How have audiences reacted to Normal People, and what do you hope they take away from the story of Zoe and Mark?

I’ve shown the film to friends, family, former film teachers, and fellow filmmakers who were moved to tears and told me I had guts to tell a personal story like this. I’ve also shown it at Autismerica, which is a group made up of disabled kids that meet up at College of DuPage, who have reacted very positively to it; as well as the Autism Society of Illinois who even interviewed me for their website. Turning Pointe in Naperville, Illinois is a school for autistic students where some of them saw it and then took the time to write me an email on how much they appreciated it. My favorite reactions come from mothers of autistic sons and daughters who take the time to tell me that they can now relate to them and what it’s like for them to be in a social situation sometimes. It was really cool!

My statement for the film has not changed since I first showed the film to an audience. My hope for this film is that it shows people not just with autism and not just with any type of disability, that just about anyone who feels socially awkward or flawed or anything of the sort that they can do anything. Even if it's something as simple as asking someone out on a date and being able to communicate with another person. Because they may be just as flawed as you are and that no matter what anyone says to bring you down or no matter what you think of yourself, you are all normal people, inside and out.

What makes Normal People so phenomenal is how intimate and personal the story is. Are there other stories and perspectives in the autism community that we need to represent more?

I believe there are several stories that deserve to be told from the autism perspective as well as any other disability. One of the things I plan to do is avoid clichés or stereotypes that Hollywood or television have been using for years now and instead, paint them as real, living, breathing human beings with struggles and problems that prevent them from being able live a normal life. A few feature film ideas I have both talk about this. I hope to make them seem real and relatable to people who actually feel like this and wish to overcome them or at the very least, learn to accept it. I personally think that the reason movies or television usually take the easy way out and just tell simple stories is because they’re afraid of offending or think that some stories will be too much for people to handle. But either way, they need to know so they can understand. People are always going to be offended regardless of what the issue is but at least it’ll start up a discussion and that’s always important.

I’ve been considering making an anthology series for Normal People where we can look at other people with disabilities and see what it’s like for them to have a "normal" life such as trying to get a job to even just simply looking at their daily routine, the possibilities are endless. Haven’t pitched it to anyone yet but if anyone’s interested, I’ll definitely consider it.

What's next in your creative journey?

Well right now, I plan to finish Columbia this fall so I can graduate in the Spring of next year. I’m also currently writing a feature-length screenplay about a woman with post-traumatic stress disorder which I plan to finish with by the end of the year. If possible, I’d like to try to either get a job somewhere career-related or wish that other people see my work in the hopes of them giving me a chance to do something for them. As of now, no current plans on another short film, not while I’m working on school and everything else. I’ll have something by next year if everything goes right.