5 December 2005 by Tenley Woodman

"It's not that unusual for a teen, especially one from California, to be a

budding filmmaker. But Taylor Cross, 17, turned his camera on a subject few

directors have touched: the mind of the autistic child. Cross' 10-minute

film "Normal People Scare Me," which will be shown tonight at the Flutie

Bowl in Boston, shows nonautistics what it is like to live with autistism.

"Pretty much I've been living in a cave for several years, except for the

autisic kids," said Cross during his visit to Boston last week. Autism is a

developmental disorder that alters a person's social interaction and

communication skills and is typically diagnosed in early childhood.

According to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention, autism affects one in 166 births. Cross was

diagnosed at age 6. Doctors told his mother that he might never walk or

talk. Eleven years later, the high school junior is trying to turn his

short documentary into a feature film with the help of Joey Travolta, owner

of Entertianment Experience and the older brother of actor John. "Make no

mistake about it, we have pulled each other's hair out (at times). It has

not been easy," said Keri Bowers, Cross' mother. "Taylor looks damn good in

life because he works at it." Cross interviewed dozens of kids with autism

and their parents. Among them was world-class surfer Izzy Paskowitz, who

discussed his frustration with his son's disorder. "It would be difficult

for other kids. It would be and it is. You can imagine another teen in this

situation and he's not autistic. How would he feel?" Cross said. Though

Cross attends regular classes, he has few friends without autism. He said he

chooses to hang out with autistic kids, who vary in functioning levels from

verbal to nonverbal. "I think I understand what's been going on in the

head," he said. "It's a comfort level." Cross has never been invited to a

birthday party, play date or engagement by a peer without autism. Those he

interviewed have had similar experiences. "They don't judge each other,"

Bowers said. Cross, an avid fan of film and video games, hopes to pursue

film as a career. In "Normal People Scare Me" he interviewed the dean of New

York University's film program. Though his path to success has not been

easy, Cross said he believes others can make it further than he has. "When

it comes to that, work on it on your own terms. Try to reach out, because it

will make you more insecure if you don't," he said. A film about siblings

of autistic kids is in preproduction and will be directed by Cross' younger

brother Jace, 10.

To learn more about Taylor Cross' projects, go to

http://www.artistsforautism.com