“Guilty ‘Til Proven Innocent” is a documentary film examining laws which ban or restrict the ownership of certain breeds or types of dogs – namely pit bull terriers, called breed specific legislation (BSL).
During the mid-1980s, pit bull dogs became the target of legislation sweeping across the United States in the name of public safety after attacks became leading headlines in the national mainstream news media.
Using the state of Ohio as the backdrop, the film takes place in a suburb of Cleveland in the spring of 2008 after Lakewood City Council proposes a ban on pit bull dogs. GTPI guides the viewer through the entire process of proposal and passage of the law, the enforcement, and its subsequent repeal a decade later.
Premiere: April 28, 2013
Capitol Theatre | Cleveland, Ohio
Re-Release: April 28, 2019
Cuyahoga County Public Library | Parma, Ohio
A River Fire Films & Enigma Digital Media Production
Directed by:
Jeff Theman
Produced by:
Jeff Theman
Bryan Porter
Edited by:
Bryan Porter
Camera:
Jeff Theman
Bryan Porter
Rob Reiland
Aerial Footage by:
Aerial Agents
Drone Pilot:
Thomas Wasinski
Sound Editor:
Bryan Porter
Assistant Editor:
Jeff Theman
Original Music by:
Daniel Botello
Allison Piccioni
Alex Hitchens
Joseph Lynn Duckett
Music:
“Paramnesia” by Ceterum
“Solar Traveler” by Emmett Cooke
“Save The World” by Emmett Cooke
“To Dream Of Better Days” by Emmett Cooke
“Spiritual Walk” by Emmett Cooke
“Soulful Reflection” by Emmett Cooke
“A New Adventure Awaits” by Emmett Cooke
“Steal My Heart” by Tim Raymond
Research by:
Jeff Theman
Artwork by:
Jeff Lutch
Bryan Porter
Leonard Shelton
Ken McCort
Bob Hickey
Jonathon Bozak
Jean Donaldson
Rebecca Huss
Dan Haude
Kristi Haude
Dr. Ellen Casper
Jason Brown
Jeannine Zabriskie
Neal Zimmers
Don Cleary
Jean Keating
Ben Konop
JC Reindl
Barbara Sears
Ledy VanKavage
Julia Szabo
Brian Powers
Maria Johnston
Victoria Zeiger
Shana Klein
David Theman
Jeff Theman
Shelley Theman
Dawn Stretar
Janine Chmielewski
Mike Kehl
Dr. Bob Kaplan
Ed Dickson
Matt Zone
Jennifer Scott
Greg Murray
Meghan George
Dan O’Malley
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland.com
WKYC Cleveland
WEWS Cleveland
Fox 8 Cleveland
WOIO Cleveland
The Morning Journal
Lakewood Observer
Lakewood Sun Post
City of Lakewood
Columbus Dispatch
Toledo Blade
Dayton Daily News
WUPW Toledo
WTOL Toledo
The Ohio Channel
Ideastream
Billings Gazette
Seatle PI
KOMO Seattle
The News Tribune
KIRO Seattle
The Spokesman Review
The Seattle Times
Fox News
Ohio News Network
WLWT Cincinnati
WPVI Philadelphia
Sports Illustrated
KXAN Austin
WFMJ Youngstown
WTVG Toledo
KUSA Denver
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