‘Love on the Spectrum’ Star Dani Bowman, ‘Bugonia’ Actor Aidan Delbis and More on Neurodivergent Representation in Hollywood

Dani Bowman (“Love on the Spectrum”), Aidan Delbis (“Bugonia”), Lillian Carrier (“NCIS: New Orleans,” “Horsegirls”) and Bella Areffi (“Once More, Like Rain Man”) joined Jessica Saul from Epic Players Los Angeles on Sunday for a panel focusing on their experiences as neurodivergent actors and filmmakers in Hollywood. The virtual event was a part of the inaugural Blu Star Film Festival, created to empower and provide resources for neurodivergent artists. 

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Panelists discussed the history of casting neurotypical actors in neurodivergent roles, and the misconception that this is easier than working with autistic actors. Carrier, who has also worked as an autism sensitivity coordinator on several sets, challenged this assumption, explaining that accommodations should be made for everyone, “disability or not.” “The more access you create, the easier it is for everyone on set,” she said. “Especially if you’re telling a story about a minority community like autism, and you’re making money off of that project, people who have that identity and experience life with all of the pluses and negatives should be part of telling that story.” 

To Delbis, who played Don in the Oscar-nominated “Bugonia,” authentic representation on screen doesn’t have to just look one way, since there are a “wide variety of different ways that that autism can impact someone and show up in their outward behavior,” he said. “If you want to get as authentic as possible, the best solution is to just hire actual autistic or neurodivergent actors.” 

Bowman, who founded the company Danimation, spoke about the importance of not only hiring neurodivergent talent on-screen but behind the scenes as well. “We hire autistic creatives as animators, editors and storytellers, and we build the environment around how they work best, their structure, flexibility [and] real support,” said Bowman. “Real inclusion means hiring neurodivergent talent behind the camera, where decisions are made and stories are shaped, and it means fixing systems instead of forcing people into the ones that were never designed for them.” 

Before deciding to write the short film “Once More, Like Rain Man,” Areffi had felt that the autistic characters she was auditioning for were often “flat and two dimensional,” or “a plot device or an obstacle.” On her film, nearly 40% of the cast and crew were neurodivergent, and she spoke about the experience of shooting the project, which incorporated shorter shooting days, breaks and sensory free spaces. “Everyone was chill,” she explained. “And people even stayed long after they were done recording, because they had so much fun on the set. Because one of my main roles was just like, no drama. Just keep the outside stuff out of here. We’re here to have a good time. We’re here to make a fun thing.” 

Alex Astrella, CEO of Blu Star Productions, told Variety that the panel gave viewers “a real glimpse into the lives of neurodivergent actors and actresses in Hollywood, and how people may navigate things a bit differently.” “That doesn’t make anyone lesser. It just means everyone has different sensory needs and preferences,” he added. 

The Blu Star Film Festival ran Saturday through Sunday and also featured in-person screenings at the Frida Cinema in Santa Ana, California.