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3/17/2009 3:33 AM

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By Brad Hundt, Staff writer

bhundt@observer-reporter.com

One of life's little thrills is seeing a movie days, or sometimes weeks, before the rest of the world does.

And on Saturday night, some moviegoers will have the chance to see "Shannon's Rainbow," the family drama filmed partially in Washington County last summer, months before its likely release.

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A "director's pre-screening" will happen Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn at Southpointe. It's a benefit for the Marcus L. Ruscitto Charitable Foundation, which is named for a late Pittsburgh-area entrepreneur and Peters Township High School graduate who died at age 34 in 2004.

The organizers are promising a red carpet, lights and all the Hollywood trimmings along with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Some members of the cast also might be attending, according to Larry Richert, the KDKA-AM radio host who co-wrote the movie's script and was one of its producers.

"We're pretty excited about the end result," Richert said last week. "You never know for sure. You're so close to it, and you've put so much heart and soul into the project, you never know what people will think."

"Shannon's Rainbow" tells the story of a teenage girl who overcomes tragedy by nursing a horse back to health. Its cast includes Steve Guttenberg, Daryl Hannah, Louis Gossett Jr., Claire Forlani and Eric Roberts. The script was written by Richert and Pittsburgh-area actor John Mowod, and was inspired by the rehabilitation of an injured horse at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino in North Strabane Township by Mowod's brother, Joe.

The idea for the benefit screening was hatched last summer. Richert was the master of ceremonies for a golf outing the Marcus L. Ruscitto Foundation was hosting, and he mentioned "Shannon's Rainbow."

"Marcus was a big fan of movies, and he hoped to make a movie in Pittsburgh," according to Jonathan Rosenson, a foundation board member. It would also be a good fundraiser, Rosenson noted, since "there are a lot of people who love movies, while golf has a more limited following."

The print of "Shannon's Rainbow" due to be shown is close to the finished product, though there might be a few sound elements missing. A distribution deal is still being worked out, with an anticipated release sometime in the late summer or fall.

The Marcus L. Ruscitto Foundation, based in New Stanton, gives money to local and regional groups who promote causes that were near-and-dear to Ruscitto, including WQED-TV, Animal Friends and scholarships for budding entrepreneurs.

For information call 724-925-2034 or go online to www.marcusruscittofoundation.org.

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