“Hire different.”
That was the challenge posed to the entertainment industry by Judi Uttal, president of the Orange County Aspergers Support Group, at the inaugural Autism in Entertainment Conference on Friday morning. As head chair, she welcomed in a colorful audience of over 100 skilled neurodivergent filmmakers, ready and willing to take their shot at show business.
“You are the cream of the crop,” Uttal stated in her opening remarks. “You are people who should be employed.”
With over 120 employers present at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, the Autism in Entertainment Conference was one of the largest industry networking events for neurodivergent creatives. By providing much needed resources and support, Uttal hopes to launch careers for an entire wave of autistic creators.
“Our mission is to increase employment of work ready autistic talent in the entertainment space,” Uttal said, addressing the crowd. “And all of you are work ready.”
Here are five takeaways from the Autism in Entertainment Conference.
Diversity in the work place means neurodiversity.
The topic of diversity has been a huge point of discussion for industry players looking to bring new perspectives into their productions. But a group that is often left out of that conversation, is neurodivergent talent.
“Always, when I’m casting or hiring writers, you have to have diversity,” said Scott Steindorff, Emmy award-winning television and film producer. “But neurodiversity is not part of that, and it needs to be part of it.”
Steindorff, who has ADHD and Autism, has worked with some of entertainment’s most prolific talent, including Paul Newman, Anthony Hopkins, Matthew McConaughey and Robert Downey Jr. In his latest documentary “Understanding Autism,” Steindorff travels around the country interviewing doctors, teachers, autistic individuals and their families in hopes of replacing the stigmas around autism with acceptance.
“It’s very important for [people] to understand autism and spectrum issues, because it’s a big component of humanity. 1 out of 6 kids has autism, ADHD, dyslexia, you know, so it’s a high percentage. So shouldn’t that be represented in film and television?” Stiendorff asked.
Elaine Hall, an acting coach and founder of neurodivergent acting school the Miracle Project, helped with “Understanding Autism.” Having worked with so many autistic actors and being autistic herself, she understands the benefits of having a neurodiverse production firsthand.
“The industry needs to know that they’re missing out. And these myths about what a person on the spectrum can do or complete, they’re upside down,” Hall said. “Focus, concentration, the ability to bring a fresh and new idea, it enhances every production.”
There is demand for autistic voices in entertainment.
It’s not just that the neurodivergent community is looking to join the industry, but many already within show business are eager to have autistic creatives join their ranks. Entertainment giants like Nickelodeon, Disney and Cartoon Network have already recruited dozens of autistic employees. Liz Kelly, who oversees staffing for television writing and directing at Disney, is always on the hunt for “passionate, inclusive voices,” which includes members of the autism community.
“What we do, is we develop those voices. We provide access and exposure for those voices, to our executives or shows or producers,” Kelly explained. “And our goal is to get people in seats, to get them jobs and to get them started.”
Kelly worked on the ABC drama “The Good Doctor,” in which the main character, Dr. Shaun Murphy (Freddie Highmore), is autistic. In 2020, new episodes of the series saw north of 7 million viewers.
“I think that show has been so successful because the character of Dr. Shaun Murphy, being someone with [autism spectrum disorder], is someone that I think a lot of audiences can really relate to,” Kelly said. “Whether or not you yourself have autism or you’re on the spectrum or you’re just different in some way.”
Autistic filmmakers are working on your favorite shows.
The work of neurodivergent filmmakers can already be seen in some of the most popular movies and television shows thanks to the work of David Siegel, the executive director of Exceptional Minds. Since 2011, the nonprofit educational program has taught autistic individuals skills like visual effects, animation and 3D video game design. Through Exceptional Minds’ in house design studio, graduates from the program have had the opportunity to work with some of Hollywood’s biggest names.
“We’ve done consistent, amazing post production service work out our visual effects studio for Marvel. We’ve worked on over 50 of their movies and television series,” explained Siegel. “I mean, the stories are incredible…they want access to our talent, not just because it feels good, but because it is really good for business.”
One of the many success stories to arise from Exceptional Minds is Kate Jorgensen, who after graduation, went on to be a production coordinator for Nickelodeon. After four years with the network, she returned to Exceptional Minds, where she now oversees production at its effects studio.
“Hollywood has a history of not being very kind, but there’s a real shift… openness and inclusivity [is becoming] important,” Jorgensen said. “And I really saw that through this next generation of shareholders coming in… [they were] like, ‘I’m gonna give you these opportunities.’”
The industry can be doing more to help.
If those in entertainment want to welcome autistic voices into the industry, things need to change. Cian O’Clery, director of Netflix’s “Love on the Spectrum“, has been at the forefront of elevating neurodivergent voices since the reality series first released in Australia in 2019. He said, although “there’s no one size fits all approach,” more companies should be “open to meeting each individual at wherever level they’re at and working out what their needs might be.”
“What I wish neurotypicals [knew] about neurodivergent people, is that we all have a different way of thinking,” Dani Bowman added, one of the stars of “Love on the Spectrum.” “Just because we’re quirky doesn’t really mean we’re a deficit to the society. We just have an ability. We are an untapped resource when it comes to work and employment or someone that would that could make your day worthwhile.”
Bowman started her animation company Danimation at 14 years old, and has since been traveling around the country speaking and teaching other autistic individuals about how to begin their careers as animators.
Steve Spitz, another “Love on the Spectrum” cast member, said that just being able to attend events like the Autism in Entertainment Conference makes a tremendous difference, and when supported by his peers, he feels a “special comfort that I don’t always feel everywhere else.”
“I do often worry that I’m not up to speed with other people, in many ways, and the technology is one example. But when I can have an opportunity to express what I feel, and furthermore, connect with people, just like we are all doing together, right here, [it] is special,” Spitz said.
Autistic creatives are making an impact.
The first movie director, writer and animator Jorge Gutiérrez watched in theaters was Disney’s 1940 film “Pinocchio,” and although he was not diagnosed as autistic until age 40, he always felt different.
“For a long time, I was obsessed with becoming a ‘real boy’,” Gutiérrez recalled. “I think even back then I knew I wanted to be like everyone else, I wanted to be normal. My family was super loving, and they said, ‘He’s a little weird, he just really likes to draw.’ And that’s when I realized I was not like the other kids.”
However, it was that something different that would shape Gutiérrez as a storyteller. Gutiérrez would go on to create award winning animated films and television series such as “El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera” and “The Book of Life.” He has also collaborated with some of biggest companies in tech and entertainment, including Netflix, Disney, Google and Microsoft.
And while he admits there has been many challenges along the way, Gutiérrez understands that his autism helped achieve success in filmmaking.
“I know people define being on the spectrum in very different ways, but for me, I really believe we do think differently,” said Gutiérrez. “And I do think thinking different is a strength. In history, all the big leaps happened because someone thought differently.”
(Pictured: Scott Steindorff, Elaine Hall, Jorge Gutiérrez, Zhara Astra and Judi Uttal)