A young autistic boy fascinated with motorsport unexpectedly finds a chance to put his passion to the test.

Fifteen-year-old Jamie is autistic. Isolated from the world, he devotes all his time to his special interest – race cars.

His room is shrouded with posters, magazines, technical charts and he spends hours playing car racing video games. Jamie’s parents, Marie and Andy, struggle to keep up with the payments for Jamie’s therapy. It’s made harder by Marie’s mother who sees no difference in Jamie with the treatment, and constantly says it’s no use.

Katie is a loving sister to Jamie, and she is playful to his many quirks, but all too often her cries for attention are in vain as their parents’ focus is entirely on Jamie.

Everyone loves Jamie though and wants him to be as happy as possible so they take him to a motorsport event where he can look at all the supercars and watch the races. As the adults discuss about what to do with Jamie’s ongoing therapy, they lose sight of Jamie for a moment.

After a few anxious moments they see him… behind the wheel of a race car heading out onto the track. Fifteen-year-old Jamie not only loves race cars and knows everything about them.

He’s a driver.

SYNOPSIS

Autism is a lifelong neuro-developmental disability that affects the development of the brain in areas of social interaction and communication.

People with autism may have difficulties in communicating and forming relationships with people, in developing language and in using abstract concepts. It also impacts on their ability to make sense of the world around them.

Autism is described as a “spectrum disorder”, also called ASD. This means that the symptoms and characteristics of autism can present themselves in a wide variety of combinations and can range from mild to severe. Two people with the same diagnosis can act very differently from one another and have varying skills.

Autism is often referred to as the “hidden” disability because people who are on the autistic spectrum show no significant physical difference to their peers, rather it is their behaviors that mark them out as different.

It is estimated that 1 in a 100 people in Ireland is affected by ASD.

ABOUT AUTISM

“Inside I’m Racing” is an inspirational story in which I wanted to combine two topics close to my heart – autism and motorsport.

As a car racing enthusiast who loves to spend the time on track going around in circles (apparently with no aim or destination), I decided to use this fascinating, fast-paced, high-octane background as the stage for a universal story that counts – a story about following one’s dream despite being different, misunderstood, patronized, and often not being able to express oneself like others.

Even though clinical understanding of autism spectrum disorder has advanced significantly in the recent years, there’s still quite a lot to do about general awareness in the society, particularly the stereotypical perception of autistic mind as flawed and impaired intellectually, while in reality the very opposite is often the case.

What we know today is that many people with autism can make significant contributions to society in the right environment, if only given the chance. I hope this film will become a small step on the path of creating those safe and friendly conditions for those who have to battle their anxieties and chaotic outside world daily, encouraging them to explore it more, enjoy, and share their creative thinking and unique way of looking at things with all of us.

DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

NOTES ON VISUAL STYLE“Inside I’m Racing” is a fascinating story which could be described as a drama with an action twist.

A defining characteristic of the film and a major part of the narrative is the gradual change in our perception of the main character and his “disability” as well as progression of mood and pace through the unfolding events that altogether raise the stakes and build up tension, leading us to a beautiful and inspiring resolution, a moment of catharsis.

It is this buildup of momentum that should lead the narrative and the way how it is expressed both visually and dramatically.

The story begins with Jamie’s little safe heaven – his bedroom. Neat, tidy and well organized, with motor sport at the heart of everything he does. This is a world of safety, stability and warmth – a symbol of his family love he may not fully understand in a conventional way.As we move further away from this safe haven, the adult’s world becomes more difficult to understand, but for Jamie it’s just a part of the outside noise he can simply tune out, and he’s good at it. When the action moves onto the race track – a bustling with life, fast-paced environment, it is Jamie’s family that appears like a fish out of water, while Jamie, clearly in his element, easily finds his way in this seemingly chaotic place, but no one yet knows to what extent.

It is the mid-point turn when narration picks up the pace and the stakes are raised, calling for the dynamic changes in point of view as the dramatic events unfold and a new image of Jamie emerges. From initial dread of accident and tragedy, through shock, surprise and disbelief, together with Jamie’s family and astounded crowd, we can finally see the unexpected triumph of a kid that no one took seriously up until now, not even his closest relatives, and now we can feel their joy and pride too. Even though we experience a progression of mood and pace as well as changes in point of view as the situation unexpectedly gets out of hand, the camera should stay close to the characters, using longer lenses to force perspective, distinguishing people from the background, looking for internally motivated movement throughout the story, when appropriate.

Even the fast paced racing and chase sequences are a direct expression of each driver’s internal world and state of mind – clinical precision and efficiency on Jamie’s part, contrasting with showy bravado on Mike’s end.

