An Interview with Conor Forrest, NCF Associate, on his film project "Mind Ripples"

1. Can you introduce yourself and tell us a little about your background and your work?

I'm Conor Forrest, a Toronto-based writer and director of Canadian, Chinese, and British heritage. I graduated from York University's Film Production program in 2021, and my work across fiction and documentary is driven by a passion for telling authentic stories about neurodiversity, particularly ADHD.

As someone who grew up with ADHD, I'm deeply interested in creating nuanced, character-driven films that challenge stereotypes and explore how neurodivergent people experience relationships, creativity, family, and the transition into adulthood.

My short film Used Furniture was acquired by CBC Gem and released as part of its Canadian Reflections collection, while my feature documentary Unravelling The Ravelled Mind was picked up by Amazon Prime Video. My work has screened at festivals including LA Shorts, Catalina, Forest City, and Yorkton. I've also been fortunate to participate in initiatives such as the Sundance Collab course led by Andrew Ahn and the RBC Yorkton Mentorship Program.

More recently, I received support from the Ontario Arts Council and the National Film Board of Canada for my short film Burdened, which explores the impact of ADHD on a family, and development funding from Ontario Creates for my debut feature, Mind Ripples, an ensemble drama centred on multiple neurodivergent artists navigating Toronto's creative scene.

2. What inspired you to pursue filmmaking and storytelling?

As cliched as this might sound, I took a film studies class in high school specifically grade 11. My high school was a smaller private school as I needed a smaller classroom environment due to my learning disability and I didn’t know what I wanted to do.

Then while taking my film class I realized it was visual storytelling I wanted to do so I shot some cheap short films if you’d call them that during lunch break on my iPhone and then after that I got into York University and got my BFA in Film Production. It was there that I realized that I wanted to be a director.

3. You're currently developing a film exploring neurodivergent characters. What inspired you to tell this story?

Honestly as someone who is neurodivergent myself its always frustrated me the lack of authentic representation we have seen in cinema and TV and all forms of media. I think our community is extremely marginalized whether in the school system or the workplace.

It's gotten better, but is still not perfect. As a filmmaker it is a mission for me to tell stories that reflect more light and authenticity on neurodiversity and I want to continue to do that with my feature film.

4. Without giving too much away, what themes or issues does the film explore?

Mind Ripples explores what it means to be a young artist trying to find your place in the world while navigating neurodiversity, relationships, and the pressures of building a creative career. At its core, it's a story about connection and the ripple effect people can have on one another, often without even realizing it.

The film touches on themes of ADHD and other forms of neurodivergence, mental health, modern dating, ambition, social media, and the ethics of turning real experiences into art. More than anything, it's about flawed people trying to understand themselves and each other, and how creativity can both heal and complicate our lives.

5. What do you hope audiences will think, feel, or do differently after watching the film?

I hope audiences, especially Gen Z, neurodivergent, and in the midst of these modern day dating things like labels, situationships and dating apps in general can relate to it can be touched by it and that we can push for more romantic dramas and comedies that reflect on the modern day dating scene and give a more grounded realistic approach on things. I hope this film can reinvent “romance” from a mental health lens. I hope audiences can truly resonate and find it relatable.

6. You've invited feedback from the Neurodiversity Change Foundation community as part of the script development process. Why was it important to involve neurodivergent voices in shaping the story?

It was very important to me to involve more neurodivergent voices in Mind Ripples as we simply have characters that talents and flaws are partially summed up by there neurodiversities and authentic characters is always a priority of mine.

I knew that I needed input from certain experts and NCF was who I looked at as the right team as I love this organization.

7. In your view, what are some of the biggest misconceptions about neurodivergent people that continue to appear in film and media?

Hmm well what bothers me the most is that neurodivergent people aren’t represented in a grounded way. There not represented as people who with neurodiverse conditions have their talents and flaws along the way. They either represented in two extremes the liability type, most times autism or Tourette’s to an extreme whether its films like Rain Man or What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (both great films), but not a positive representation no.

Its also the opposite extreme representing them as a genius type or even superhero type character who is flawless in shows such as House, Sherlock, Wednesday, Hannibal plus many many more. I want to bring this representation to the authentic centre, showing both.

8. What practical advice would you give to writers, filmmakers, producers, and media organizations who want to create more neuroinclusive stories?

Hmm good question. I mean I’d say the obvious one is authenticity do research, put an effort to make authentic characters that represent neurodiversity properly.

Consult with organizations such as NCF, take the extra step to authenticize the characters as much as you can. That’s what we are proudly doing with you. Also I of course think there always needs to be some personal connection to it and as someone with ADHD I can strongly connect with this story.

9. What are the next steps with your film and how can people follow your work?

Well here is my Vimeo, you can find my short film Used Furniture on CBC Gem, some other short films A Summers Day at Sherwood Park, Friday Night Fish and I’ll be with you in the dark are on IndieFLIX.

Our next steps are finalize this script with NCF's notes of course and represent our characters as well as possible then seek funding from some grants and some overseas private equity; we are partnering up with a German production company so it will be a co-production. Another thing is seek interest from some name actors who have a good CV at least in Canada to gain financial interest. Our budget is just under 2 million as the script sits.

Conor's Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/user182736735?fl=pp&fe=sh

NCF MediaSafer supports neurodivergent artists and strengthens representation through community-based film review, creative feedback, and collaborative learning.