FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

August 11, 2015

FILM ABOUT DOG WHO FOREVER CHANGED ALABAMA’S

ANIMAL ABUSE LAWS COMES TO SIDEWALK

NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT:  Director Gorman Bechard, whose documentary, Color Me Obsessed, A Film About The Replacements, was named one of “The Seven Best New Music Documentaries of the Year” by Rolling Stone, takes on a rock star of a different sort with A Dog Named Gucci, a feature-length documentary examining animal abuse laws in the United States.

The film, which will have its Alabama premiere at the Sidewalk Film Festival, is the story of a puppy set on fire and the brave Mobile, Alabama man who came to his rescue.  But for rescuer Doug James, saving Gucci was just the beginning. Together they would forge a forever bond of devotion and perseverance working to change the non-existent animal cruelty laws in their home state, proving that justice is a dog’s best friend.

“Instead of assaulting the viewer with images of abused animals, we chose to tell what is ultimately a happy and uplifting story of one victim who went on to become a hero,” explains director Bechard.  “This is a triumphant tale.  Gucci might begin his life as Blackfish, but he’s a fighter, and in the end he becomes Rocky.”

The film also spotlights three other dogs who, with their owners, have made an incredible impact on the laws protecting animals.  These include Susie from North Carolina, who has a felony abuse law named in her honor and is the current American Humane Association’s Hero Dog of the Year; Louis Vuitton, from Montgomery, Alabama, the first dog to test the Gucci Law; and Nitro from Queens, New York whose ultimate sacrifice in an Ohio kennel led to the state’s first felony animal abuse laws.

“The film grew out of the love for our own rescue dogs,” adds Bechard.  “It’s a highly emotional film because so many people don’t realize the extent of the abuse in the United States.  I’ve seen tears, anger, and people just needing to hug their own dog.” 

As a micro studio which has thus far independently produced seven feature films, What Were We Thinking Films will depend on a grassroots effort from the animal welfare community to help spread word about the KickStarter-funded film.  Although it has screened only three times before, the A Dog Named Gucci Facebook page has over 63,000 fans and continues to grow daily.  

The screening will be held on Sunday, August 30th at 10:00 AM at the Red Mountain Theatre Company, 301 19th Street North, Birmingham.  For more information please visit the Sidewalk Film Festival website: www.sidewalkfest.com

The A Dog Named Gucci trailer can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/96602185

For more info please visit: https://www.facebook.com/ADogNamedGucci 

URL: www.WhatWereWeThinkingFilms.com