‘Love on the Spectrum’ Star Dani Bowman, ‘Bugonia’ Actor Aidan Delbis and More on Neurodivergent Representation in Hollywood
The inaugural Blu Star Film Festival’s keynote was a conversation centering on neurodivergent representation on film and TV.
Orange County’s First Ever Neurodivergent Film Festival
When Alex Astrella was diagnosed with autism at age two, his parents were told he wouldn’t be able to have a career. Today, the Dana Point native is a filmmaker and the founder of Blu Star Productions, a company that produces films by neurodivergent creatives, aiming to help them break into the movie industry. This Saturday, […]
How this OC filmmaker created a neurodivergent film festival in Santa Ana
The Blu Star Film Festival will feature films from neurodivergent creators, Q&As with filmmakers and more.
How Alex Astrella Used His Autism Diagnosis to Ignite Change in the Film Industry
At just 2 years old, Alex Astrella was hit with a plot twist that would change his life forever. Doctors diagnosed him with Autism Spectrum Disorder, telling his parents he might never graduate high school, live on his own or even hold a job. “Back then, the outlook wasn’t great,” he recalls. Instead of letting that narrative […]
Filmmaker Interview: Alex Astrella highlights the importance of inclusive parks in ‘Free Play’
“Free Play” is a documentary created by Alex Astrella that highlights how a mother’s perseverance in the face of adversity led to the creation of Middle Tennessee’s largest all-inclusive playground. The film, now streamable on our YouTube account, highlights Karen’s desire to provide an inclusive place for her daughter Tabitha, who was a wheelchair user. […]
Blending passions: how Vanderbilt alumnus Alex Astrella merges film and therapy to advocate for the neurodiverse community
At age two Alex Astrella, MEd’23, was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. His parents were told that he had little chance of graduating high school or becoming financially independent. Today, Astrella is the founder and CEO of Blu Star Productions, an award-winning film studio that employs artists across the disability spectrum, and a Board Certified Assistant […]