Inspiring Documentary Screening in Gloucester – Oct. 14, 15, 23

Winner of the #1 Audience Favorite Award at five film festivals in a row, an inspiring new documentary about a hero for people with disabilities will be screening three times in the Doctoberfest Documentary Film Festival at the Cape Ann Community Cinema in Gloucester on Wed. October 14 (11 am), Thur. October 15 (5 pm), and Fri. October 23 (5 pm). This is your first chance to see “A Friend Indeed – The Bill Sackter Story” in Massachusetts, a heartwarming feature-length documentary created by award-winning Iowa filmmaker Lane Wyrick.

In 1981, actor Mickey Rooney portrayed Bill Sackter’s life in the highly successful television drama “Bill”, which depicted Bill’s unique relationship with young college student Barry Morrow (played by Dennis Quaid). Their friendship developed shortly after Bill’s release from Faribault Institution in Minnesota where he had spent 44 years of his life for mild mental retardation. Barry’s compassion for Bill and deep concern for his situation led him to taking the unprecedented step of becoming Bill’s legal guardian to keep Bill from being sent back to the institution.
This new documentary “A Friend Indeed – The Bill Sackter Story” gives viewers the opportunity to know the real Bill Sackter, Barry Morrow and many others who were close to Bill, in an entertaining production full of heart and emotion. The 90-minute feature length production uses actual film and video footage and photos of Bill (captured in the 1970’s and 80’s by Barry Morrow and others), along with interviews with the people closest to Bill, filmed more recently by Wyrick.
During the final years of Bill’s life, his positive attitude, passion for the harmonica, and enthusiastic embrace of everyone he met began to get Bill noticed. As proprietor of “Wild Bill’s Coffee Shop” on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Bill’s striking personality led to his rise as a local “celebrity”, and eventually to his becoming a national leader in a movement that helped normalize peoples’ reactions to people with disabilities. He was honored with many awards and was even invited as a guest at the White House, all the while retaining his humble and caring personality and love for all people, especially children.
“A Friend Indeed” is filled with lots of emotion, evoking laughter, tears, and ultimately leaving audiences with a real feeling of inspiration. And it shows how a little care and attention can truly transform someone’s life and enrich us all. The emotion of the film is greatly enhanced by the full orchestral music score created by Hollywood-trained composer Peter Bloesch who closely collaborated with Wyrick throughout the production to interweave the rich music score seamlessly into the fabric of the story.
At every screening “A Friend Indeed – The Bill Sackter Story” has been enjoyed by people of all ages and backgrounds, and is especially being embraced by people with disabilities, their families and disability organizations, the Christian and Jewish community due to Bill’s unique all-encompassing faith (he was Bar Mitzvahed at age 66 and attended Catholic and Protestant churches at the same time), and by moviegoers that are looking for a very positive, inspirational experience that will touch their hearts and bring them to tears.
Tickets to the event are $9 ($7.50 seniors / $6 members) and may be purchased at the Cape Ann Community Cinema Box Office (21 Main Street, Gloucester, MA).
For complete details, please visit http://www.BillSackter.com
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Contact info:

Lane Wyrick – Director/Editor of “A Friend Indeed – The Bill Sackter Story”
Email: Lane@BillSackter.com
Website: http://www.BillSackter.com
Photos and other press related items are available at: http://www.BillSackter.com/Press_and_Promotional_Tools.html