Introduction
One of our fab Shout Out for SEND Reps, Rachel, was part of Autistica’s campaign for a better world for autistic people by 2030.
She went on set to take part in a film, and nailed her role as a dopamine dresser!
Read below to find out what she had to say about her experience on set:
By Rachel Clark
I have always loved acting, and on September 2nd 2024, I featured as a protagonist in a Hero Film by Autistica filming in London. This was a campaign for autistic people entitled ‘Our World, 2030’ advocating for our goals and dreams for how the world should look like in 2030 to accommodate and celebrate autistic individuals, rather than force us to change for this world designed by neurotypical people.
Everyone in the film was neurodivergent, and the Autistica Team, which is an Autism Research charity, were so mindful and accommodating of my needs on and off set which was SO refreshing and made all the difference! It is charities like these who advocate for autistic people while meeting the needs of the autistic people they work with, who really give me hope for the future, as I always thought acting was really inaccessible for me (and I was wrong)!
Before I got my part as protagonist 5 who was a Dopamine Dresser (which means you express yourself through bright clothes!) I auditioned with the Autistica team, was briefed about the details of the set and purpose of this campaign. Then it was time for filming!
On the 2nd of February myself and my Mum made our way to London. We were on a residential road with terraced houses so that the scene could be as relatable as possible, and for my scene I even got to walk an emotional support dog! We also were using one of the houses on the road as a location for some scenes but also as a space to chat, chill and decompress in between shots! I also met some incredible people and got to be part of this film alongside them, such as Brad Riches who plays James McEwan in Heartstopper on Netflix!
I learnt so much on the filming day about equipment, takes and so much more. But most of all, I ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT! It was one of the best day of my life. I was absolutely energised and buzzing after and still am! I love filming as opposed to theatre, as there is way less pressure as you can do as many takes as you need. And in fact, you need to do lots of takes, to get lots of angles, the correct sound quality and different levels! I think we did both scenes at least 5 times. There was lots of equipment and I found it so enjoyable and exciting to be on set, in front of the camera! I do Youtube myself, but being apart of something on a larger scale, with people who really value you as a person and you being your authentic self, means the world.
In the future, I would absolutely love to do more acting and get involved with more opportunities like this! It was an absolute dream to use my voice as a catalyst for change, and such an incredible thing to be apart of.
To find out more about Autistica’s campaign, click here