As an adult with Asperger Syndrome, I wonder out of curiosity as to how many real life actors there are within the entertainment industry. One may assume that a person with Asperger Syndrome may not be able to handle being in the 'lime light' but who knows. Just out of interest the 'lime light' originates from an intense white light which is produced by heating a piece of lime in a flame of burning oxygen and hydrogen. It was mainly used in the early 1820's in London Theatre Productions and was widely used in 19th century theatres to illuminate the stage and was first used in a public theatre at Covent Garden in London in 1837.
Within entertainment, it is possible for Aspies to work within production because they can virtually put on and wear a mask on stage. This means they can rehearse to play a part and within an induced theatrical environment they are more than likely to perform. Of course anxiety may be an issue but this did not stop Actor Peter Sellars and Michael Palin who both had Asperger Syndrome. Peter Sellars apparently wanted to desperately play the role of "Chancy Gardiner" a character which I believe and can relate to in having Asperger Syndrome.
When watching "Being There" the movie focuses on Chancy Gardiner and his dealings with people. Despite being lower functioning and having no social skills, people see Gardiner as some kind of genius when his interest is primarily gardening. In the movie Gardiner walks out of the home he has lived in for most of his life and is dramatically under socialised. He does not know how to get on with people and obsessed with television and gardening. He is more Autistic in that he does not seem to understand the visual concepts of the objects around him. In the movie, Gardiner is asked if he wants a car to be transported in and he thinks the person asking him the question is offering him a car for keeps sake. In the movie the Doctor seems to be the only one who tries to understand or more so sees through Gardiner. What is interesting in that in the movie, Gardiner is confronted by death and rather than having any feeling or showing any response, he instead turns on the nearby television set and watches it. He does not understand authority and treats the President of the United States as is and does not really understand the importance of the President's position on the world stage.
I would suggest that people watch this as it shows Peter Sellars as a true "Aspie" but perhaps more Autistic. I think "Being There" is really an Aspie Movie by the following points:
1. Chancy Gardiner leads a structured life.
2. He does not understand people and uses a remote tv control to try and turn off a difficult situation before him.
3. He is very literal in his comments.
4. He fails to understand human emotions in relation to death and love scene in the movie.
5. He always wears the same clothing.
6. He is eccentric
7. He takes things literally for in the movie he is asked about the room upstairs and thinks it is referring to his bedroom than the afterlife.
8. He doesn't show emotion
9. He existed in the world unknown and likes his own space
10. He has no genuine friends.
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