We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jason Weissbrod a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jason, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

I co-founded Spectrum Laboratory (Spec Labs) in 2015 with my business partner and close friend, Garth Herberg. Spec Labs is a creative space where neurodivergent and autistic artists can explore their passions, pursue their dreams, and learn what it’s like to create art and work professionally in the entertainment industry.

Spec Labs has been the most meaningful project of my life. I’ve worked in the entertainment industry for over 30 years, and while I contributed to many films, television projects, and creative productions, none of that work ever brought me the sense of fulfillment I’ve experienced here. Over the past decade, working alongside our neurodivergent artists and creative team has given my life a depth of purpose I never found before.

When we started, we had just six students and two classes—music and filmmaking. Eleven years later, Spec Labs has grown into a vibrant community with over 20 programs serving more than 100 students. I continue to teach classes and actively collaborate on projects ranging from films and concerts to theater productions and live comedy shows.

Working daily with our neurodivergent and autistic artists brings meaning, creative joy, and freedom into everything I do. I learn as much from them as they learn from me, and together we are constantly striving to create meaningful, inclusive projects and stories to share with the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I worked in the entertainment industry for many years as a director, producer, actor, editor, and writer—wearing just about every hat there is. I brought that experience to Spectrum Laboratory (Spec Labs) to help guide, mentor, and educate our students through real-world, hands-on filmmaking.

Since founding Spec Labs, we have created over 20 short films, 50 music videos, and produced a wide range of live events and concerts. I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve accomplished and of the talented, passionate team that made it possible.

As the Head of the Film and Acting Departments, there are several projects that are especially close to my heart and currently available to watch on YouTube. One of them is Boys Don’t Wear Dresses, a short film that follows the life and struggles of an autistic transgender artist navigating love, identity, and growing up. The film is based on the real experiences of one of our students who wanted to share their story with the world. The result is a beautiful, family-friendly coming-of-age fairytale—unlike anything else out there. The project was made even more special by the involvement of incredible guest artists, including Tom Kenny (the voice of SpongeBob SquarePants), Alexandra Billings (Transparent, Wicked), and Carol Kane (Taxi, The Princess Bride). It was truly a dream project for our students and film team.

Additional projects include House of Masks, a psychological thriller; The Benchwarm-Nerds!, an outcast high-school comedy; and Hands, a charming love story told entirely with hand puppets—completed in just five days for the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge.

You can explore these films and more on our YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@spectrumlaboratory

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society grows through the stories it chooses to tell—and the stories it chooses to support. By watching, uplifting, and sharing films, television, and media that reflect brave, diverse storytelling, we help educate ourselves and one another. When these stories are seen and shared with friends and family, they don’t just entertain—they create understanding.

The more inclusive stories that reach the world, the more they help educate those who may not know much about autism or disability, and the more they help build a kinder, more compassionate society. We need these stories now more than ever. At the core, people want to feel something. They want to be moved, inspired, and connected through heartfelt storytelling. These stories increase acceptance and awareness, especially for individuals and communities who are often misunderstood.

In a time when the media—particularly the news—can feel overwhelming and divisive, it has become harder to connect with one another in meaningful, positive ways. Storytelling has the power to bridge that gap.

At Spectrum Laboratory (Spec Labs), we have created a loving, inclusive community of artists where people feel safe, valued, and where they truly belong. With the recent opening of our new production studio space in Burbank, California, we are expanding our work—collaborating with more neurodivergent artists and continuing to create meaningful projects that reflect diverse voices and lived experiences.

Spec Labs is more than a studio.
Spec Labs is a family.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

One of our core missions at Spectrum Laboratory (Spec Labs) is to push the entertainment industry toward telling more inclusive and diverse stories. While some studios have made efforts in recent years, there is still a great deal of work to be done. Too many voices remain unheard, and too many stories go untold.

At Spec Labs, we are committed to creating authentic representation, both on screen and behind the camera. That means casting actors whose real-life experiences align with the roles they play—for example, casting performers with disabilities to portray characters with disabilities. Authenticity matters, and representation is most powerful when it comes from lived experience.

Autistic representation is an especially important focus of our work. Historically, film and television have offered a very narrow portrayal of autism—most often depicting white male characters who excel at a single extraordinary skill. We often refer to this as the “Rain Man syndrome.” While that portrayal reflects one possible autistic experience, it represents only a small fraction of the community.

Through my more than 20 years of working within the autism community in Los Angeles, I have met countless autistic individuals and artists whose talents, personalities, cultures, and life experiences are incredibly diverse. As my friend Dr. Stephen Shore famously said, “If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” That statement couldn’t be more true.

Every autistic person I’ve met is unique, creative, and valuable—just like you reading this right now. We all deserve to be treated with dignity, equality, and respect. That belief drives everything we do at Spec Labs. Telling stories that reflect the full spectrum of autistic and neurodivergent lives isn’t just meaningful to us—it’s essential to creating a more honest, compassionate, and inclusive entertainment industry.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.speclabs.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spectrum_laboratory
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spectrumlaboratory
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spectrum-laboratory/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@spectrumlaboratory
• Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/id/artist/spectrum-laboratory/993402073

Image Credits

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