By: Marlene Sharp
Autism in Entertainment – the Southern California-based non-profit organization that promotes gainful employment for and within the neurodivergent community – enjoyed its second command performance at San Diego Comic-Con. On Thursday, July 24, AIE presented its live-action documentary short entitled FIGHTING WITH AUTISM: JORGE GUTIERREZ VISITS SPECTRUM LABORATORY in competition at the official Comic-Con International Film Festival. The screening and in-person panel talk-back took place inside a ballroom at the seaside Marriott Hotel with an eager audience of expo badge holders and staff.
Back in 2024, the 3 ½ minute video FIGHTING WITH AUTISM gelled after star artist/animator/director/writer/actor Gutierrez – himself on the spectrum – gave an October in-person, inspirational speech to an enthusiastic crowd of LA-based Spectrum Laboratory students and their families. AIE videotaped and edited the proceedings and then released the mini-non-fiction motion picture on various social channels and submitted it to contests, such as SDCC.
The FIGHTING . . . filmmakers did not fly solo at Comic-Con; there were three brands that backed them with unique sponsorships. Mattel provided multiple morale-boosting Comic-Con exclusive toys to celebrate the occasion. Writer/producer/director Leslie LaPage and her La Femme International Film Festival displayed support via custom T-shirts that cast and crew wore onstage. Modeling bespoke LAND OF FREEDOM (LaPage’s original graphic novel) togs were documentary subject Jorge Gutierrez, cinematographer Josh Copelan, editor Julian Grajczak, and producers Judi Uttal (also AIE Founder/Work Group Chair) and Marlene Sharp. Finally, famed Toilet Timer inventor Adam Stephey gift-bagged and gave his new, kid-friendly gross-out brand PLUMMY AND PLOSH to the honorees. Each received a cellophane sack containing a fidget toy, a comic book, and a poster. Director Paul Hemstreet was in absentia but received his bounty post event.
Jamie Lang, former VARIETY correspondent and new CARTOON BREW publisher, released in-depth coverage – featuring a robust Q & A with Jorge Gutierrez – of the AIE x Spectrum Laboratory SDCC activation on July 23. The full piece is here: https://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/jorge-gutierrez-autism-neurodivergent-artists-248810.html
Meanwhile, on July 25 at the San Diego Gaslamp District’s Pendry Hotel, Autism in Entertainment educational partner Dani Bowman (Danimation) caused her own stir! Bowman – who toplines AIE’s 2024 SDCC Film Fest official selection AUTISM IN ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS SPECTRUM SPOTLIGHT: DANI BOWMAN – sat for a lengthy VARIETY x Nintendo x Google [content] Studio on-camera and print interview. During her quality time on-set, Bowman (dressed as Po from TELETUBBIES) took time to wipe the floor (metaphorically speaking) with other VIP visitors in the exclusive Nintendo gaming lounge. Her interactive skills earned 3rd place ranking overall (just behind kid phenom The Rizzler) and thereby reinforced Bowman’s own rizz (a.k.a. charisma) factor. Note to the uninitiated: Dani Bowman is a fan-favorite, 3-season series regular on Netflix’s Emmy-winning reality dating series LOVE ON THE SPECTRUM.She is recipient of the 2025 Netflix Reality Universe Superlative Award for the Ultimate Flirt. She also stars in animated series pilot RED FUZZY RUG alongside Tiffany Haddish (GIRLS TRIP), Jodie Sweetin (FULLER HOUSE), and co-creator Jeremiah Watkins (DC SUPERHERO GIRLS). Watkins’ wife Maja Watkins is co-creator and executive producer.
In gratitude for the consumer products that recently befell them, the following neurodivergent SDCC luminaries offer these reviews of their gifts.
Jorge Gutierrez, re: PLUMMY AND PLOSH Toiler Timer, PLUMMY AND PLOSH (featuring PLOPZ) comic book, and “The History of Video Games according to Plummy” poster: I love [brand illustrator] David DeGrand! His designs are so recognizable and iconic. Of course, I am a fan of his work in MAD MAGAZINE, and his kids’ graphic novel SNOT GOBLINS (written by Rob Kutner) is a modern-day classic. The artful new spin (pun intended) on Toilet Timer is hilarious; kids now have a fidget counterpart to their mom’s and dad’s practical gag gift, as introduced to the world on SHARK TANK (TV series). The PLUMMY poster represents what all effective history lessons should be: a dish served with a healthy helping of humor!
Julian Grajczak, re: Hot Wheels BACK TO THE FUTURE 40th Anniversary Set:
The tiny, classic DeLorean has that same grand entrance as it makes in the movie, opening the box to reveal Doc E. Brown’s Enterprises. I especially love the teaser of what’s inside (from seeing the DeLorean picture on the back of the truck).
However, my favorite part of this presentation is, not only how the car can be removed from the truck, but that the packaging also recreates the mall where Doc met with Marty. It’s like my own personal movie set!
Celebrity poodle/Bichon Frise’ Blanche DuBois Sharp (on behalf of her human dog mother Marlene Sharp) re: I LOVE LUCY and WILL AND GRACE Little People Collector sets: When are there going to be chewables of these? Until I can rip into new stuff (food, toys, kittens) made for furry kids like me, I plan to have my way with Mama’s little cutie doo-dads. Did you know that Lucy and Ricky Ricardo are black and white and boxed into an oldie-looking TV? It sure was fun to paw open that package! Little Grace and teeny Karen are my new besties, because I liberated them from their cardboard enclosure, and they do whatever my nose pushes them to do. Mama won’t be happy, but I sure am! Now, Mattel, get busy with your proper line of petware. Thank you!
In the coming weeks, stayed tuned for more out-of-the-box reviews in a fresh GLOBAL TOY NEWS recurring feature! It’s called RUBBER NINJA AND PINK POODLE PRESENT . . . NEURODIVERGENT TOY REVIEWS and is the brainchild of clay sculptor/graphic novelist/sketch artist/Richard Gottlieb mentee Rubber Ninja Vadim Govorov and Marlene Sharp, proprietor of Pink Poodle Productions. Each month, the duo invites neurodivergent and/or autistic actors, artists, and creators to opine with them in unique ways about toys: new, old, conceptual, and otherwise.
