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The day my whole life changed was not as obvious back then, but in retrospect is starkly apparent. That day has become the reason I wake up every morning. I have always been an animal lover, especially dogs, and I wanted to raise awareness about the cruelty that exists against our four-legged companions. In early 2007, I decided to put my creative talents to use and produce a documentary about animal abuse in general. I wanted to narrow down the topic to one of the many types of cruelty, so I embarked on a mission to find the issue that needed the change the most.
After many weeks and countless hours spent barricaded in my Lakewood, Ohio apartment, brainstorming possible topics for this film, a well known star NFL quarterback was suspected of dogfighting crimes. On April 25, 2007, I had an epiphany, this was sign I was looking for, and started planning my new film with the idea of exposing dogfighting, with an emphasis on the victims - the dogs. It wasn't until nearly a year later that "Guilty 'Til Proven Innocent" became the film that it is today. The city in which I lived in proposed a ban of Pit Bull-type (and "Canary") dogs, just as I was in the middle of adopting my American Pit Bull Terrier, Preston. Preston is a little black dog, who was saved from an Akron, Ohio house during a drug bust where they used him fighting. The first day I met him, I knew that he was my soul dog; I knew he was meant for me.
Preston had spent two years in the rescue getting passed over
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It took five months and a new residence outside of Lakewood to finally bring Preston home. We've now had three years to bond, and to prove to the public that dogs should be judged on a level playing field, based on their actual actions. Because everything that Preston has endured, and as friendly as he is to any human willing to give him a chance, he continues to change people's minds, and makes them question the same things I did not long ago.
It is these questions that the the tagline of the film asks: "Do we have a dangerous dog breed problem..., or just dangerous laws targeting dogs?" When people ask me why I chose to explore breed discrimination with this documentary, I tell them, I didn't choose the film, the film chose me.
Jeffrey Theman
www.GTPIfilm.com - official film website
www.facebook.com/GuiltyTilProvenInnocent
www.facebook.com/Preston.aka.Pig - Preston's facebook fan page
3 comments:
My mother called her gas company to ask why her meter had not been read, she was told a "vicious dogs" tag had been placed on her address. Mom laughed & said "I have 2 chihuahuas. But, the meter is outside the 6' fence." Her neighbours meter is directly across from hers & was being read monthly. Pitties arent the only ones with a bad rep. However, I'm glad this has been looked into, bravo!
I know Jeff personally and professionally. He is a truly inspirational person and an incredibly thorough professional. I sincerely hope his work receives the recognition it deserves, both as an advocacy tool and as a testament to years of blood, sweat, and tears that Jeff has put into the film.
Super post! I`ll send it to all my friends!
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