STEVE FRANKLIN, M.S.W., L.C.S.W.

1. STEVE FRANKLIN, M.S.W., L.C.S.W. 6829 Gravois Ave. 314-517-8383 St. Louis, MO 63116 FAX 203-738-4036 www.SteveFranklinMSW.com SteveFranklin@JUNO.com

2. ADAM (2009) Director/Screenwriter Max Mayer Starring Hugh Dancy Adam Rose Byrne Beth Frankie Faison Harlan Peter Gallagher Beth’s Parents Amy Irving Marty & Rebecca

3. The project begins…. about 2003: Max Mayer hears an interview on NPR/Fresh Airwith a boy who has Asperger’s Disorder

4. He saw the condition as a metaphor for relationships in general

5. 6-8 months:Researched Aspergers 5 months: Outlined 4 months: writing a draft 3 ½ years passing it around, getting feedbackFinally, production of the movie

6. “… I wasn’t making a movie about Asperger Syndrome. I felt like the more I learned about Asperger Syndrome, the better metaphor it felt like to me for relationships in general,

7. “so although I wanted to be accurate and represent the syndrome realistically, the movie is about relationships and the essential human condition,

8. “that all of us desire connection or intimate connection or romantic connection or deep connections to other people, and yet we sit up here in our own brains isolated that all of us desire connection or intimate connection or romantic connection or deep connections to other people, and yet we sit up here in our own brains isolated that all of us desire connection or intimate connection or romantic connection or deep connections to other people, and yet we sit up here in our own brains isolated that all of us desire connection or intimate connection or romantic connection or deep connections to other people, and yet we sit up here in our own brains isolated

9. and not being able to actually get into someone else’s mind and walk around and see their interior landscape or feel their feelings or see the world through their eyes.

10. Asperger’s Disorder (DSM-IV) Asperger’s Syndrome (ICD 10) Asperger Disorder Asperger Syndrome “Autistic Spectrum Disorder” (DSM-V) “Aspie’s”

11. Unusual preoccupation with particular subject Repetitive routines or rituals Peculiarities of speech/language Difficulty with socially & emotionally appropriate behaviors, peer interactions Problems with non-verbal communication (gestures, reading facial cues)

12. Human Spectrum….

13. “And this differs from normal men in what way?”

14. Reactions from “Aspie” community Some are very happy with the depiction Some are irritated and don’t feel it’s accurate.

15. “Actually there is a saying in the Asperger community… ‘If you know one person with Aspergers, then you know one person with Aspergers’ so people with Aspergers are as various as the rest of us and so I was very careful to write a character, not write a syndrome. “

16. Things to look for, maybe to discuss later….

17. What seems to be an expression of Asperger’s Disorder in Adam How does he deal with it? How does he compensate? How does this compare to the problems and compensations of other characters?

18. My definition of normal: We strive to understand our strengths and weaknesses, our likes and dislikes, and then make adjustments to live in this world.

19. What defines the line between “Normal complications of intimate relationships” to “Psychopathogical Behavior”?

20. There is a scene where he talks about what he is feeling, what he wants from a relationship with Beth. Is there anything peculiar about what he says?

21. Also, look from a “Positive Psychology” viewpoint

22. Wisdom and Knowledge: creativity, curiosity, open-mindedness, love of learning, perspective Courage: bravery, persistence, integrity, vitality Humanity: love, kindness, social intelligence Justice: citizenship, fairness, leadership Temperance: forgiveness and mercy, humility, prudence, self control Transcendence: appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality

23. Wisdom and Knowledge– Cognitive strengths that entail the acquisition and use of knowledge

24. Judgment & Open-Mindedness [critical thinking]: Thinking things through and examining them from all sides; not jumping to conclusions; being able to change one's mind in light of evidence; weighing all evidence fairly

25. Love of Learning: Mastering new skills, topics, and bodies of knowledge, whether on one's own or formally; obviously related to the strength of curiosity but goes beyond it to describe the tendency to add systematically to what one knows.

26. Perspective [wisdom]: Being able to provide wise counsel to others; having ways of looking at the world that make sense to oneself and to other people

27. Courage – Emotional strengths that involve the exercise of will to accomplish goals in the face of opposition, external or internal

28. Bravery [valor]: Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty, or pain; speaking up for what is right even if there is opposition; acting on convictions even if unpopular; includes physical bravery but is not limited to it

29. Perseverance [persistence, industriousness]: Finishing what one starts; persisting in a course of action in spite of obstacles; “getting it out the door”; taking pleasure in completing tasks

30. Honesty [authenticity, integrity]: Speaking the truth but more broadly presenting oneself in a genuine way and acting in a sincere way; being without pretense; taking responsibility for one's feelings and actions

31. Humanity – Interpersonal strengths that involve tending and befriending others

32. Capacity to Love and Be Loved: Valuing close relations with others, in particular those in which sharing and caring are reciprocated; being close to people

33. Social Intelligence [emotional intelligence, personal intelligence]: Being aware of the motives and feelings of other people and oneself; knowing what to do to fit into different social situations; knowing what makes other people tick

34. ADAM (2009)Director/Screenwriter Max MayerStarringHugh Dancy AdamRose Byrne BethFrankie Faison HarlanPeter Gallagher Beth’s Parents Amy Irving Marty & Rebecca

35. TRIVIA FACT OF THE DAY: Hugh Dancy (Adam)is married to

36. TRIVIA FACT OF THE DAY: Hugh Dancy (Adam)is married toClaire Danes (Temple Grandin)

37. http://www.usautism.org/ http://www.autistictv.com http://www.dougflutiejrfoundation.org/ http://www.autism-society.org/about-autism/aspergers-syndrome/ http://www.danmarinofoundation.org/about.html http://www.autismone.org/ http://www.autismspeaks.org/ http://www.aspergersyndrome.org/ http://www.facebook.com/aspergersawarenesspage http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm http://www.touchpointautism.org/ http://www.mha-em.org/