P R E S S
In September 2008, a segment on Ask Not is featured on public television’s award-winning national gay cultural series IN THE LIFE in an episode titled “A Festival of Film.”
To see a sneak preview, click here inthelifetv.org
To find out when IN THE LIFE screens in your area, click here inthelifescreenings
REVIEWS
“Potent…engrossing…brisk and smart.”
—Dennis Harvey, Variety variety.com
“Award-winning Bay Area filmmaker Johnny Symons adds to his string of excellent documentaries on gay culture with this stinging examination of the policy’s failure and injustice. Warmly personal, politically incisive and straightforward, Ask Not should be required viewing this election season.”
—Deanna Quinones, San Francisco International Film Festival
“The film makes an irrefutable case for repealing the folly of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ ”
—David Wiegand, “Chronicle Picks: A Feast of Film at the Fest,” San Francisco Chronicle
“With perfect timing, Johnny Symons has given us a marvelous, stirring gift of a film…Go see it.”
—David Mixner, davidmixner.com
“The country’s flagging military is now accepting criminals and youth with mental issues, and has even lowered the IQ standards, but the Armed Services continue to refuse to take “out and proud” gays and lesbians. In his excellent new film, Ask Not, Johnny Symons explores the irony of the current situation…Symons’ film is an elegant case asking not to let this continue.”
—Kathleen Wilkinson, Curve Magazine curvemag.com
“Every registered American voter should be required to see this film. It’s amazing in this day and age that injustices such as these still reside in the “land of the free.”
—Cinebanter cinebanter.blogspot.com
“A vivid behind-the-scenes portrait of the movement to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell…”[a] singular achievment.”
—David Lamble, Bay Area Reporter ebar.com
“[Johnny Symons’] most provocative film to date…Symons creates a visible stage for people to interact with the tougher issues in the gay and lesbian community.”
—Michelle Michael, On Screen Magazine 911media-testing.org
“Since its adoption in 1993, more than 12,000 queer soldiers have been discharged, while the remaining 65,000 are compelled to keep their sexual identity a secret. Symons, who spotlighted the hurdles of gay and lesbian Americans in Daddy & Papa and Beyond Conception, explores this under-reported situation in the straight-shooting documentary Ask Not.”
—Michael Fox, SF360 sf360.org
“Praise to Johnny Symons for sternly continuing the documentation of the various aspects of contemporary gay culture and offering more human and real portrayals than those usually offered by mainstream fictional movies.”
—Jano Cortigo, Edge Magazine edgenewyork.com
“A thorough look at the military’s homophobic policies.”
—Brandon Judell, Indiewire indiewire.com
“Compelling…thoughtful and poignant.”
—Anthony Falzone, Executive Director, Fair Use Project, Stanford Law School cyberlaw.stanford.edu
“After all that’s been done to try to suppress, conceal and deny the truth about gays and lesbians in uniform, Ask Not is a great gift. A rigorous and heartfelt look at the true costs of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the film gives voice to men and women who too often can’t be heard, and brings light to a subject that—absurdly—remains very much in the shadows.”
—Dr. Nathaniel Frank, Senior Research Fellow, Palm Center, palmcenter.org
To see short podcasts about the film, including clips and interviews with the director, click below:
NBC mediafly.com
CBS cbs5.com
In September 2008, a segment on Ask Not is featured on public television’s award-winning national gay cultural series IN THE LIFE in an episode titled “A Festival of Film.”
To see a sneak preview, click here inthelifetv.org
To find out when IN THE LIFE screens in your area, click here inthelifescreenings
REVIEWS
“Potent…engrossing…brisk and smart.”
—Dennis Harvey, Variety variety.com
“Award-winning Bay Area filmmaker Johnny Symons adds to his string of excellent documentaries on gay culture with this stinging examination of the policy’s failure and injustice. Warmly personal, politically incisive and straightforward, Ask Not should be required viewing this election season.”
—Deanna Quinones, San Francisco International Film Festival
“The film makes an irrefutable case for repealing the folly of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ ”
—David Wiegand, “Chronicle Picks: A Feast of Film at the Fest,” San Francisco Chronicle
“With perfect timing, Johnny Symons has given us a marvelous, stirring gift of a film…Go see it.”
—David Mixner, davidmixner.com
“The country’s flagging military is now accepting criminals and youth with mental issues, and has even lowered the IQ standards, but the Armed Services continue to refuse to take “out and proud” gays and lesbians. In his excellent new film, Ask Not, Johnny Symons explores the irony of the current situation…Symons’ film is an elegant case asking not to let this continue.”
—Kathleen Wilkinson, Curve Magazine curvemag.com
“Every registered American voter should be required to see this film. It’s amazing in this day and age that injustices such as these still reside in the “land of the free.”
—Cinebanter cinebanter.blogspot.com
“A vivid behind-the-scenes portrait of the movement to repeal “don’t ask, don’t tell…”[a] singular achievment.”
—David Lamble, Bay Area Reporter ebar.com
“[Johnny Symons’] most provocative film to date…Symons creates a visible stage for people to interact with the tougher issues in the gay and lesbian community.”
—Michelle Michael, On Screen Magazine 911media-testing.org
“Since its adoption in 1993, more than 12,000 queer soldiers have been discharged, while the remaining 65,000 are compelled to keep their sexual identity a secret. Symons, who spotlighted the hurdles of gay and lesbian Americans in Daddy & Papa and Beyond Conception, explores this under-reported situation in the straight-shooting documentary Ask Not.”
—Michael Fox, SF360 sf360.org
“Praise to Johnny Symons for sternly continuing the documentation of the various aspects of contemporary gay culture and offering more human and real portrayals than those usually offered by mainstream fictional movies.”
—Jano Cortigo, Edge Magazine edgenewyork.com
“A thorough look at the military’s homophobic policies.”
—Brandon Judell, Indiewire indiewire.com
“Compelling…thoughtful and poignant.”
—Anthony Falzone, Executive Director, Fair Use Project, Stanford Law School cyberlaw.stanford.edu
“After all that’s been done to try to suppress, conceal and deny the truth about gays and lesbians in uniform, Ask Not is a great gift. A rigorous and heartfelt look at the true costs of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, the film gives voice to men and women who too often can’t be heard, and brings light to a subject that—absurdly—remains very much in the shadows.”
—Dr. Nathaniel Frank, Senior Research Fellow, Palm Center, palmcenter.org
To see short podcasts about the film, including clips and interviews with the director, click below:
NBC mediafly.com
CBS cbs5.com