Beginning this month, audiences can screen I Am Odd, curated by KIDS FIRST!, on the Planet Classroom Network.
A poem, I Am Odd, written by a 10 year old autistic boy named Ben Giroux went viral and inspired producer/composer Mike Connaris to turn it into a song and eventually a short film. A 20 year-old student animator, Rory Russell, directed a beautiful 2D animated film to compliment the song’s poignant message. Selected for over 20 global film festivals and winner of 9 awards, this beautiful story celebrates autism in an original and unforgettable way.
The Global Search for Education was able to bring together all three creators of this little masterpiece. We welcome Benjamin Giroux, Rory Russell and Mike Connaris.
Rory – Benjamin Giroux, a 10-year-old autistic boy, wrote the poem that inspired your beautiful animated video. When you took on this creative project, what did you see as your biggest challenge/s and why?
The biggest challenge I faced while creating the animation was the length of the project overall. The longest animations I had made beforehand ranged from 45 seconds to 1 minute. Although this would be the longest project I had worked on, it was a challenge I was ready to take on over the summer break between my university courses.
What surprised you most and why?
Rory: Overall, I was surprised by the song as a whole, the lyrics being taken from Ben’s poem and then having a response to reinforce that message of Autism Acceptance. It was very emotional to listen to. I didn’t expect the song to be so moving and spread such a strong meaningful message when I was first informed about the project.
The animation and the graphics really enhance the song. It’s powerful the way the video transitions from black and white to color. Can you talk about your visual collaborators and the creative journey to tell this sensitive story of a boy learning to accept himself?
Rory: For the start of the video, I decided to start the animation off in a simple line art animation in black and white. I chose to do this as a way of showing the isolation Ben feels during his part of the song. The color comes in as the second singer (Mia) starts singing, to brighten up the mood of the overall animation with bright colors to emphasize the acceptance towards Ben. The graphics of Ben’s words and poem were added afterwards by Rolled Sleeves in London. The transition overall is a way of showing Ben’s journey from feeling odd and alone to being accepted for his ASD.
Ben – What was your reaction to the song and video after it was made?
I thought it was nice. I find it weird that people can create things like that just from seeing my poem. Rory really did a great job with the video.
Can you also share the reaction of your parents and family?
Ben: My mom and dad loved the song when they heard it. My dad even has it as his ringtone! They loved the video too, especially the parts where you can see the lines from my poem.
I Am Odd sends a powerful message about kids with autism. What takeaways do you have for our audience in terms of what they can do to help raise awareness for autism?
Ben: Be kind. Be patient. That’s all I ask for. Don’t get mad at me if it seems like I’m not paying attention, cause I usually am. Just understand that it really is hard for us to keep it together all day at school and there are times we just need to be left alone and other times where we just need a kind gesture.
Mike – As the music composer of I Am Odd, can you tell us how you came to create the song?
I first came across Ben’s poem online through a shared Facebook post, and it really touched me. How could a 10 year old autistic boy write something so intimate about how he saw himself? I wanted to learn more and I discovered the backstory, about how his class was set a task to write a poem starting ”I Am”. Ben was too nervous to read it out in class so his dad said, “Don’t worry,” and posted it online instead. When I saw and read about this, it inspired me to write a song because I wanted to help Ben share his message with the world about Autistic Acceptance. I contacted the family in New York for permission to come up with an idea based on Ben’s words, and they were happy for me to do this. I decided to use two singers, a male to sing Ben’s poem virtually verbatim, and then record a female who would sing Ben’s words back to him from a different perspective…. acceptance.
The song and video were accepted by numerous festivals and won many awards. What was the process and what kind of feedback have you had from audiences?
Mike: The video was completed by Rory at the end of October, 2021, so I decided to enter it into a couple of film festivals, ahead of it being released publicly on World Autism Acceptance Day this year. The first two film festivals we entered were KIDS FIRST! in the US, and a tongue in cheek entry into the British Animation Awards. Within 24 hours we heard back from KIDS FIRST!, and it was their reply that made me think that we might have something. They said “I love this film! I think it’s stunning. Watching this completely made my day! It is so positive and uplifting”. This gave me the encouragement to continue entering more festivals. Within three months, it had been selected by over 25 festivals worldwide, winning 11 awards for animation, music and inspiration, and winning a nomination for the BAAs in March. So the feedback has been amazing, not only from festivals, but now also from the public.
Why do you think there’s such a strong connection with the story?
Mike: I think it is because of the message that the poem, and the poem’s response in the 2nd half, convey with the song and video. A true 3-way collaboration to raise Autistic Acceptance in a poem, song and simple animation. “Hey, you may be odd, but why should you care” and “You feel like a boy from Outer Space, but you’re part of the human race,” sings Ben’s friend Mia, showing that when friends and people rally round and accept people like Ben, they understand and like the important message of raising Autistic Acceptance.
What are you each working on now?
Ben: I wrote 2 new children’s books. One is being shopped by my agent and the other one she’s editing, and a third one I’ve started writing but haven’t finished. They are all about my pet Cornsnake Monty and they deal with anxiety, depression and body shaming, but have great positive messages for kids. My agent really liked this book, actually more than my first one if you can believe that. I’m also finishing up 11th grade and working a part time job.
Rory: Currently I am working on my work as a second year student at the University of Hertfordshire in the 2D Animation course. I am in the process of creating my second year short animated film called Resurrection.
Mike: Continuing writing and producing music with my company, Mcasso Music, here in London for TV, Film and Advertising. And looking forward to reading Ben’s new stories and books. Who knows, perhaps BRM (Ben, Rory and Mike) may be collaborating again in the future on another project!
On behalf of the three of us, we’d like to thank you for this amazing opportunity to be a part of your wonderful Planet Classroom Network.
Thank you for allowing us to share your amazing work with our audience!
C.M. Rubin with Benjamin Giroux, Mike Connaris and Rory Russell.
Don’t Miss I Am Odd (curated by KIDS FIRST!), now screening on the Planet Classroom Network.
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