SPIT IT OUT is a funny and poignant portrait of Jeff Shames' successful efforts to come to terms with his stutter and his family's legacy of denial. Jeff's father is intolerant of and rageful towards his son's imperfections, while his mother never discusses her own childhood stutter. As a teenager, Jeff turns to alcohol and drugs to mask his shame, and eventually marries an alcoholic who interacts with the outside world for him. After his wife gets sober, Jeff discovers the stuttering self-help community and embarks on a healing journey of sobriety, self-acceptance and forgiveness. (55 minutes, color, 2004)

PRESS

StutterTalk
Podcast with Jeff Shames
Winter, 2007

NYU Today
Article about Jeff and Spit It Out by Barbara Jester
Winter, 2007

Journal of Fluency Disorders
Review of Spit It Out by Marty Jezer
Winter, 2006

Journal of Fluency Disorders
Review of Spit It Out by M. F. Irwin
Winter, 2006

Air Flow
Review of Spit It Out
Winter, 2005

New York One
Interview with Jeff Shames about Spit It Out and Stuttering or Watch the Video
May 31, 2005

New York Newsday
Article on Jeff Shames and Stuttering
July 6, 2004

Directed by: Jonathan Skurnik
Produced and written by: Jeff Shames and Jonathan Skurnik
Conceived and Developed by: Jeff Shames
Camera: Jonathan Skurnik
Editor: Ingrid Patteta
Consulting Editor: Fernanda Rossi
Composer: James Harding
Co Producers: Kathy Leichter and Elisa DeCarlo

Universities, schools and non-profits can order the film from New Day Films (888) 367-9154

Individuals can order the film (for home viewing only) by emailing Jeff Shames at jefsha@aol.com

Funders
The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council
The Jerome Foundation
Hundreds of Individual Donors

Awards, Festivals, Broadcasts

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