A DOG NAMED GUCCI to Have Benefit Screening This October

The acclaimed documentary "A Dog Named Gucci," from writer/director Gorman Bechard, will have a screening at the Ephrata Main Theatre on Tuesday, October 6 at 7PM. Admission is free with a can or bag of pet food per person to benefit the Lancaster County SPCA. This special screening is being presented by the movie and television streaming service Premiere.

He was hung by his neck, punched repeatedly, doused with lighter fluid, and set afire. That should have been the last thing a ten-week old puppy named Gucci would ever experience. His last contact with humans. His final moments of life.

But Doug James, standing on his porch nearby, heard the puppy's cries and ran to help. He scared away the cowardly thugs who had perpetrated this heinous crime, and at the request of Gucci's 15-year-old runaway owner, took THE DOG in for the night.

Thus began a 16-year odyssey of devotion and perseverance.

When Gucci was rescued by Doug, it seemed impossible that the badly burned pup would make it through the night. But Gucci, a Chow-Husky-mix, would live for sixteen years as Doug's companion. As Gucci recovered, Doug did everything in his power to see that the dog's three assailants were punished. However, the laws in Alabama were not on Gucci's side. At worst the guilty would receive slaps on the wrists. That was not enough in the eyes of Doug James.

Together with local legislators, and with Gucci always faithfully by his side, Doug would see the "Gucci Bill" passed, changing the laws in Alabama and making domestic animal abuse a felony. He would witness Gucci go from being a survivor . . . to a rock star.

The film is a feature-length documentary that will bring the amazing story of Gucci and Doug James to life: from that horrible night of abuse, to the numerous operations to repair Gucci's severely burned eyelids, to the legislation passed in his name to help prevent such a thing from ever happening again.

"A Dog Named Gucci" is a production of What Were We Thinking Films. Lynn Webb, Jay Smales, Scott Hudson, Brandon McCaw, Kimberly Ventre, and Kevin Carvell serve as executive producers. Kristine Bechard serves as producer. Music is provided by Dean Falcone. The film was produced, edited, written, and directed by Gorman Bechard.

More information on "A Dog Named Gucci" and the benefit screening at the Ephrata Main Theatre can be found at: adognamedgucci.com and ephratamain.com.

About Gorman Bechard
Gorman Bechard is the author of six novels, "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told," "Unwound" (under the pseudonym Jonathan Baine), "Ninth Square," "The Hazmat Diary," "Good Neighbors," and "Balls."

He directed and wrote the indie features "Friends (With Benefits)" (2009) and "You are Alone" (2006), the horror comedy cult-classic "Psychos in Love" (1986), as well as the award-winning shorts "Objects in the Mirror are Further Than They Appear" (2003) and "The Pretty Girl" (2000).

About Kevin Carvell
Kevin Carvell is a television and film producer and production advisor. He's also a three-time Emmy honoree and a recipient of a Best Short Film award from the 2014 San Diego Film Awards for "Zero," from director William Wall, a film on which Carvell served as a co-producer. Most recently, Carvell served as an executive producer on the hit holiday fantasy film "The Christmas Dragon." He also works for Pennsylvania cable television provider Blue Ridge and lends his time and resources as an animal welfare supporter.

About Premiere
Premiere is an Ephrata, PA-based free-on-demand video streaming service featuring hit movies, Hollywood classics, TV favorites, and documentaries. Premiere is currently available on Roku and Samsung Smart TVs and Blu-ray players. Premiere is operated in partnership with streaming provider adRise, the creators of Tubi TV.

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