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Should I give away that I am autistic or is that risky?

ironpony

By ironpony,
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ironpony

ironpony

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In the filmmaking community, where I have worked in, where I live, I pitched an idea for a screenplay to some other filmmakers, and in the script, the protagonist is autistic.  It's a drama based on my experiences, and a story that I experienced myself.  The other filmmakers (not knowing I am autistic), said do not make that movie, as it's much of a hot button topic, and audiences will not want to see a filmmaker tackle autism, even if he had researched it, if he is not autistic himself.

Now I could say that I am autistic, if that means they will be more accepting of me tackling the subject matter.  But if I say that I am, will they not take me as seriously or think of me as less reliable in the filmmaking community as a result?  I already have trouble breaking further into the industry, so I wonder that if mentioning that, to make it more acceptable for me to write and direct such a script, would actually make things worse?   Or maybe not?

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Blind-Sided

Blind-Sided

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Since you seem to be highly functioning... and people don't know you have an issue when they are around you... I would personally NOT let it out.  It could backfire, or you could get things not based off merit.

As far as the core question... this is one problem I've noticed you have.  When you get an answer... you don't like it, and you will continue down a path until you tweak things enough to get the answer you want.  You asked if you should make the movie to peers in the film industry... and they said no.  They know you, and they know the details of the film........ we do not.   I would love to say... "Yes, make what you want"... but since I don't know exactly what it is... then I would have to side with the people who have already answered. (Sorry)

With all that said... since it's your film... and it's your money... do what you want with that script. 

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elaine567

elaine567

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2 hours ago, ironpony said:

Oh okay, what do you mean I could get things not based on merit if I do?

If you tell them you are autistic they may then want to support you by telling you can make the film, "its a great idea", but the real reason they didn't want you to make the film originally was because they didn't think the idea was good enough. 
They thus pushed "audiences will not want to see a filmmaker tackle autism, even if he had researched it, if he is not autistic himself." to put you off.
Once you say you are autistic, It is then difficult to determine whether they really think it is good or they just want to please you as you are autistic,
So it  is "good", not because it is great idea but because you are autistic and they feel sorry for you...
You can be judged not based on merit, but based on your autism.
"It is pretty good for an autistic guy..."

Of course if they are honest people, if you tell them you are autistic they may still not like the idea... so no guarantees
Autism, as well as giving you maybe a leg up, may also ruin your chances of success, so you need to think very carefully before you make it general knowledge.

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basil67

basil67

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Yes, this reaction from the filmmakers is something I've heard too.  It's all part of the "nothing about us without us" idea.   Your work will have far more credibility if you're writing from personal experience.

However, what it ultimately comes down to is whether or not it's a good production.  If it's a great work, they will see you as reliable and talented you will get accolades and open dialogue about autism.  If it's a bad production, nobody will see it and you will have told everyone you're autistic when you may not have otherwise done so. 

My advice is to complete a script and share it and your diagnosis with a small group of people who you trust to be honest and keep your diagnosis to themselves.  See what they say and go from there. Given the cost of making a film I doubt anyone will support you making it out of pity.  In this case, it's important that if they advise against making it you LISTEN to them and take their advice to heart.

 

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ironpony

ironpony

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Oh okay, I will do that.  Thanks!  But what I don't understand is, is it really true that the writer's credibility from personal experience counts as to whether or not a movie is good though?  Whenever I watch a movie, if I like the movie after the credits roll and think it's good, I never say to myself "Well that felt like a really good movie!  But, I don't know if the writer wrote it from personal experience.... I better research that, otherwise what I thought was a good movie, is going to suck if I find out they didn't".

Do other moviegoers really think like that though?

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basil67

basil67

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@ironpony you asked experience filmmakers for advice and they gave it.  Why ask their advice if you're going to ignore it?

To further explain, because my son is autistic, I'm VERY choosy about what I watch about autism.  Generally I avoid TV/movies on the topic because they just don't hold interest for me - I'd much rather read their autobiography or see their life story on film.  

When it comes to film, if I know the story was based on true events and had people with lived experience writing I would give it a chance.  I'm talking about a caption at the start of the movie stating that it was based on a true story and as part of the marketing, the writer doing interviews about their experience and writing the show.   And even with all of this, it would have to have very good writing.   Of course, good writing is a necessity for any TV or movie I watch.

 

 

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Happy Lemming

Happy Lemming

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I'm a little confused??

I thought you were working on a movie about detectives trying to catch a serial rapist (similar to Law and Order - SVU) and now you are working on a movie about autism??

Are you trying to make two movies??

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ironpony

ironpony

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9 hours ago, Happy Lemming said:

I'm a little confused??

I thought you were working on a movie about detectives trying to catch a serial rapist (similar to Law and Order - SVU) and now you are working on a movie about autism??

Are you trying to make two movies??

No I was just entertaining the idea of a new script as well.  In case people do not want to do the other one.

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ironpony

ironpony

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9 hours ago, basil67 said:

@ironpony you asked experience filmmakers for advice and they gave it.  Why ask their advice if you're going to ignore it?

To further explain, because my son is autistic, I'm VERY choosy about what I watch about autism.  Generally I avoid TV/movies on the topic because they just don't hold interest for me - I'd much rather read their autobiography or see their life story on film.  

When it comes to film, if I know the story was based on true events and had people with lived experience writing I would give it a chance.  I'm talking about a caption at the start of the movie stating that it was based on a true story and as part of the marketing, the writer doing interviews about their experience and writing the show.   And even with all of this, it would have to have very good writing.   Of course, good writing is a necessity for any TV or movie I watch.

 

 

It's not that I want to ignore the advice, it's just I do not know how to take it when the advice is extremely circumstantial.  The overall consensus seems to be, the script might be good, but only as long as you the writer is autistic.  So how do take that advice if it's good or not, if you have to be autistic for it to be good.  I just don't know what to think of that, if that makes sense?

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basil67

basil67

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13 minutes ago, ironpony said:

It's not that I want to ignore the advice, it's just I do not know how to take it when the advice is extremely circumstantial.  The overall consensus seems to be, the script might be good, but only as long as you the writer is autistic.  So how do take that advice if it's good or not, if you have to be autistic for it to be good.  I just don't know what to think of that, if that makes sense?

Rather than "good", I think it's more about credibility.

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ironpony

ironpony

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That makes sense to a degree, but I think audiences decide if a movie is good or bad, on what they think of it, when they watch it and do not care about the writer's credibility though, as long as they felt the story was good.

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basil67

basil67

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If you're sure that you're right, why are you asking our opinion?  It's your project and your money to do with as you please.

Edited by a LoveShack.org Moderator
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