Chris Packham BBC2 Documentary Film Project is Profound and Unique

Chris Packham BBC2 Documentary Film Project is Profound and Unique: As Packham met with two autistic young people, Flo and Murray, and asked them to create films reflecting their experiences.

Naturalist Chris Packham, who was in his forties when he was diagnosed with autism in 2015, has been using his platform to shed light on the challenges faced by autistic people.

After publicly disclosing his diagnosis, Packham received an outpouring of messages from fellow autistics, some expressing joy and celebration, while others shared feelings of despair and even suicidal ideation.

Chris Packham BBC2 Documentary Film Project is Thoughtful and Unique

Chris Packham IMDB Link

Determined to take action, Packham decided to intervene. In his new two-part documentary, Inside Our Autistic Minds, Packham collaborated with two autistic individuals to create films that would help neurotypical people understand the experiences and thought processes of those on the spectrum.

The first individual he worked with was comedian Flo, who impressed Packham with her ability to perform on stage despite the social challenges that come with autism.

Flo explained that her success was due in part to “masking,” a coping mechanism used by many autistic people to mimic neurotypical behavior and suppress their own idiosyncrasies.

Flo and Murray, and asked them to create films reflecting their experiences

Flo, the Autistic comedian featured in Chris Packham’s documentary Inside Our Autistic Minds, had been masking her true self in public for years, mimicking the behavior of neurotypical people in order to appear more “normal.” But when she was alone or with her husband, she would often engage in self-soothing behaviors like rocking and hand-raising, or sit in long periods of silence.

Chris Packham Wildlife Photography

The colour of that coat in the sun , superb ! Thank you @donnajoyce_photography for today's #FoxOfTheDay pic.twitter.com/gKFfNVDYuB

— Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) February 14, 2023

Feeling exhausted from constantly wearing a mask, Flo decided it was time to share her true self with her mother. As the presenter of the show, Packham took a backseat and allowed his contributors to take center stage, offering a sympathetic perspective based on his own experiences with autism.

During a trip to a busy supermarket, Packham respected Flo’s need for space and did not push her too far for the sake of the show. In addition to Flo, Packham also spent time with Murray, a teenager who had words but could not speak.

It was a painful irony that Murray’s father, radio DJ Ken Bruce, made a living from talking while his son remained silent.

Murray, the non-speaking autistic teenager featured in Chris Packham’s documentary Inside Our Autistic Minds, used a keyboard and iPad to communicate his sincere and profound thoughts.

Chris Packham Tweet of the Day

9pm tonight on @bbctwo and @bbciplayer . pic.twitter.com/cdrXIrMOMO

— Chris Packham (@ChrisGPackham) February 14, 2023

Despite often being underestimated or treated as a child, Murray revealed himself to possess a deep intellect and shared his frustration at not being able to fully participate in conversations with his siblings or share his opinions.

Flo’s film was equally poignant, as she read a letter to her mother explaining her reasons for masking her true self and shared footage of her self-soothing behaviors, something she had never expected to show to her mother, let alone the world. Murray’s film was a powerful plea for society to stop underestimating non-speaking autistic people and recognize that they have the same dreams and desires as everyone else.

Through this documentary, autistic individuals were able to take charge of their own narrative and show that they cannot be boxed off into stereotypes. It was a privilege to be allowed into the deepest thoughts of Flo and Murray.

Chris Packham Net Worth

As of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021, Chris Packham’s net worth was estimated to be around £4 million, primarily earned from his career as a TV presenter, author, and naturalist. However, please note that his net worth may have fluctuated since then and I do not have access to the most current information.