1) Rescate Ambar is a documentary about Reynaldo Ortiz, who started a free volunteer ambulance service called Rescate Ambar in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. 2) Driving conditions in the Dominican Republic are extremely dangerous, and there is little access to emergency services, so Reynaldo and over 40 volunteers rush to help victims of accidents at all hours of the night. 3) The documentary explores Reynaldo's motivations for this difficult unpaid work over many years, and the toll it takes, as well as the gritty realities the paramedic team faces on nightly rescue missions

1. RESCATE AMBAR
The angels in the night
A documentary short by Mark Bone

2. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my
mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always
find people who are helping.’”
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-Mr. Rogers

3. In moments of great terror and devastation there are individuals who rise up and take responsibility.
They run towards the danger and risk their lives in order to help the victims of tragedy.
This is a story about one of the those people.
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Photo of paramedics etc

4. Rampant drunk-driving, perilous roadways and a culture that
eschews seatbelts and helmets, have led the Dominican Republic to
be ranked as one of the top 3 most dangerous countries to drive in
the world. Sparse access to EMS and no 911 service in most cities
force locals to fend for themselves in the wake of road accidents.
Victims can’t get the immediate medical attention needed and
often can’t afford to pay for ambulance and hospital bills.
The Most Dangerous Place to
Drive on Earth
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5. Reynaldo Ortiz has risen up and dedicated his life to
provide EMS services to the growing number of victims.
Reynaldo Ortiz has started an entirely free, volunteer-
based Ambulance service in the Puerto Plata called
Rescate Ambar.
One man amidst
the chaos
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6. Reynaldo has assembled a team of over 40 volunteer
paramedics who donate their entire night in order to be
available at a moments notice to rush to the next
accidents.
The team
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7. Rescate Ambar is a gritty and compelling documentary short about the heroics of Reynaldo
Ortiz and his team of volunteer Paramedics as they rush to provide medical attention to the
countless number of motor vehicle accidents in Puerto Plata, Dominican. The film will explore
the psychology behind his decision to pursue this unpaid line of work for so many years.
With virtually no funding and access only to donated equipment, he will describe the
resilience of his team and their enduring passion to help save lives. The film will look at the
mental toll it’s taken on him as well the community from being exposed to so much tragedy.
The Documentary
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The Hero
Reynaldo Ortiz, 44, is a humble Dominican who possesses a strong moral code and convictions towards honour and
duty. He established Rescate Ambar in 2005 in an attempt to combat the high number of driver fatalities in his
country and has worked tirelessly to attain a small fleet of used vans, retrofitted into ambulances.
Every night Reynaldo will fall asleep beside a radio awaiting for the next car accident to be reported. Like all
members of his team, Reynaldo works a day job, in his case as a tow truck driver, for a meagre salary in order to
pay and support his volunteer activities with Rescate Ambar.

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Visual style
Shot with handheld, natural light, and a mobile crew, Rescate Ambar will capture the vigour of the paramedics
intense line of work. A combination of realtime and slow-motion sequences will juxtapose the dichotomy of the
tranquil, caribbean day time against the chaotic nights the paramedics experience.
Lighting will be dark and moody, with a many sequences of Reynaldo being captured at dusk, as the chaos of the
night begins to loom and weigh on him.
The beautiful beaches and lush jungles of Dominican will provide a breathtaking backdrop for Reynaldo to be
photographed in when he is off duty.

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Narrative approach
Rescate Ambar will be a cinematic documentary that will have a introspective tone as it examines what drives Reynaldo as a
paramedic. The film will move beyond the traditional documentary narrative and will use impressionistic sequences to depict the
journey of Reynaldo’s emotions and resolve. Not only will we see Reynaldo in real-time action in the paramedic field but we will also
see him interacting with family and colleagues outside of the chaotic work environment.
His voice will be heard overtop various sequences of his daily life both as a paramedic but also a father and husband. These scenes
will be punctuated by brief moments of action as the cameras rush alongside the Rescate Ambar team while they attend to car
accidents.
As Reynaldo talks about the fragility of Dominican life as we will see him holding his new born child at the beach and walking with
his children as they go to school.

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The film crew will capture controlled sequences of young
Dominican motorcycle riders on their motor bikes. These
scenes will depict and illuminate their anarchic approach to
driving and road safety.

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When filming car accidents the camera will very rarely show
the victims or their injured bodies, but rather focus on the
faces of the paramedics and the by-standers. The film is not
set out to depict gratuitous gore but rather focus on the
strength and passion of those working amongst the tragedy.

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Looking to the future
Despite the difficulties he and his team face, Reynaldo spends his time mentoring new
paramedics and continuing to provide aid at the innumerable accidents. He dreams of one
day establishing the organization as a fully-funded and officially recognized EMS service.
Corrupt Government officials have often used funding dedicated to Reynaldo’s cause for
their own personal gain. Despite this, he and his team remain dedicated to the cause, acting
as angels in the night, providing relief on the world’s most dangerous roads.

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Thank you
Director/Writer: Mark Bone
mark@markandrewbone.com
905-467-8618