In The Politics of Autism, I discuss the employment of adults with autism and other developmental disabilities. Many posts have discussed programs to provide them with training and experience.
The special bond between autism and comic book heroes was once again evident at Wednesday’s cast and crew screening of Marvel’s latest movie "Thor: Ragnarok," which was attended by eight visual effects artists from Exceptional Minds Studio.
The artists – all young adults on the autism spectrum – are both Marvel fans and working professionals who provide visual cleanup for feature films. Exceptional Minds artists have done visual effects for Marvel movies "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2," "Doctor Strange," "X-Men: Apocalypse," "Captain America: Civil War," "Ant-Man," and "Avengers: Age of Ultron."
"Thor: Ragnarok" is the eighth Marvel movie for the artists at Exceptional Minds Studio, the only visual effects and animation studio staffed entirely by professionals on the autism spectrum.
During Wednesday’s screening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Los Angeles, Marvel Studios Executive Vice President of Physical Production Victoria Alonso applauded the work done by Exceptional Minds and encouraged others to learn from the studio’s example. “What a wealth of untapped potential exists in this extraordinary group of young adults,” she said.
Since opening its doors almost four years ago, the small studio has done tracker marker removal, split screen, green screen keying, and rotoscoping for compositing as well as end title credit work and animation for more than 50 major motion pictures and/or television series.
"Thor: Ragnarok" opens in theaters today, November 3, as the third film in the Thor franchise featuring the god of thunder, and promises to be Marvel’s highest scoring movie yet.
