In honor of April being Autism Awareness month, NYFA New York students had the opportunity to meet, hear from, and see work from talented actors and filmmakers, Sue Ann Pien and Bella Zoe Martinez, along with producers Andy Raffi and Melissa Martinez-Raffi and moderated by NYFA faculty member and Producer Darren Dean. The screenings of Once More, Like Rain Man and an episode of As We See It, followed by a Q&A focused on how characters with Autism are portrayed in film and TV and the challenges that actors with Autism face when auditioning for roles.
Sue Ann Pien is best known for her lead role as Violet in Amazon Prime’s original series, As We See It, which garnered her two awards nominations, including a Gotham Award nom for Best Performer, and a nomination for Best Lead Performance at the Film Independent Spirit Awards. Pien directed the film short Once More, Like Rain Man which was written by and acted in by Bella Zoe Martinez.
Once More, Like Rain Man follows Zoe, a 13-year-old Autistic actor, as she frustratingly bounces from one audition to audition in attempts to be cast as autistic character – only to be told she’s, “Not what we’re looking for”.
Based on the real-life experiences of Belle Zoe Martinez, the film shares a timely, authentic, and often painful window into the world of how people with Autism and other disabilities are depicted in the studio system and Hollywood.
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After the screenings, the guest speakers participated in a Q&A session where NYFA students were able to ask questions about the film, tv episode, and the industry. The guest speakers talked about their work, as well as, the portrayals of autistic characters and the experiences of actors and filmmakers with Autism in Hollywood and the film and tv industries.
