GROVE CITY — The red carpet rolls out at the Guthrie Theatre on Friday for the premiere of “Shooting Heroin.”

The film stars Emmy-nominated actor Nicholas Turturro (“Blue Bloods,” “Black KKKlansman,” “The Longest Yard”), Garry Pastore (“The Irishman,” “The Deuce”), and Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (“Welcome Back Kotter” and “Cooley High”).

“Shooting Heroin” is a narrative feature film on the opioid epidemic in rural America. Inspired by true events, this fictional story is about a small town that fights the spread of drugs by whatever means necessary.

“It is a movie about a community that comes together to fight back against the spread of drugs and takes justice into their own hands,” said Spencer T. Folmar, the director, writer and producer of “Shooting Heroin.”

Folmar is formerly of Clearfield but currently lives in Hollywood. He attended Grove City College for his undergraduate degree and received his master's degree in fine arts at New York University.

“I felt compelled to make this feature film after visiting my hometown in Central Pennsylvania three years ago. It was at this time that I saw how terribly the opioid epidemic had devastated the heartland of America,” Folmar said. He said he's lost many classmates and members of his community to drug overdoses.

The movie features, along with Turturro, Pastore and Hilton-Jacobs, Sherilyn Fenn, Alan Powell, Cathy Moriarty, and Rachel Hendrix.

Filmed in Central Pennsylvania in the fall of 2018, it takes place in the fictional town of “Whispering Pines,” which could be any heartland town that has been devastated by the opioid epidemic.

“Even though this story is a fictionalized tale of revenge, grace, and justice ... it is a story that many people unfortunately can relate to,” said Folmar.

The movie has been well received but with a mixed response. “It is very raw and real, and R-rated — just like our world — but we hope that people will support this movie to care for their neighbors and their town to fight back against the spread of drugs,” Folmar said.

This is Folmar's fourth feature film directing, writing and producing. He is a member of the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America and has been in the film business for 13 years.

He's had some local help with this production.

“It is a very pressing topic and relevant today. Spencer felt compelled to tell this story and I wanted to support him,” said William J. Grigsby, CFO and business manager of Veritas Arts who served as the production supervisor on the film.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the film starts at 7 p.m.

WHAT: “Shooting Heroin” movieWHEN: 7 p.m. FridayWHERE: Guthrie Theatre, 232 S. Broad St., Grove CityTICKETS: Online at HeroinFilm.com or at the door.INFO: www.heroinfilm.com or www.VeritasArts.org