Hello! You're probably<br>wondering who I am and rightfully so! My name is Jimmy Rae-Brown and I'm a guy
with Asperger's Syndrome. How do I describe my life? My interests include:
video games also movies and making movies. "Hot Fuzz"? Great movie! 'The Thing' - a classic! But, what I'm really<br>interested in is a job. [Alarm clock beeps] I guess I wake up... and there isn't anything<br>urgent in my life. And the bed I've got
is really comfy I just don't want
to get out of it! I just wish that I was doing
something a little bit more Like actually going out there
and doing some work. Frozen solid! [Bread clinks against plate] I really need to just
take the challenge head on. It's the only way I'm ever
going to move forward in my life. It's like growing up. Just walking into the real world
and accepting it's and taking in just
how...scary it really is. This is my family. My mom, Fiona My dad, Russell... ...and my brother, Leo And he has Asperger's too! But we're quite different. No-one Aspie is the same! [They laugh] We are a close family. We're all inside the tent, basically. And the boys don't have that many
friends in the outside world. Occasionally, people ask me
about... you know: "Have you
got children?" and "What do they do?" They'll say: "How old
are they?" And I'll say, "Oh they're 22
and 18." They say: "Oh, they must be
out at work?" And then maybe you have to
toss up whether you're going to explain to
them what your family situation is or "can I be bothered", you know? Really. So that's always
part of our world. Just living on planet<br>Asperger, really. Asperger's syndrome<br>is a form of autism that affects social interactions. I can have a kind of hard time
trying to talk to people. So now you know
what Asperger's syndrome is what's it like having it? Well, here's my question to you What's it like being able
to think straight? The way I think about it is if you can imagine a computer
that doesn't have a graphics card so it's doing all the<br>graphics on the CPU And that means that things
really slow down when there's a lot
to process. [Makes annoyed grunt] Oh, suddenly I can't see! If you've got the hardware,
like most of us you're flying along. But if you're having to do it
all on your main processor then that is really going to
bring things to a halt. And that's what happens
to Jimmy sometimes. He does just lock up. My impression is that you feel
like you don't just want to be at home
all the time. You want to actually get out
into the world and do something for yourself. That is exactly the reason. Because, like we said earlier,
last year was a quiet year for me. Yeah, and I don't want it
to be like that for 5 years until I get a job
by pure chance. He wants to be independent
and he's really working at that. And he's really thinking
about that. You know, he really is. And this is part of the reason
he wants to get a job. You want to go out there
and find a job Yes! I want to actually try! - Yes
- Yeah Hmm, I think that's admirable. [Makes popping sound] [They laugh] So, how do you feel
about the progress you're making so far this year? Ah...been kind of slow But I do feel
like I'm close now. I regret not checking-in sooner
because a lot has happened. First I went to Work and Income and they actually informed me
of another agency called 'Elevator' who might be able to help. Jimmy! Are you prepared
for the workforce? Sure, why not? [Russell laughs] And now I'm working
with a nice woman called Belinda who might possibly have
some work for me. Jimmy, have you thought<br>about volunteering at the New Zealand Film Festival,
which is coming up? Yes. Yeah? Ok. Well I will contact them
and see what we can do whether we can get you in. Maybe see if you can get
an interview or something. Let me put it this way:
YES! Just finally it feels
like something is happening! This is my good shirt. And these are my good pants. I'm about to go in
for an interview. I've had interviews about
what kind of jobs I'd like to have but never one that's actually
going to get me a job. I will admit
I'm a little nervous. There's a feeling in my chest
that just scrunches up. I go into this overthinking state where I'm wondering if I should
or shouldn't do this. But I try and do everything I can
to overcome it. There's this button here,
but there's no thing I'll just unbutton this. Yeah, I look ok. Actually I look good! You know what?
I look really good! Let's do this! This is actually going to be
a really huge step forward for me. I'm actually going to get
some work! Brrr! I've actually already put on
deodorant and brushed my teeth So... I can't really think
of anything else. Well, wish me luck! - Hi
- Hi, Jimmy! - Nice to meet you!
- Nice to meet you! I'm Felicity. Hi Felicity. So, welcome to the office! This is where
all the hard work happens! Nice! Ok. This is Lynn,
she's our Auckland manager. - Hi
- Hi [Felicity] And Anders over here...
he does publicity. - What's his name?
- Anders. Ok, so I'll give you a bit
of information about what we do what the volunteers do
at the festival. We look for people
that are friendly and energetic. People who like films, of course! Yes! And who enjoy dealing
with the public. Have you had any experience
in the past that might help with this job? Ah, there's a chore I do
at my house where I empty the dishwasher. [Felicity] Mmmhmm All that happens is<br>my parents call me. say "Empty the dishwasher"
and I do it. And I'm sure I've made
other achievements Oh... not off the top of my head!
Dammit! That actually
went really well. There actually wasn't
a lot of tension there and I wasn't feeling as nervous
as I usually do. So, it was lovely to meet you. Good to meet you too! - Great to have you on board!
- Yeah! - Good to be here!
