The celebration included a Q&A with the cast and minds behind the series Jean Elie and Mike Gauyo.
The ‘Send Help’ premiere party made for quite an eventful evening!
The watch party was hosted in Brooklyn Tuesday night and attended by a large audience along with the cast and crew behind the show. The first episode is already available on the AMC streaming platform ALLBLK, but guests were able to view the second episode which will be released later this week.
The series follows Fritz Jean-Baptiste (Jean Elie)—a Haitian-American actor whose hit series ‘This Can’t Be Us’ is canceled after controversy hits the production. The out-of-work actor must then navigate starting over in Hollywood while also dealing with a recent family tragedy. The dramedy additionally stars Amin Joseph, Karen Obilom, Courtney Taylor, and Catfish Jean.
Executive producers Elie and Mike Gauyo are both known for their work on the HBO Max series ‘Insecure.’ Elie portrayed Ahmal Dee, the brother of Issa Rae’s character Issa Dee. Both men have taken their talents from ‘Insecure’ and brought them to ‘Send Help’ in a remarkable way. The series has moments of laughter, but also shines a light on the serious effects of mental health issues. The acting and writing are balanced perfectly.
At the premiere, Elie and Gauyo told attendees that the show had been years in the making. It first started as a pandemic project where they spoke with Haitian creators on Clubhouse about their struggles. The two soon garnered the attention of an ALLBLK executive and the project was greenlit after.
‘Send Help’ is changing the way we think about “Black television” too. It centers around a Haitian-American family, which is quite uncommon to see in a TV series. The use of creole is something most viewers would come across for the first time while watching the show. Elie and the rest of the cast agreed that for them representation was one of the major aspects of the series they admired along with what they hope audiences take away from it.
Following the viewing, guests were invited to indulge in oysters and Jamaican dishes. The food was in partnership with a local restaurant to celebrate Black Business Month. The open bar was a highlight of the event as well with its number of amazing, bright cocktails that were perfect for Summer. The night closed off with Haitian music and attendees opting for photos with the cast.
Catch our interview with Jean Elie and Mike Gauyo below and be sure to tune into ‘Send Help’ on ALLBLK.com.
