Filmmaker Johnny Symons on Public Media

Filmmaker Johnny Symons dropped by ITVS earlier this year and described his experience working with the organization as an independent producer of Public Media. His documentary Daddy & Papa is currently streaming free as part of ITVS’s Indies Showcase.

Tags: daddy & papa, Johnny Symons, public media

Top Five LGBT Films with Pride

By Johnny Symons

Johnny Symons has made two films with ITVS: Ask Not and Daddy & Papa. In celebration of LGBT month this June, the Bay Area filmmaker offered BTB his top five, favorite LGBT films.

I make non-fiction films about the LGBT experience to help right a wrong:  there aren’t nearly enough authentic, complex images of gay people out there.  The result is that too many people – gay and straight – perpetuate narrow, homophobic stereotypes, and continue to live in fear.  My work is inspired by other gay documentaries, including the ones below.  I plan to keep making films like these until there’s no more need for them.
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Tags: gay pride, Independent Lens, independent producer, ITVS, Johnny Symons, LGBT, pride month, public media

Ask Not Snags Outstanding Doc at GLAAD Awards

ITVS-funded Ask Not by Johnny Symons was honored for Outstanding Documentary at the GLAAD Media Awards earlier this month in San Francisco. Ask Not originally aired in June 2009 on Independent Lens.

Equally important is the attention such an award will draw to the national debate over Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT.) The film explores the genesis of that policy from its inception under then-President Clinton in 1993.

Ask Not sheds light on how DADT has prevented some of America’s most talented recruits from serving their country. Examples include skilled Arabic translators so desperately needed in Afghanistan and Iraq combat, ordered to be silent and celibate or else be removed from duty.

“This was a fun award to receive and a great acknowledgment of the film and the issue,” said Symons.

The hype around Ask Not could not come at a more relevant time. At his State of the Union address this past January, President Obama vowed to repeal DADT during his first term. Soon after, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm Mike Mullen also denounced the policy before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

The film also recently aired on Capitol Hill to coincide with Congressional hearings on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell.

Congratulations to Johnny and his team!

Tags: Ask Not, don't ask don't tell, gay rights, Johnny Symons, Military