Autism expert advises on groundbreaking cinema project

For years, the world of filmmaking has been largely shaped by neurotypical perspectives, but a groundbreaking new film, The Stimming Pool, is set to change that.

Created by the Neurocultures Collective in collaboration with artist-filmmaker Steven Eastwood, the film is the result of Autism Through Cinema, a Wellcome Trust-funded project that explores how autistic perspectives can reshape cinematic storytelling.

Professor Sebastian Gaigg, former Head of the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at City St George’s, University of London, supported the project as a scientific advisor, lending his expertise in autism research and eye-tracking methods to help guide the film’s unique vision.

A fresh perspective

Discussing his involvement in the project, Professor Gaigg explained:

“One of the main aims of the project was to create a film that was not ‘about’ autism but one that was made by autistic artists to reflect some of their key concerns. My role was to provide input to discussions around the role film plays in shaping public narratives and understanding of autism, and to help with the use of eye-tracking technology, which was used in parts of the film.”

However, the project aimed to do more than just examine cinema’s role in shaping public perceptions of autism, as it also sought to redefine how films are made. By placing autistic and neurodivergent individuals at the heart of the filmmaking process, The Stimming Pool challenges traditional cinematic conventions and offers audiences an insight into the world as experienced by autistic individuals.

“Another aim of the project, however, was also to put the cinema, and more broadly the ‘moving picture’, under the microscope and discover new ways of creating film. Being involved in the project has taught me a lot about filmmaking and the many conventions and practices that typically shape what we see on screen. We rarely realise that most of what we see in cinemas is captured through a ‘neurotypical lens’, which is heavily biased and quite constrained in how story lines are constructed and the experiences of characters are portrayed. By putting autistic artists not only centre stage as actors but also in charge of the film-making process, The Stimming Pool reveals new ways of creating narratives and portraying experiences that draw on autistic people’s engagement, interactions, and perceptions of their environment,” Professor Gaigg added.

Exploring cinema through a neurodivergent lens

Unlike conventional films that depict autism from an outsider’s perspective, The Stimming Pool is an immersive experience that invites audiences to engage with autistic ways of seeing and storytelling. The film’s structure is built around the idea of an “autistic camera”, capturing the world through a distinct sensory and narrative style.

The film introduces a unique cast of characters, including Robin Elliott-Knowles, a B-Movie film club host; Sam, a young woman undergoing an eye-tracking test; the Shapeshifter, an office worker masking their autistic nature; and Chess, an enigmatic dog spirit. Each of these characters exists in a layered cinematic world, with their stories unfolding like a series of nested Russian dolls.

This innovative storytelling technique challenges audiences to engage with film in a new way, encouraging them to explore details hidden within the frame and embrace a non-linear, immersive viewing experience.