- Cool! I did get the job
and it actually felt quite good like I'd actually succeeded
at something. I can add this to my resumé
and get a job that actually will pay. I've finally got a job! This is a really big step
for me! YES! Of course, that was just the easy part. The hard part is going to be
the job itself. [Yawns] Excuse me. Brrr! I am, of course,
feeling a little nervous. But at the same time, kind of excited
because... ...uhhh.... ...I just don't know
what's really going to...happen. [Toothbrush whirrs] Every time I do
something real-worldish chances are there's going
to be something I won't know
what to do. Yeah, the most challenging thing
is that I'm going to be interacting with a lot of people at once. Mmmm. [Sighs] Hmm, yeah, and I'm not
so sure how I'm going to handle that but I'll never gonna know
unless I try. - Hey Jimmy!
- Hi! - It's good to see you!
- Good. - This is Amethyst!
- How are you doing? She is your senior usher. I'll leave you guys to it! So, welcome
to The Academy Theater. It's one of our interesting theaters
at the festival. I've been here plenty of times! Yeah. So the numbering's a bit
different to our other cinemas. Well I got there and I met
Amethyst. And she had this crazy hairdo
and piercings in very unusual parts of her face. And yet she was actually
still a nice, good woman. I meet a lot of those. So, in this cinema so, we're here Yep There's your usher seats... And then you see, row A
is at the back here 1 and 2 And then it goes to 12, 13, 14,
which are those ones there It's just the funniness [Jimmy grunts in annoyance] I actually hadn't noticed how twisted the numbering system
for The Academy Cinema is. It's like, number 1 actually starts off
in the middle on the right side And then it continues
on the other side. Just....what!? On row C, you have<br>to go in row D that's the quirky nature
of this cinema. And you're in D3 Do you want to show
this gentleman to D3? All right... [Russell] The work experience
he does may involve interacting
with the public. It'll be really good for his<br>confidence for his self-esteem It'll widen his social network And ideally it'll give him
a start in an industry that he already has
a connection with. [Amethyst] That's seat 12 and 11 Do you want to show these guys
to 11 and 12? - All right.
- On the left. Yeah, 11 and 12 C... Uhh, what should I do with these? Oh, they keep them! Oh right There are your tickets. So, L8 and 9. Ok. One thing, we were trying to tell
whether it was this person's first time
at The Academy cinema or if they could find
their seat by themselves And C's over there. Actually, it did feel generally
good helping them out and pointing the seat out
with my torch. Yeah, I got a torch! [Rock guitar music] Here I am behind the information desk! Here's a small version of this! Hmm. After the meeting with Amethyst
and after my first ushering job we went to The Civic. And then I met a guy named Eric
who's the guy behind the information booth. People come and ask us things. Then you've got to explain to them
why the building is built like this in 1929, there was no<br>television or radio, so it was like a magic carpet
when they came in. Yeah, he was actually this
great movie eccentric. I remember Fellini, the famous
Italian director he used to eat cheese
late at night because it made him dream. He'd have these fantastic dreams
and remember them in the morning and he'd turn them into
some of his wonderful films. Woah! Cheese gives you dreams? It does, it does. And chocolate's another one. Remind me to eat more cheese! [Chatter from the crowd] Yeah, Asperger's syndrome
is hard to explain. I think the thing that makes<br>me most nervous is straight-up, not knowing what
to say or what to do. I know that there's an answer there. It feels like my brain is screaming
at me to answer it. Yeah, I guess the thing you're
supposed to do is don't panic try to think of the closest<br>thing you have to what they're trying
to ask you for. Um, I kind of want some help
from you, as well. - All right, what do you need?
- I want to see a film. - Ok, what movie?
- What's on? Ah, what is on? The schedule's over here. Actually, to tell you the truth
over the years I have gotten a lot better at talking with people. Oh, fantastic! Are we able to buy tickets here?
No? No. Yeah, it's near the front. I was just telling the<br>other words about it - Yeah.
- Sweet! I'm good at getting
into conversations about movies. Del Toro himself actually admits
that this was going to be this big, dumb action blockbuster. - Yeah
- Yeah I'm not so good at listening. Especially when the subject
doesn't really concern me. Yeah, I've been giving legitimate
advice to everybody who's come up here so far. And yeah, it's been really good. I haven't been on this job
for very long but I am liking it. [Sighs] Alright. Back to work. So, day 3 of the job
I have some more ushering to do. This time, I'm working in
a different cinema with Felicity. So, the movie that we
are watching now is "A Band Called Death". And then I might also<br>get you doing a bit of showing people to their seats. The only notes that I'd give you
from the last time you worked I think you were concentrating
on the job you were doing which was good, so I'm just
going to add one more challenge Do a good job and smile, enjoy it! Because it's fun for people
to come to the movies. And you should project that fun. - 11 and 12
- All right, go right in! ell, I didn't know
I wasn't smiling. I think they're fine. Cool. I'm pretty sure I have
ever since that day. L10! Fantastic. You're in<br>the middle of row L But it might just be best to go
the other side of the cinema. Hey! G5, G6 and G7, go right in
but please take...ah, never mind. If someone was to judge him
really quickly I think that they might
think he's been a bit brisk with them. But that's just his way
of really concentrating on doing the job to the best
of his ability. So, with the smiling it's...
we're trying to get him to show what's on the inside. Hey, wait a minute,
wait a minute... Yeah, you need to show
your tickets first! - She's got my ticket.
