DOG JACK COMES TO THE MOVIES !
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Over 130 years ago a mongrel dog became the mascot of the Fifth Avenue Fire House in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  When the men all volunteered to join the 102^nd Pennsylvania Volunteers DOG JACK became a major part of their Civil War regiment.

During the long marches and the battles the dog endeared himself to the men so much that they refused medical assistance for themselves until their wounded loyal mascot was given treatment.  At one point the dog became a prisoner of war.  For six months he was incarcerated at Belle Isle, Virginia.  Later DOG JACK was actually exchanged for a Confederate Soldier.

Over thirty years ago Florence W. Biros found a huge portrait of the dog hanging on the walls of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Museum in Pittsburgh.  Inspired by his awesome bit of history, she incorporated it in a novel about the dog, a runaway slave boy named Jed and the real-life chaplain, A. M. Stewart.

Fifteen years ago the new book became a best seller, but her longtime dream was to see DOG JACK on film.  Many serious queries about filming the story came, but none came to fruition.  Director Edward T. McDougal of McDougal Films in the Chicago area has always shown an intense interest, yet funds for the production were never made available.

In 2003 a California acquaintance surprised the author by offering venture capital to make her vision become a reality.

Plans are to do part of the filming in Illinois, but the last week in July and the first two weeks in August have been set aside to create the battle scenes at a retreat center - “The Fishers of Boys” - in Darlington, Pennsylvania.  The author, director, and producer hope to hold a premier showing at Pittsburgh’s Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Museum where the portrait of DOG JACK  inspired her to research his story and then to envision him coming alive again on the screen of his museum home. Re-enactors who would like to take part in this filming can email sc@sonrisepublications.com.

Other nearby sites are being scouted.  Among them is the preserved village at Zoar, Ohio where the town becomes the background for major re-enactments. Dennison, Ohio is also of prime interest since it has a late 1800 vintage train station.

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Information about the book and/or the filming can be obtained through
www.sonrisepublications.com or calling 1-800-358-0777 - 10:00 to 12:00 AM weekdays