Filmmaker Explores Autism Experience in New Regional Film
The Wilde Girls features themes of neurodiversity and is now streaming for Washington library patrons.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Special Needs
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Filmmaker Timothy Hines, who grew up in Port Townsend, highlights the Pacific Northwest in his film The Wilde Girls, which was produced in 2022. The film is currently available for Washington residents to stream for free through the Hoopla library service.
Why it matters
The project serves as a personal tribute to the region and offers a glimpse into how creative work can serve as a vehicle for self-expression. By integrating his own experiences as an autistic adult into the script, Hines provides a unique perspective on neurodiversity in film.
The film project draws from the filmmaker's personal history, including his childhood in Port Townsend and his lived experience as an autistic adult discovered at age 58. The specific medical or clinical criteria used to support this self-identified experience remain undocumented.
The players
Timothy Hines
An independent filmmaker and director who incorporates personal history and neurodivergent perspectives into his cinematic work.
Cali Scolari
An actress who appears in The Wilde Girls and is the daughter of the late actor Peter Scolari.
The details
Hines developed the script by blending anecdotes from his pioneer relatives with thematic elements inspired by screwball comedies from the 1930s and 1940s. To represent his own experience with autism, he created a specific scholar character within the film. The production utilized several Washington locations for filming, including Chimacum, Snoqualmie, and Anderson Island.
Timeline
1917: Birth year of both of Hines' parents.
1980s: Hines began his career as an independent filmmaker.
1985: Hines worked on the film Trouble in Mind.
2021: Death of actor Peter Scolari.
2022: Production of The Wilde Girls occurred.
Health Landscape
This project reflects the broader shift toward greater self-representation for neurodivergent individuals within the arts. It follows the pattern set by the neurodiversity movement's focus on self-representation in media by allowing an autistic creator to define his own narrative.
For adults who are newly navigating an autism diagnosis, this film offers a creative look at how one individual processes and communicates those experiences. Discussing personal health milestones and creative outlets with a physician or therapist can be a valuable part of a wellness journey.
The takeaway
Creative expression can be a meaningful way to process personal life experiences, including late-life neurodivergent diagnoses. For those interested in exploring neurodiversity, consider speaking with a mental health professional about how creative hobbies might enhance your own cognitive and emotional well-being.
Further reading
Learn more about neurodiversity and community support by visiting Special Needs.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader.
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