INDIANAPOLIS — What started as a way for an Indianapolis boy to raise awareness for his brother has grown into a film.
Tyrell Smith's twin brother, Tyrese, was diagnosed with autism a few years ago. Tyrell had questions but also wanted to show support for his brother.
"He walked around with a notebook for a couple of months, and he would write and he would stop ... eventually he just came and said 'I'm done,'" mom Latasha Walker said.
Tyrell, at age 7, became the author of "Yes We are Twins, but We are Different."
"I reached out to someone that's really big in the literacy world in Indianapolis ... and she looked at it and she said he had something," Walker said.
Delores Thornton, or "Grandma's Cookie" as the boys lovingly call her, took on the project and turned Tyrell's big idea into a reality.
"I just knew that it would be a welcome thing for the community, especially the African American community, because a lot of times our symptoms and our diagnosis aren't, as you know, aren't readily explained like other populations," Thornton said. "So to bring this to the public to aid parents and others that deal with autism, it blew me away. It blew me away."
Now, the book is being turned into a movie that Tyrell and Tyrese star in as themselves.
The movie will be shown at the Three Fountains Clubhouse, located at 4620 Genoa Ct.
Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. For more information or to buy tickets, email tyrellntyrese317@gmail.com or call 317-652-3685.
-
1979: Lure of cash draws teens to Indiana cornfields
High school students gathered in the parking lot of Carmel High School long before the sun came up 45 years ago. The tired teens weren’t there for class. They were there to collect a paycheck.Indianapolis teacher talks new challenges ahead of first day of school
For the past 25 years, North Central journalism teacher Tom Gayda has looked forward to the first day of school.Trump questions Harris' race in NABJ interview, says VP 'doesn't have impact'
Donald Trump was interviewed on Wednesday at the NABJ annual convention in Chicago, though his appearance is drawing some criticism.Sellout Gen Con crowd could make downtown parking difficult
Board game enthusiasts from around the world are making the journey to Indianapolis this week for Gen Con, but the hardest game might be finding a place to park their cars.