Two prominent autistic actors, Emily Carey (“ Geek Girl “) and Lola Blue (“A Kind of Spark”), topline the short film “ The Birth of a Mall Goth ,” marking a rare project where neurodiverse talent controls the creative process both on-screen and off.

Writer-director Samantha Locock developed the script around her fascination with goth subculture, though she didn’t realize until after receiving her autism diagnosis that the story reflected her own neurodivergent experience of seeking understanding in an often confusing world.

“When I wrote this script, I don’t think I fully understood why I was so deeply intrigued by why people suddenly become goths,” Locock said. “Now, I see the film as the autistic need to try and make sense of the world around you — you can’t always take things

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