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Charlie's Scars ...

Charlie's Scars is a 2012 American documentary film directed by Randy Davis. The film focuses on the life of Charlie Petrizzo, including two life-altering accidents that led up to the creation of Project 2 Heal and intertwining with a nationally-known murder case involving Shanda Sharer and Melinda Loveless.

Official Synopsis
Charlie Petrizzo knows about hurt, and the scars it can leave. He also knows about healing. What he never suspected is how little he knew about forgiveness. Charlie Petrizzo looked death in the eye twice - once when he was just four years old and again when he was 16. He survived brain damage, paralysis, burns over almost 70% of his body. He has the scars to prove it.

Charlie's Scars is the story of one man's life-long struggle to heal. For Charlie that has meant more than physical healing. It has been a journey to faith. And it has meant finding meaning and purpose - a calling, if you will - in the life-altering accidents of his childhood. Part of Charlie's healing process has been bringing together dogs with special gifts and children with special needs. Then Charlie learned that the selfless work he was doing meant giving a second chance to a brutal murderer - Melinda Loveless, who murderer 12-yr old Shanda Sharer in 1992. Will Charlie's scars make it impossible for him to continue his work of healing? Will his scars make it impossible for him to offer mercy to a killer, and grant her the second chance at life that he has been given?

What is not expressed in this video is Sally Irvin’s ICAN mission statement that says, “To qualify for the program, offenders must have a background clear of violent behavior.” Melinda Loveless has received special treatment due to her “High Profile” crime.

Story History
Charlie's story begins in Staten Island, NY, where he was born. At 4 years old he was hit by a car, requiring brain surgery and leaving him temporarily, partially paralyzed on one side of his body. His next accident happened when he was only 16, he was working a summer job painting houses and he lost control of an aluminum ladder, hitting a high voltage power line. Charlie was electrocuted at 36,000 volts. The damage was extensive, burning 70% of his body and destroying the muscles on the left side of his body.

Charlie's Mother Carolyn was his greatest inspiration, and when she died he questions his high-paying executive banking job. Petrizzo decides that instead of lining his own pockets, he needs to do something to help society. He quits his job to start a non-profit organization called Project 2 Heal. Project 2 Heal breeds and trains show-quality Labrador Retrievers as skilled companion dogs for children with special needs.

The idea behind Petrizzo's inspiration for Project 2 Heal came when he realized that having a dog around during the recovery time of his two accidents helped him tremendously. He knows that dogs offer healing for children.

In an attempt to provide dogs for people with more pressing needs Petrizzo and Project 2 Heal donate puppies to ICAN AKA: Indiana Canine Assistant Network for training. ICAN’s dogs are trained within the walls of the Indiana Women's Prison, by prisoners. The dogs ICAN trains are highly skilled service dogs and go to people of any age and varied needs. Charlie Petrizzo’s executive banking career should also be taken into consideration when estimating the legitimacy of his charitable intentions, as many wealthy individuals create such charities as a public image and do not reflect their true persona. Charlie was employed as a banking executive at Wachovia Bank’s main office in Charlotte N.C. A May 2007 the New York Times article described Wachovia's negligence in screening or taking action against companies connected to identity theft. These companies used stolen identities to remove funds from personal Wachovia bank accounts via unsigned checks. Wachovia collected millions of dollars in fees from those companies, even as it failed to act on warnings. The United States attorney in Philadelphia said, “Wachovia received thousands of warnings that it was processing fraudulent checks, but ignored them." Wachovia Bank also laundered drug money during Charlie’s executive career there. Wells Fargo has since admitted that its Wachovia unit was involved in money laundering for drug traffickers. Jeffrey Sloman, the chief US prosecutor in the case said, "Wachovia's blatant disregard for our banking laws gave international cocaine cartels a virtual carte blanche to finance their operations.

Cast

 * Charles Petrizzo as himself
 * Jacque Vaught as herself
 * Melinda Loveless as herself
 * Sally Irvin as herself
 * Sally Bell as herself

Production
Charlie's Scars was conceived and produced by Episode XI Studios. This is their first film. Charlie's Scars was directed by Randy Davis. When Episode XI Studios was hired to do a 3-minute corporate video for Project 2 Heal's website they spent a little time interviewing it's founder, Charlie Petrizzo and learned that there was more to his story that could inspire others, so they approached Charlie and asked for permission to turn his life story into a documentary.

Fortunately Charlie Petrizzo and his family agreed to being the subject of this documentary. The events surrounding Charlie's twisted path leading to Melinda Loveless happened during the filming of the movie and were never a part of the original storyline. To date no one else has an interview of Loveless since her original arrest in 1992.

Questions to the legitimacy of this production and its intent as propaganda for Melinda Loveless and Sally Irvin’s ICAN project, must be considered. Especially in regards to the friendship of ICAN’s Sally Irvin and the producer Randy Davis prior to this production, and Randy’s “First Production”, in his entire video career being with Sally and ICAN as its subject.

Reception
Charlie's Scars was selected to show at the Asheville Cinema Festival in Asheville, NC where it won the Festival Favorites Jury Award.

On March 13th, 2012 Charlie's Scars will show at the Charlotte Film Festival in Charlotte, NC.

Awards
Wins
 * Asheville Cinema Festival Festival Favorites Jury Award.