I think the first post of hopefully many, should be about my professional debuted BFI-Funded short film “A Snapshot”, as it reaches its completion, and is ready for festival entries after 3 years of development. Hindered by, well, that year that’s a colloquial term for perfect vision!
The title of this story stemmed from an article I wrote for The National Autistic Society about portrayals of Autism in Film and Television:
Previously entitled “Getting A Job”, the script was first developed in early 2019; following meeting the Producer of the film, who I met shortly after the attention gained from a previous introspective documentary “Asperger’s: And What Of It?” I’d created about my lived and day-to-day experiences as an Autistic adult.
Its tentative title is the giveaway to Snapshot’s main premise, and is semi-autobiographical in terms of it basis.
From there, it was drafted well over a dozen times, but all for the best I think! Using that time spent indoors more to hone the script and its story, further fleshing out the ideas during Pre-Production. Casting over Zoom also proved to be somewhat of a challenge!
Ironic too, as I’d never thought I’d ever be granted such an amazing opportunity to make a film about my struggles with unemployment, which has been a constant plight for me since graduating University (studying TV and Film) nearly 9 years ago.
Autistic or otherwise, I’m sure at some point in our lives, we’ve had to; face a complete stranger, suited and booted, and attempt to sell ourselves for a job that will keep the roof over our head and/or pay the bills and our way in the world.
For someone like myself, this is never the easiest of tasks at the best of times, and with employment support either few and far between or a one-size-fits-all, going this alone for me, has been a flustering, and frustrating experience. And that’s just navigating the public transport to get there!
The C.V. and Covering Letter are all well and good, but when it comes to communicating this in the elusively offered face-to-face interview, it’s the stage where I'll stumble and face the 'unfortunately's. No amount of training courses, or interview technique sessions ever seem to help when my anxiety, depression and autism manifest themselves, becoming too overwhelming, especially in such situations!
When managing to keep these wolves at the door, it’s then being able to show people my interest, which more often than not backfires, where I appear disinterested or aloof when my intent is the opposite.
It’s this exchange of subjectivity and objectivity that I’ve grown fascinated by within stories to tell, and (as said), am incredibly grateful to be given this opportunity to explore these ideas within the confines of a 15 minute short film, with the genuine support, caring and understanding I’ve thrived for and found within like-minded creatives, and wished such an environment existed in the thousands of other jobs I’ve applied to over the years.
So now, I’m currently nervous to see how others take to this story. Whether it truly resonates with autistic people or not, and if Snapshot’s concurrent themes of fortitude, and hesitancy towards further pursuing passionate hobbies and dreams have a timeless, and universal appeal.
This appeal of a tale that attempts to put you in the shoes of someone in such circumstances. A glimpse, a snapshot of this one person's life and story to be told.
