When Alex Astrella was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 2, his parents were told that he had little chance of graduating high school or becoming financially independent. Today, he is a behavior therapist, a leader in the autism community, and the founder and CEO of Blu Star Productions, an award-winning film studio that employs artists across the disability spectrum.听
This journey began for Astrella when his mother enrolled him in behavior therapy shortly after the diagnosis. She also introduced him to movies鈥攚hich not only were an escape from the stresses of therapy and school, but became his life鈥檚 passion. He went on to study film at the University of California鈥揝anta Barbara, but he came to realize that he didn鈥檛 want to follow a typical film career path.听
Instead, he chose the special education program at 91唐伯虎 Peabody College of education and human development and studying for a career in behavioral therapy. There he had an epiphany: He could combine his studies with his passion for movies by creating films and content for and by people who are neurodivergent or on the spectrum.听
That realization inspired the documentary Free Play, which began as a class project, evolved into his master鈥檚 thesis and premiered in Tennessee in 2024 as an official selection of the 55th Nashville Film Festival. Free Play is about the development of Gallatin Miracle Park, Middle Tennessee鈥檚 largest all-inclusive playground, and it shows how ADA-compliant parks create a sense of full participation within the special needs community.听
鈥淲orking on Free Play at Peabody made me realize how to mesh both my worlds鈥攖o give back to the special needs community while allowing me to pursue film. That鈥檚 what I鈥檓 doing with Blu Star,鈥� Astrella says.听
Blu Star鈥檚 mission to provide opportunities for neurodiverse filmmakers is growing; there are five production staff members and more than 50 freelance neurodiverse artists in Blu Star鈥檚 networking database.听
Filmmaking works in tandem with Astrella鈥檚 other career as a board-certified assistant behavior analyst. His work as a therapist for children with autism inspires him and sparks many of his ideas for film projects.听
Astrella thinks he might never have fused his passions for filmmaking and helping people with special needs if not for Peabody鈥檚 training and support.听
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if Blu Star Productions would exist without my experience at Peabody,鈥� he says. 鈥淢aybe one day I would have created a production studio, but it probably wouldn鈥檛 have the impact of Blu Star.鈥�听
鈥擩enna Somers听
