Hollywood's Exclusion of Autistic Actors Highlights its Biggest Diversity Problem: Disability

Post Reply New Topic

This is a topic that's been on my mind before.

Aside from the hurdles that autistics face in being represented in media, let alone, be even portrayed by an actual autistic person, are the social rigors involved in becoming an actor. What do I mean by that?

Most actors have sociable personalities, that do well when it comes to making first impressions, getting others to do social favors for them or vice-verca - they have the social know-how to advance in the field, which are most the things that are obstacles or barriers to those of us autistics. It's just like how it is difficult for autistic activists to be heard, because we lack the natural NT charisma that communicates well to other NTs. That's not to say it's not possible. Aubrey Plaza was so awkward in her interview for Parks and Recreation, that her awkwardness in itself was an asset, but the reality is for us autistics, as long as we are under-represented by media, and NT's social charm plays into their ability to more likely obtain these roles, it's a very steep uphill to climb.

The only solution I see that can work this out is greater representation of autistics, and a mindful casting director that is specifically looking for an autistic actor. I don't see that happening on a large scale, but it might make it in an indie production.

Boy with Autism Makes Television Debut in Children's Show Coming to Netflix Oct.1 Charlie Owens Takes on Disability Stigma in Easterseals' Episode of Mack & Moxy

hmmm I wonder why there are so few autistic actors nor are they in high demand? Maybe it's because we can't act because of our disorder.

We have to script and act as NT as possible everyday to fit in enough to be employable and accepted. There are exceptions and some autistics have found ways to be able to use thier traits but that does not change the basic overall situation. Creative people are pretty much expected to be "eccentric" and "difficult". They call it "Hollywierd" for a reason. Are actors with autism more difficult to handle then actors who are alchohol or drug addicts or cheaters and abusers of multiple women or all of the above? If actors chronically missing appointees because they are "sleeping it off" is accepted why not actors missing appointments due to sensory overload?

I would assume he main issues would be with the networking and marketing as demonstratrated in this 1989 interview with an increasingly uncomfortable and stimmy Darryl Hannah

And you don't think it's possible for an autistic person to be all that? There is a disadvantage.

Hollywood only pretends to be sympathetic towards the disenfranchised. If their is no money to be made in it, than they are not interested. I think its hard to find autistic actors when most of us don't like being in the lime light. I know I have never liked being the center of attention but at the same time I did minor in theater because I love acting. I just have a minor in it. Only been in a few plays, mainly because my memory is terrible. I would like to see more realistic diversity of autistic people.

this^^^^^

Hollywood was not and never will be an identity politics showcase. Don't expect fairness, representation, etc.... Any putative "progress" on this front will be an afterthought to the Brass and hard one.

Hollywood has only ever had one purpose, namely, attracting eyeballs to adverts in order to make MONEY.

The purpose of all TV programming is to get you to watch adverts NOT sitcoms, the show is only the lure not the raison d'etre.

Well perhaps those of you who've been able to do that would be decent actors. I myself have never fit in or been able to 'act' normal. People don't always know for sure I am on the autistic spectrum, but they can certainly tell something is different/odd about me. I could maybe play the role of an unusual character...but I certainly could not play a normal person.

Arghhh!! !

I meant ....hard won...not hard one....crickey
fml

I hope Alex Plank continues to advocate for us in Hollywood and the media in general

There are some HFA actors but they never made their diagnosis public.

True indeed. Similar to how trans activists want trans people portraying trans characters and trans directors making movies with transgender characters, the same should happen with Autistic people.

I would say that one of the main reasons why there aren't many autistic people in actings is probably the same reason why there aren't many autistic celebrities full stop (apart from perhaps Temple Grandin lol although i wouldn't label her as her as an A list celebrity).

The world of modern celebrities is similar these days to the world of modern politics and art.
I believe that their a a number of factors which will determine as to whether you will be successful or not, and believe it or not, in this day and age it isn't always down to whether you are the best person for the job.

Other factors come into play which require either an already established network of working relationships, or the specialist skills (on top of your talent) to create that network.

I know this from my own life experience, not from being a famous celebrity but from haven developed specific skills that would logically make me a celebrity (a famous music producer/artist) but instead have led me to having my intellectual and creative copyright works being stolen by people who do not have my skill set, innovative specialist mindset and without haven done the many years of self directed learning.

People who make it these days are allowed to make it by the power elite establishment. The reasons why these people make it and others do not can be various, however, if you do not already have an established network of relationships in your industry of choice through family etc. and you are not "in fashion" due to present trends which are influenced by whats going on in the world today which ranges from basic fashion, world events and politics etc.
Then you will need a very strong additional skill set to manover your way into success and it is this additional skill set that i believe is the problem with people who are on the spectrum.

This skill set I would argue would need to include skills that people on the spectrum find extremely hard to use and most simply fail in, or refuse to develop. Skills such as in psychological manipulation, lying, slandering, stealing, intentionally hurting others chances, bullying others, flattering, bribing, flirting and other traits which most people on the spectrum either have a deficit in, are completely repulsed by, or both.

So that's the first area where problems may arise.

Another area that people on the spectrum will have problems in is the areas where having to deal with stress and other mental health problems. I believe that being famous is not for the weak hearted, is a highly competitive and arguably self centered working environment that is occupied by megalomaniacal sociopaths.

