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Autism: The Musical

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Wikipedia article


{{Infobox film

| name = Autism: The Musical

| image = Autism The Musical poster.jpg

| caption = Promotional poster

| director = Tricia Regan

| producer = Tricia Regan
Sasha Alpert
Perrin Chiles

| writer = Tricia Regan

| starring = Henry Stills
Joseph Rainbow
Wyatt O' Neil
Neal Goldberg
Adam Walden
Cody Massey
Shane Doherty

| music = Mike Semple

| cinematography = Tricia Regan

| editing = Kim Roberts

| studio = Bunim/Murray Productions

| distributor = HBO Documentary Films

| released =

| runtime = 94 minutes

| language = English

| budget =

}}

'Autism: The Musical' is an independent documentary film directed by Tricia Regan. In April 2007, the film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. The film recounts six months of the lives of five children who are on the autism spectrum in Los Angeles, California as they write and rehearse for an original stage production.

Synopsis



The film recounts six months in the 2005-06 lives of five autistic children and their parents in Los Angeles, California as their children write and rehearse for an original stage production.Page, Janice. (November 17, 2007) Boston Globe "[https://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2007/11/17/look_at_autism_sings_by_playing_it_straight/ Look at autism sings by playing it straight]". Section: LivingArts; Page 5C. The children featured in the film have one or more things they excel at doing if only given the training they need to communicate and develop those skills.

Several of the parents appearing in the film are well known in their own right, such as Rosanne Katon-Walden, her husband Richard M Walden, and Stephen Stills. They and the other parents round out a cast of real-life parents struggling with their strained marriages while dealing with the sometimes overwhelming needs of their children with autism.

Production



An idea for the film was first raised in July 2005, as a potential 48 Hour Film Project, but did not materialize.Hair, Margaret. (July 22, 2005) Greensboro News & Record. '[https://news.google.com/archivesearch?q=from+ironic+mockumentaries+to+%22Autism%3A+The+Musical.%22&btnG=Search+Archives&hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8 Reel Fast: Films created in 48 Hours.]' Page D1. However, in that same year, noted acting coach Elaine Hall founded The Miracle Project, a nonprofit, Sherman Oaks, California based theater group for children with autism and other disabilities.Ricci, James. (December 31, 2007) Los Angeles Times. 'New Approach Aids Autistic Children's Rite of Passage.' In late 2005, Tricia Regan began filming the six-month rehearsal process at Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services recreation room in Los Angeles.Hart, Hugh. (March 23, 2008) The New York Times '[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/arts/television/23hart.html?ref=television A Season of Song, Dance and Autism.] Section: AR; Page 20. Regan is said to have collected more than 400 hours of raw material, winnowing the documentary to five complementary family narratives. The title of the film emerged only in the late stages of editing.

In March 2007, reality show producers Bunim/Murray Productions expanded its business into films and made 'Autism: The Musical' its first acquisition.Adalian, Josef. (March 19, 2007) Variety '[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1117961373.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&nid=2562 Reality firm stalks docs.]' Section: News; Page 1. Bunim/Murray Productions came on board toward the end of shooting to join In Effect Films in producing the film.

Distribution



After its premiere on April 18, 2007 at Robert De Niro's sixth annual Tribeca Film Festival, the film enjoyed a limited theatrical run in several US cities in 2007. Among its many awards, the film received the best documentary award at the 10th annual Newport International Film Festival in June 2007.Janusonis, Michael. (June 12, 2007) Providence Journal Bulletin. '[http://www.projo.com/movies/content/lb_newportfilmfestwinners_06-12-07_7J5VMMH.2153e0a.html Winners of Newport International Film Festival named.]' Section: Lifebeat; Page F1. The film was purchased for broadcast beginning March 25, 2008 by HBO.

The film was released on DVD in 2008 by Docurama Films.

Accolades



On November 19, 2007, 'Autism: The Musical' was named by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as one of 15 films on its documentary feature Oscar short list. The film has won awards at 7 major film festivals in the U.S.[https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i587be3b0ca27043557eff60b69803664 The Hollywood Reporter] Following its television broadcast on HBO, the film garnered two 2008 Emmy awards, for nonfiction film editing as well as Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special.

Sequel



On April 2, 2020, it was announced that a sequel titled 'Autism: The Sequel' will premiere on April 28, 2020.

See also



*List of films about Autism

*Autism spectrum disorders in the media

*Stanley Greenspan - His floortime approach to engage Autism inspired Elaine Hall to create The Miracle Project, the subject of 'Autism: The Musical'.

References



Further reading

*Hart, Hugh. (March 23, 2008) The New York Times *'[https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/23/arts/television/23hart.html?ref=television A Season of Song, Dance and Autism.] Section: AR; Page 20.


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