Brooke talks to film director Rick Stanton about his film "Spectrum," which he wrote and directed. The film offers a unique portrayal of autism through the lens of his brother, who plays the lead character.

Rick discusses the creative process behind the film, including the decision to cast authentically and the artistic choices that contribute to its raw, realistic feel. He emphasises the importance of showcasing the everyday struggles faced by individuals with disabilities, moving away from the often cutesy representations seen in mainstream media.

The episode also looks into the film's themes of worth and opportunity, as well as the impact of genuine storytelling on audiences. 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• "Spectrum" aims to portray the life of an adult with autism authentically, challenging the common, often cutesy or childlike depictions seen in media. The lead character is played by the director's brother, who has autism, to ensure a genuine representation.
• The film is shot in black and white and in a 4:3 aspect ratio to reflect the lead character's limited worldview. This artistic choice enhances the viewer's connection to the character's experiences and emotions.
• The narrative is inspired by real-life events, including a traumatic incident the director experienced. This personal connection adds depth and authenticity to the story, allowing for a more relatable exploration of autism.
• The film features authentically cast actors with disabilities, which contributes to the film's realism. The casting process involved leveraging the strengths of the actors, allowing for natural performances that resonate with the audience.
• The film emphasises the worth of individuals with disabilities and critiques societal dismissiveness. It aims to inspire viewers to reflect on their perceptions and interactions with people on the autism spectrum, encouraging a more empathetic understanding of their experiences.

BEST MOMENTS

"In the film, the film basically delves into what life is like for an adult with autism." 

"We wanted to depict how my brother's life actually is, where he's just like everybody else and has the same emotional range and troubles." 

"Sometimes people with disabilities can just be sort of disregarded before they've even had a chance." 

"On paper, it's extremely boring... but that's the scene that seems to resonate the most with the autistic community." 

"It was important to us to never sort of bang on about disability."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/disabled-and-proud/id1621152878

HOST BIO

Disabled and Proud is the show that brings listeners a different perspective on disability. Each week this podcast highlights an awesome disabled guest speaking about their own disability; why they are proud to be disabled and why they are proud to be themselves. 

The conversations in this show will look at what challenges these amazing people face socially, mentally, physically and life in general. This show is raw, open, honest, funny, welcoming and educational. 

Disabled & Proud does exactly what it says on the tin! And whilst we are creating this space for disabled people to be unashamedly themselves, without the need to conform to society, this is also not about toxic positivity. This show will be shining a big, bright light on disability without it being “Paralympic or pity”. 

As you will hear disability is WHOLE, COMPLETE & PERFECT and whilst the topic of disability can be quite heavy - and we definitely don't shy away from the bad days - this podcast is also about having fun too! Our aim is to play a part in reclaiming the word disability - turning it from inadequacy to perfection!

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/