Atypical Learning

There are students at University that are Neurodivergent, have trouble understanding specific social structures and experience things that others find unique. A film director Masina Taule’alo, on the Autism spectrum, different from other students, goes to interview these Neurodivergent students and document their experience and perspectives.

  • Masina Taule'alo
    Director
    Eight Steps, Straight Home, Paua on the Beach
  • Masina Taule'alo
    Writer
    Eight Steps, Straight Home, Paua on the Beach
  • Ethan Szafranski
    Producer
  • Isaac Mcadam
    Producer
  • Masina Taule'alo
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Callum De Vos
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Luc Williams
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Aidyn Macfarlane
    Key Cast
    "Himself"
  • Isaac Mcadam
    Sound recordist
  • Masina Taule'alo
    Sound recordist
    Foxes in Love, Hide and Scream
  • Iphegnia "Fen" Scott
    Colourist
  • Masina Taule'alo
    Colourist
  • Puurple Cat
    Music composers
  • Setu Taule'alo
    Music composers
    Eight Steps, Paua on the Beach
  • Masina Taule'alo
    Editor
  • Iphegnia "Fen" Scott
    Director of photography
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature, Student
  • Genres:
    Reflexive, Participatory
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 2 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    July 8, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    0 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Swinburne University of Technology
  • Rising Sun Cinema Festival
    Tokyo
    Japan
    August 17, 2023
    Finalist
Director Biography - Masina Taule'alo

Masina Alae Taule'alo is a Samoan/Australian film director, editor, animator, sound recordist, illustrator and a photographer based in Melbourne in Australia.

He was diagnosed on the Autism spectrum at 7 years old and has had mixed interests in creativity. Since that age, his Autism spectrum helps him to focus really hard on developing his creativity skills and to work hard on producing content.

For over five years, he has been learning how to make videos using a personal camcorder and a range of Adobe software. He has published them on youtube since 2016. Since 2018, he has written and directed more than two short films Paua on the Beach (2018) and Straight Home (2019), which screened at Collingwood College. He has also worked as an animator for work experience at Healthily.

He is currently studying at Swinburne University of Technology, hoping to achieve his Bachelors degree in Screen and Media.

He currently aims to use his autism spectrum experience and perspective as an advantage to focus on his filmmaking skills and accurately portray autism in his filmmaking; as his way of advocating for autism acceptance and neurodiversity.

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Director Statement

I am interested in creating this documentary because I would like to explore the lives of different people and try to portray a perspective different from the norm.

I am on the Autism Spectrum and I believe that there is not much Autism spectrum and neurodiversity represented in mainstream media as much.

I am interested in producing something that can reach a specific target audience that seem different and might not have seen themselves as much on media.

I feel like I am responsible for creating something that my target audience can relate to, I am also exploring a topic based on my own experiences.