This panel at SXSW 2023 will discuss neurodiversity in film and how to better include voices of people with neurodiversity. It will bring together people with neurodiversity, experts, and film/TV professionals to examine how the industry can be more inclusive and what accommodations could facilitate that. The panelists include a casting director, a voice actor with autism who has navigated disclosure in his career, and an occupational therapist with experience in autism and connections between theatre and occupational therapy.
2. As the landscape is changing, the film industry is seeing a rightful push to
depict neurodiversity in film more accurately or subsequent pushback
when stereotypes endure. There is a call to include more people with
neurodiversity to play characters with neurodiversity. How do we answer
that call, rise to the challenge, and set films up for success? In this panel
we’ll pair people with neurodiversity, experts in the field, and people
working across film and television to interrogate how the industry can
better include these voices, and what accommodations might make that
possible.
3. Speakers
Laura Maxwell-Scott heads the young talent division for
Collier Talent Agency. She spent a decade working in
casting in New York with extensive casting credits in
theatre, television, and film. As a casting director, Laura
worked often with young talent, casting young actors in
projects ranging from dramatic roles off Broadway to
comedic roles on Nickelodeon. As an agent she's
negotiated offers for commercial, television, theater and
film roles shooting across America and overseas. She
enjoys translating her professional knowledge to the
development and representation of young and adult talent
in Texas.
4. Speakers
Avery White has had a passion for Voice Impressions for over
40yrs. which led to Voice and Character Acting (Highlight-he
performed Bruce Lee's "Be Water" monologue for Linda &
Shannon Lee at the Bruce Lee Educational Foundation in 1999)
Stand-up/Improv Comedy, Stunt Performance (10+yrs), Film, Print,
Commercials and Theater. He’s a recipient of the New Orleans
Ambie Award for the best Supporting/Featured Actor in "To Kill A
Mockingbird". While living in New Orleans he helped create the
AFTRA Voice Reel Committee and in 2005 he became a member
of SAG-AFTRA. Avery is currently on the SAG-AFTRA Local Board
and serves as 2nd VP.
After watching a short clip of the Parenthood which had a kid
named Zac, who was diagnosed with Asperger’s on the show, he
realized he too had these traits Zac was displaying when he was a
child. He started researching and took a few online tests that
prompted him to get a professional diagnosis, which happened in
2012. He has had to navigate working as a professional actor with
autism.
5. "In my acting career, it’s been a challenge trying to figure out if I should
disclose my diagnosis to Casting Agents/Directors, etc. It would open the
doors for me and others when auditioning and getting direction for roles
and explain why I may be awkward or show no emotion. I did ask a casting
director her opinion on if it’s a good idea I should disclose to others about
my diagnosis, and she said ‘NO!’ without giving it a thought."
6. Speakers
Christene Maas, Ph.D. is an occupational therapist with decades of
experience in Texas and New York. She has her doctorate in
occupational therapy from Texas Woman's University. A portion of
her work and studies focuses on Autism Spectrum Disorder and the
connection between Theatre Studies, Improvisation, and
Occupational Therapy for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
