The visual artists on the cover of Parade this week have worked on blockbusters, from Ant-Man and The Avengers to Game of Thrones and Vinyl. The twist? They are all on the autism spectrum, tapping their creative potential thanks to a unique program called Exceptional Minds.
Exceptional Minds (EM), a visual effects animation studio serving Hollywood, is also a nonprofit vocational training program for young adults with autism. Many have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a developmental disability characterized by repetitive behaviors and difficulty with social interactions that affects 1 in 68 American children.
EM staffers work on projects such as animation sculpting in 3-D, where precision work is required, and the less creative but necessary work to get films ready for the big screen. They remove movie markers—the tiny red dots physically placed on sets to show actors where to move and editors where to trim frames. Others create lengthy credits or do paint-out—removing unwanted objects and then filling in to seamlessly match the backdrop.
Most importantly, EM’s workers are paid employees of the studio, which wins contracts in the highly competitive post-production bidding business. And most are earning their first-ever paychecks.
“People with autism are totally underestimated,” says Exceptional Minds co-founder Yudi Bennett. More than 80 percent of people with disabilities, including autism, are un- or underemployed, and isolated with limited opportunities doing unskilled, low-paying work that leaves many suffering from chronic depression. We’re creating a model to apply to other vocations, from manufacturing and retail to music, to train and nurture young autistic adults into America’s workforce.”
Movie studios have embraced the concept. “The minute we got to EM I knew I wanted Marvel to be a part of this,” says Victoria Alonso, Marvel Studios’ executive vice president of physical production. “People with autism have a remarkable talent we need. They need a place where they can have a future. And we [as society] need to make change. It was a perfect symbiosis…People with autism are smart, detail oriented and dedicated. They show up. They don’t quit. That’s what we need. From the bottom of my heart, it’s a no-brainer.”
See, Hollywood can be a nice place.