- Oh right, oh I see... You're holding them upside down. Yeah, that's good. Wait a minute. Let me look
at that... Oh, all right. All the way over there. [Sighs] Am I being too pushy? Don't forget the smile, Jimmy. Yeah, right. There are times
where I do feel when I'm thinking to myself
and that's when I realise I'm actually really smart
but I forget what I've taught myself. Yeah, that's the funny thing
about lessons. Learning them is one thing actually building them into you
is another thing entirely. You can see the way his brain works. He'll come out of a film,
and you'll say "What did you think of it?" And he'll say: "I don't know." And then the next day, he will have
the perfect elevated summary of it. Again we get to this thing of
he's not stupid, but he takes longer to process things. Ok, uh, I think someone<br>is sitting in your seat. Hmm. Well, I think that's a job well done. It's been a week
since I started this job And Felicity has given me
a new task. This week I have to<br>hand out these flyers to these internet cafes. This is a good time to mention
I'm not very good at reading maps! That day was...
HELL for me. Still further down. When I was given that map
it felt like the places that were marked,
were situated kind of to the side. Ok, still further up. Ok, I think it's down here I walked around
an entire building thinking I'd find an<br>internet cafe behind it when in reality, it was
in front of it, street side. Yeah, here it is! [Sighs] Net City, Wakefield Street. All right! Let's get on with it! I think this one should
be easy to find Hopefully. Ok, so yeah. I look at all of the<br>details I'm given and if one's off, that
can really confuse me. Well, we've found an internet cafe
but it's not the one named here. Huh. Maybe this is wrong
or something? Anyway... Hmm. Why don't we look around
for a little bit? Yeah, I actually do have it wrong. This thing here says 76,
East Wakefield Street... ...this here's 82. Little off. My worst fears are that he
was put in situations where he'd lock up,
which doesn't happen often. But it's entirely possible. [Jimmy sighs] Now I have no idea
where I am. I have no idea where I am now. [Sighs] [Camerawoman] Hey Jimmy,
are you all right? [Grunts] I don't know! Actually, can we turn that off
for a moment? We were in the right place after all. I failed to notice that!
76, up there! And, oh my god, there's It says here the name of the cafe
I was supposed to be looking for was called "Mid City" But the one standing before me
is called "Big World". And that one tiny little detail
really confused the hell out of me! Having this camera feeling like it was constantly<br>looming over me expecting me to do something,
added to the frustration. It made me feel stupid. I think Jimmy himself will<br>have learned a few things about what his needs are
in terms of information. Strategies are a big thing
in general for people on the spectrum because this is a world
that doesn't quite conform to the way they perceive things.
Or the way they act. Yeah, I'm handing out flyers for...
oh, wrong number I believe I did legitimately
suffer that day. But I don't think it changed
my confidence and what I'm doing. It just made me realize
that I can sometimes get confused by details and it's best if I have
clear instructions. Well, that went well! Brrr! Hmmm. It's been a pretty good journey
so far, don't you think? - Yeah, it has.
- Yep. I was really impressed
with the way that you thought about
all the things that needed to be done and you concentrated really hard
on making sure that everything was right on somebody's ticket. And that you were really good
at showing people to their seats But I think that the one thing
you can improve on is just to maybe relax a bit more
and that's going to come with time. Two lots of 3D glasses. How much is it
going to be, Jimmy? Two dollars. Well, I think the fact that he's<br>done this in the first place shows a great intention
to get some experience and to get a job. And anyone that can see that
should feel very proud of him. Does everyone have their 3D glasses? Yes! Enjoy the murder! You know, he's really intelligent. He knows lots of things about<br>films that I don't know! Um, so I think he'd be
a great asset to any cinema. Oh, that's a lot of people at once! - Yeah
- Yeah My last shift was really fun... because I got to spend<br>more time with Amethyst who is a very fun woman. There's not that many people
in there yet. I've heard you're not allowed
to do this! You're not allowed to do this? - No.
- Why not? I don't know. You just can't. Having this job has meant
that I've been able to socialize with more people. That's definitely something good
that's come out of this. He had more confidence
in his ability to do this stuff than we did. And that's great! And he actually enjoyed it too.
he made friends. Coffee in a glass? Yeah, sometimes lattes,
they do them in a glass. Or they do it in a bowl. - Oh!
- Crazy concept! I think it has actually
given me some real good work experience. Next thing that's going to happen is... I'm going to be finding
an actual job. Something that actually pays. I mean, there was a long time
when we thought that Jimmy was going to have
to be in some form of sheltered<br>environment or care that's clearly not<br>the case any more. He can make his own life. It might take him a little longer,
but he'll do it. Hmm. Well, that's enough for now. Signing out!
