Home: Lafayette, CO. Age: 39. Birthplace: Denver, CO. Profession: Filmmaker, public speaker, disability advocate, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee shift supervisor. Organization: SMK Media Production LLC. Title: Owner/CEO.
Current project: Autism Ability – YouTube channel and a related podcast. Recent recognition: Best director of the short film Safe Place at the 2024 International Film Festival Manhattan. Recent professional development: I was named an Adobe Fellow for 2024. I received a grant from Adobe for my project Autism Ability. Latest accomplishment: One of only a handful of disabled employees to be promoted to shift supervisor at Bitty & Beau’s Coffee. What’s been your big (or biggest leap)? Starting the Autism Ability YouTube channel. Hobbies: Golf, building Legos, going to movies frequently, bowling, filmmaking. Recent unique acquisition: Collecting 4K Ultra HD movies and Legos.
Personality profile: Humorous, quirky, kind, caring, motivated, reliable, hard working. What one word would your closest friend use to describe you? Funny. Moral compass: The Golden Rule. What is your greatest joy? My dog Tupaw (Tupaw Barkur named after Tupac Shakur). What is your guilty pleasure? Sour candy. What is your favorite place (or way) to spend money? Buying camera equipment and Legos. What is at the top of your bucket list? Traveling around the world with my camera.
What three emojis best describe you? 🤣📸🐶.
What was your favorite childhood toy or game? Dino-Riders snake man. What movie have you repeatedly watched? District 9. Besides your parents, who has had the greatest influence on your life? Temple Grandin, who personally encouraged me to pursue my love of film. What’s the best advice you received in your career? If you get knocked down, get back up and never give up. What is your go-to source of creative inspiration? YouTube. What personal circumstance has had the greatest influence on your life? Winning Best Editor for my film, Autism Ability, in the 2020 Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.
What is your big idea? Creating the YouTube channel Autism Ability to educate others about the challenges and strengths of autism. What change would you like to see in the world? See more kindness, tolerance, acceptance of others’ differences, especially of those in the disabled community. What message do you want to send out into the world? Don’t judge a book by its cover and look for the similarities in one another, instead of focusing on the differences. What mega-trend most excites you? Disability inclusion being more widely accepted.
What actor would you choose to play you in the movie about your life? Bradley Cooper. Who would you like to spend an evening with, in heaven? My family members. As a kid, what did you first want to be when you grew up? A dentist. After your loved ones, what object would you first save from your burning home? Hard drives with many years of filmmaking footage.
What advice would you give your younger self? It’s going to be ok. What day in your life would you choose to re-live? The world premiere of my documentary, Autism One Man’s Journey. What period in your life would you do differently, if you could? Elementary through high school and not be bullied.
Personal mission: Helping people through my film work to create acceptance and awareness to help people with autism. Favorite quote: “The only way humans have ever figured out of getting somewhere is to leave something behind” (Interstellar).
