Vuguru Completes Film Exploring Gripping Personal Stories of People Impacted by Both Sides of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

Film timed to historic September 20th repeal date

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell – Written, Created by & Starring Marc Wolf; Directed by John C. Walsh; Produced by Daryl Roth; Creative Consultation by Mary Harron

BEVERLY HILLS, CA (August 31, 2011) – Timed to the historic repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, independent studio Vuguru today announced completion of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, a film that tells the stories of eighteen real-life characters and depicts the profound impact on both sides of the controversial “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” rule.

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell uses three years of interviews with hundreds of soldiers and veterans, male and female, gay and straight and transforms those conversations into powerful performances that explore every facet of this hot button issue. In the film, Wolf re-enacts, from a first-person perspective, conversations and personal anecdotes ranging from former US Army Staff Sergeant Miriam Ben Shalom detailing her dishonorable discharge from the military; US Navy Officer Al Portes testifying before a congressional hearing that he “will refuse to serve with gays in the military”; an anonymous colonel describing the U.S. Marine Corps as a "hotbed of homosexuality"; Prof. Charles Moskos, the creator of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, justifying it’s creation; and a mother recounting the life-altering experience of being asked to identify of the remains of her dead son, killed by his squad because he was gay. Don’t Ask Don’t Don’t Tell adapts Marc Wolf’s Obie Award-winning one man show Another American: Asking and Telling, marking the first time an Off-Broadway show has been tailored for multi-platform distribution.

Marc Wolf noted “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has always been, and will always be, about Silence. In the late ‘90s, I started interviewing military personnel who were silenced by our federal government because of their sexual orientation, and my goal is to tell their stories to as many people as possible. With the imminent fall of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” this series becomes the story of the struggle to break the Silence.”

“This project deals with a major socio-political issue facing our country and Marc’s riveting stage performance needed to be seen by as broad an audience as possible,” said Larry Tanz, President of Vuguru. “We have an exciting multi-platform distribution plan that will be unveiled in the days to come, in the meantime we’re thrilled to be able to share the trailer for this compelling narrative.”

Vuguru’s Chief Creative Officer Kristin Jones added “In collaboration with Marc Wolf, Don't Ask Don’t Tell’s talented filmmakers have translated the material from a contained one-man show into a compelling cinematic experience which only serves to enhance Marc’s groundbreaking performance.”

Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Producer Daryl Roth, a distinguished Theatre Producer who fostered the play from its inception Off Broadway to film, holds the singular distinction of producing six Pulitzer Prize-winning plays, including Anna in the Tropics; August: Osage County; How I Learned to Drive; Proof; Wit; and Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women. Roth also produced the 2011 Tony Award-winning revival of The Normal Heart.

“Marc Wolf’s brilliant and provocative Don’t Ask Don’t Tell is more important now than ever,” said Roth. “As the law finally changes, the timeliness of this message and the compelling and powerful stories he tells are particularly poignant as Marc gives voice to those who were unable to speak for themselves.”

Other key behind-the-scenes participants in the project include Director John C. Walsh, Creative Consultant Mary Harron (American Psycho, I Shot Andy Warhol) and Producers Tara Power and Joselyn Allen (Decoupage Productions).

Vuguru has created multiple social media channels as a forum for news and information about the repeal, and encourages everyone to join the dialogue and share their views and experiences surrounding Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.

To view the trailer for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell visit: www.vuguru.com/projects/don’t-ask-don’t-tell

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