Imagine, your every move being under the watchful eyes of the paparazzi or even the general public armed with portable camera enabled mobile phones. What ever you do or say will be scrutinized and exploited by the press and media, sometimes for political reasons, some times just to make money in a big story, and in other times because your competition has the press working for them and have made an agreement for their buddies in the press to take you out. And that's when you have done something worthy of being reported. At other times, the press and dishonest people will simply make things up.

In this day and age every one wants to be famous and some will go to great and sometimes dishonest lengths in order to gain fame or at the very least infamy.

The last thing anyone wants is to be the next big thing that's in the papers for yet another sex scandal because some unknown mad self publicist takes a bribe from an unscrupulous journalist who decides to invent a story to make (money) and headlines at your cost.

Such things I believe do happen, and some times take years to be sorted out, by which your career and life have been ruined and half the world will always believe that you are guilty even if you have been proven in the highest court of law to be completely innocent and the accusations without any substance.

In addition, I believe that a fair amount of the entertainment industry now runs on propaganda and some, on stolen creative and intellectual works.

I just think that many aspo's simply do not have the complex skill set to survive or to rise in such a difficult and competitive working environment. Also, I would like to add, due to the rigid and honest traits that many aspo's likely have, such aspo's would in fact hate such a working environment anyway and be disgusted by those social chameleon's around them who have managed to manipulate their way to success.

In a lot of ways, I personally think that being an honest aspo is better and more preferable than being a famous celebrity as at least you still have your integrity, where I would say that most of the entertainment industry, not to mention those who work in media and politics do not.

Up the Aspo's!

Sorry. forgot to mention.
I do like the idea of having aspo actors play aspo's like any area.
Or even an aspo playing themselves, which would be even more interesting.

But unfortunately i think that the way the industry works, if you have an interesting story to tell then your story will more likely be stolen by those who are already established in the industry, twisted to suit their political needs and then released without any details that can be used to identify you which will give you any grounds to sue for theft or slander etc.

Such stories will then be given to one of the in-fashion go to actor lovies of the time who will then be given praise for their great acting while the script writers or authors, producers etc will be awarded for their original story while you will get nothing.

All the already famous and extremely wealthy people involved will then reap the financial and implicated rewards and you will be left with nothing or even less than when before you told your story, as your story will no longer be original and always be compared to the story that the hollywood stars brought out years before you got yours out.

So, you end up angry, frustrated and abused with no avenue to find justice because the people who you are up against are simply too wealthy, influential and powerful.

This is the world we live in now, and i am simplifying things. Imagine how more complicated this becomes if you introduce modern methods (illegal may i add) that people in politics, entertainment and journalism/media are using to collect intel on interesting people whom they are either blatantly stealing creative and intellectual copyright works from or who they are using as the basis of their characters in their own creative and intellectual copyright work. Think how hacking, cyberstalking, eavesdropping and police (yes really, the police) surveillance technology has evolved and how easy it is for those with the power and connections to exploit undetected.

Also, imagine being targeted by a team of show biz lovies who have access to all these avenues of surveillance and who use you and your daily life as the basis for their character/s in their creative and intellectual works?
How would you prove this? how would you stop them if you decided you no longer liked them doing this? How could you get the police especially if the police in your area may even be involved? (you may think i am joking, but if the money is great enough and there are famous people involved, how many of your local police force will get involved with the rich and famous who are masters of manipulation?).

Unfortunately we now live in a world where there is no real privacy and where their is only protection for those who can afford it. Normal people need not apply let alone poor aspo's.

I am an actor with Asperger's Syndrome and I have never met another actor (or anyone in theatre/film, for that matter) on the spectrum. I am currently training at a very old, very well-respected acting school in New York and I am the first student they've encountered with these types of challenges. Honestly, I don't care if a neurotypical actor plays autistic, any more than I care if a non-cannibal plays Hannibal Lecter or a non-royal plays Henry IV. It all depends on the actor's ability to make compassionate, specific choices.

The world of acting, I think, is one that disabled people don't typically thrive in. Truthful scenework hinges on the kind of listening and answering that eludes most people on the spectrum. This isn't to say that an Aspie is incapable of becoming a fine actor, but the condition can pose unique challenges. If you have trouble making eye contact, for instance, you will never be able to relate to another actor compellingly. People on the spectrum also have idiosyncratic physical and vocal habits, which are often extremely difficult to break. It would take a LOT of work to correct a monotone voice and an awkward, closed-off body. It took me years to get to the point where my instrument was actually trainable.

Acting to me is an art form like music, poetry and painting. It's purpose is to make sense of the world we live in by leading us to universal truths that transcend our cultural ties to each other. How it gets there is and should be a mystery to the audience, much like the magician performing magical tricks. You can read books if you like to learn the technical intricacies of art but I don't really think you understand an art form properly unless you perform it.

So having an aspie play an aspie to me is not acting. It's documentary. Having a neurotypical play an aspie, or an aspie play a neurotypical is more acting to me than the other way around. But what you need for acting to work is a natural intelligence on the part of the actor to understand the character that the actor is playing. That comes from the the actor's level of training and experience.

More importantly we need writers who understand their material and the characters they are writing for, who can write about autism in a sympathetic and non-condescending fashion for the audience, who can be entertained while learning about autism.