Inside Our Autistic Minds – FLO

In this brilliant and deeply moving series, Chris Packham gives four autistic people – Murray, Anton, Flo and Ethan, who are at a key point in their lives, the chance to bring their experiences to life. By immersing himself in their everyday experiences, he learns and observes the unique way they sense and interact with the world.

Flo is an improvisational comedian, and explains the exhausting challenges of autistic masking, or camouflaging, in the form of an extremely emotional letter to her Mum. All humans develop the unconscious strategy of masking whilst growing up, in order to connect with those around us. Flo has mimicked her peers since childhood, masking her true behaviours in an effort just to ‘fit in’.

Flo’s film takes the form of a monologue, as she reads a heartbreaking letter. Emotionally talking through and visually portraying her explanation of masking, and the extent of how not being able to be her true self affects her life.

The design for the film referenced Flo’s stage performance, using in-camera techniques, design and effects to portray visually revealing illuminations of Flo’s autistic life, for her Mum.