florida Keys community one week after Hurricane Irma made landfall as the most destructive storm in their history.

This film explores what life in the Keys was like one week after the storm and how a multitude of people whose lives were upended; the residents who stayed for a myriad of reasons, despite imminent dangers, and the ones who came to help from near and far to enact a positive change for those who needed it most.

On September 17, 2017 Ethan Lew and I hopped on a last minute red-eye to Miami and then rode down to the Florida Keys to produce a fundraising video for Coalition of Hope, a Non-Profit that Coordinated Relief Efforts between NGO’s, Private Donors, and the Local, State, and Federal Government.

While working onsite from a FEMA Trailer at the Relief Center, we were tasked with producing a 3 minute fundraising video for Coalition of Hope and their partners to distribute in order to raise funds for the center.

But upon completion, we still felt like there was more work to be done and more stories to tell in order to paint the most potent picture of the Keys post-Irma. 

Throughout the production process we were confounded by the cache of unbelievable stories and moving anecdotes from Residents and Volunteers alike, inspiring us to create a more detailed and cinematic film: In Irma’s Wake.

The cinematic nature of this gritty documentary was brought into focus by Ethan's College Roommate and NYU Tisch Alumni John Case, who edited the project and helped piece together a story that not only made sense, but made the most of the footage captured over 3 Days of Run and Gun Filmmaking.

Although 2.5 years have passed since Hurricane Irma, the relevance of this film cannot be understated. Natural Disasters are not only a prevalent and devastating reminder of mother nature’s power, but also torrential test of man’s compassion and kindness towards one another, prompting perseverance in the face of all odds. 

It is our goal that this piece will remind viewers to help however they can when disaster strikes and that once the news cameras leave, the struggle to return life to normal just begins.

In Irmas Wake: Those Who Stayed and Those Who Came, is Now Available to Watch on Vimeo, and will be submitted to a myriad of Film Festivals this Spring and Summer, Selections and Premiere Dates will be announced upon selection.

Thank you for reading all the way to the end and supporting this project! As a reward, you can watch the film below.