"I don't have to hide anything about myself," Pien said of the filming experience. While Pien often feels the need to act like "a normal human being" in the world, she said she didn't feel she had to on set. "To show an Asian person who is autistic, that's groundbreaking," Pien said.Ĭhris Pang and Sue Ann Pien, As We See It Amazon Prime Video Authentic casting opens doors From a young age, she knew it was bad to stick out "like a sore thumb." Violet's relationship with her overprotective brother, Van, is a rare media depiction of members of an Asian family navigating a disability. There's a lot more unspoken, mental health is not taken care of," she said. Pien spoke of the stigma around mental health in Asian culture that she experienced growing up. The fact that Violet is a woman of color, and more specifically an Asian woman, adds another layer to the story. "I'm really excited about people watching a female on the spectrum that is realistic and authentic," she said. "They call it an invisible disability for a reason." It was special for her to be able to play a woman who is autistic, given that there have been fewer onscreen portrayals of women on the spectrum. "It's incredible to be able to showcase Violet in the world so people understand, one, if you're not autistic, that there are people who have different challenges and struggles that may not always be very visible off the bat," she explained. Glassman was attracted to the series because it offered the chance to tell so many varied stories about being on the spectrum.įor Pien, her character represents an intersection of identities. "In a way, there are six people with autism on set," he said, noting that although the actors and characters all share some similarities, there are just as many differences between them. Then he started this project and met Pien and Rutecki, and the two characters they play, in addition to his own. "Before this show, I had one autistic friend," he said. He didn't yet have much exposure to the range of what being on the spectrum could look like. When Rick Glassman, who plays Jack, auditioned for As We See It, he had just been diagnosed with autism three or four years earlier. The series tells a layered story about autism Behind the scenes, the participation of neurodiverse crew members also led to a more inclusive filming environment. The cast is rounded out by Chris Pang as Violet's brother Van, Joe Mantegna as Jack's father Lou, and Sosie Bacon as the three roommates' aide, Mandy.Īs We See It, which is now streaming its full first season on Prime Video, is a step forward in autism representation both in the portrayal of its main characters and in the casting of its leads. He decided to adapt it into an American series, with Shafferman and Segal joining him as executive producers of the Amazon show. Katims had his "light bulb moment" when he came across an Israeli television show called On the Spectrum, produced by Yuval Shafferman and Udi Segal, about three roommates with autism. "You hear a lot, read a lot, see a lot about childhood, and then you realize that all of those people grow up and become adults." "It occurred to me, there aren't a lot of stories out there about adults on the spectrum," Katims said at a virtual panel for As We See It. A few years ago, the television writer, who has a son on the spectrum, was thinking about the subject of adults with autism. It's a personal story for the three leads, and it's a personal story for Katims. Like Violet, Jack and Harrison are played by actors who identify as living on the spectrum. "The show has been a huge milestone towards acceptance, self-acceptance," she said. Much of this process reflects Pien's own experiences. But they venture out of their comfort zones and celebrate wholeheartedly when they are one step closer to their goals. As We See It, the new Amazon Prime Video dramedy from Friday Night Lights and Parenthood producer Jason Katims, follows three autistic roommates in their 20s, Violet, Jack ( Rick Glassman), and Harrison (Albert Rutecki), who each face different challenges in their jobs, social lives, and love lives. She plays Violet, who, like Pien, is on the autism spectrum. "I had never read an autistic character that I just immediately felt, inside and out, I knew who that was because it mirrored so much of my own experiences in life," Pien told TV Guide. When Sue Ann Pien read the script of As We See It for the first time, she knew right away that it was going to be a special project. Rick Glassman, Sue Ann Pien, Albert Rutecki, As We See It Amazon Prime Video
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