The color palette and tonality will take its reference from the motorsport and intensity of emotions present during any car race on professional race track, and in this sense Jamie’s triumphant red and white Formula Sheane bolide becomes the embodiment of the racing spirit.

NOTES ON VISUAL STYLE

Aleksander is a Polish writer-director based in Dublin, Ireland.

Aleksander has written five feature screenplays and several shorts and so far he has directed four short films across different genres and themes that have been selected and screened at over 30 festivals across Europe and US, receiving two wins and two nominations, including second place at 2012 Waterford Film Festival in the best screenplay category and Golden Award at 2015 Atlanta Horror Film Festival.

Aleksander has also gained valuable experience working in a camera department on a feature drama “You’re Ugly Too” and he has also worked as script supervisor on two Filmbase produced short films. In the future, Aleksander plans to write and direct both new short films and features and he is currently developing an Ireland based action-thriller as his possible feature debut project.

A native of Co.Kerry, Ireland, Tommy graduated from the National Film School of Ireland in 2010 earning First Class Honours in Cinematography.

Since graduating he has shot more than 16 short films, 3 feature films, a huge number of music videos and commercials as well as earning numerous 2nd Unit DOP/Camera Operator and VFX Unit/Underwater Unit DOP credits along the way.

“Darkness on the Edge of Town” was Tommy’s 14th collaboration with writer/director Patrick Ryan, which screened at the Slamdance and Sundance Film Festivals and is now currently on Netflix in the US and Canada.

Brian is a composer and sound designer from Ireland who has written music for live performance and film scores for numerous short films. He has scored the feature films Insatiable and The Hidden (Kirby Productions) and the feature documentary Defining Moment and the TV documentary series Njinga (Lateral Vision Productions).

His music has been heard in performances and at screenings across Europe as well as in Australia and the USA. He received a post-graduate scholarship to study music composition at Trinity College Dublin and his work has been recognized with awards from Germany’s DAAD and with the François de Roubaix music composition award in commemoration of the French film composer.

ALEKSANDER SZESER – DIRECTOR

TOMMY FITZGERALD – DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

BRIAN KEEGAN – SOUND EDITOR AND MUSIC COMPOSER

The famous Mondello Park International Race Circuit is Ireland’s only internationally recognized and FIA Licensed Motor Racing circuit, located in Donore, Naas, County Kildare. Since 2000 the circuit has staged a round of the FIA Sports Car Championship, run a European championship historic racing event, and hosted several rounds of the British Touring Car Championship, British GT and Formula 3 series. Mondello Park International Race Circuit is constantly

growing and diversifying and its current calendar, including Car, Motorcycle, Rallycross, Drifting and Time Attack events as well as shows for Modified Cars, Classic Cars and Trucks. The circuit also provides motorsport enthusiasts with a variety of Driving Experiences, Corporate Days, Team Building, as well as training and open driving days. A small museum containing a number of rally and track cars from the past 30 or so years is also on-site.

LOCATION

In development, BECKONING is a Drama, enigmatic in tone, set along the wild Atlantic shores of Ireland. It follows the journey of JILLIAN who’s straining to find meaning in her life following the bereavement. No comfort in her grief, only anger, guilt and denial. Troubles intensify when Jillian abandons her visceral sailing talent. Can Jillian let the memory of her loved ones light a fire in her heart or will her spirit continue sinking toward the non-existence she reasons comes with death.

Audiences will be immersed straight into the action with a thrilling, high energy sailing race. Spectacular locations will cinematically capture epic, otherworldly qualities of the Alantic coastline. The story’s themes are just as weighty, contemplating Jillian’s fears of her loved ones going off into the unknown and the power and danger of belief over reason.

WILDFLOWER PICTURES is run by Aidan Whelan, from offices in Dublin and London, which develops film projects which have diversity at its core.Wildflower Pictures works with internationally experienced cast and crew, whilst providing training and work experience opportunities to young people in every department of its creative film productions. Wildflower Pictures is filling a critical gap in provision for the many talented young people who lack the contacts, resources or belief necessary to develop a career in the creative industries.

Recently completed, ‘THE BETRAYAL’ an Irish short from writer/director Kamila Dydyna, will have its world premiere at the 24th GAZE International LGBT Film Festival in Dublin. Up and coming projects will be ‘Inside I’m Racing’ a story of a fifteen-year-old with autism who has a fascination with race cars, this film promises to excite and surprise.

INSIDE I’M RACING is set for production in October 2016.

For additional information, association, sponsorship and partnership please contact Aidan at Wildflower Pictures.

✆ 00 44 (0) 78080 15 369

✉ Wildfpictures@gmail.com

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