Florida boy with autism writes film script of his favorite children's book

From First Coast News in Florida:

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- An 11-year-old boy from St. Augustine has autism, but that is not stopping him. Keaton Bicknell (pictured) told First Coast News, "I would like to set the world record for becoming the world's youngest screen writer." He's serious about it too.

Keaton loves the Pelican Pete children's books written by Frances Keiser and illustrated by her husband, Hugh. They also live in St. Augustine on Crescent Beach.

Keaton has written a movie script for the stories of Pelican Pete. At the dining room table in the author's home this past September, Keaton presented his idea to the Keiser's about the Pelican Pete film. Part of it would be live action; part of it would be animation. Frances Keiser said, "We think it's just fabulous. Everybody is just so excited about it and there are just so many people that have come together to make Keaton's dream come true." Keaton's sister, 13-year-old Samantha, has also helped the movie take shape. She told First Coast News she's proud of her brother.

"He loves animation and anything that has to do with film making," Samantha Bicknell said. Keaton has been on movie sets before. His father's in the film business.

So with help from his dad's connections, Keaton will shoot the film this weekend at the author's beach house. Professional camera crews, make-up artists, and actors will be on location in Crescent Beach. For now, all of it is volunteer work.

Hugh Keiser, the book's illustrator, said he and his wife never thought about making a movie...until Keaton came along. "No one else had ever tried it," Keiser chuckled. "[Keaton's] the catalyst. He's what got us going."

Stuart Bicknell, Keaton's father, said they are researching ways to bring the finished 15-20 minute film to the public. He said they may sell it as a DVD separately or along with the books. Jennifer Sellars is the Marketing Director for Sagaponack Books. She said they may even pitch the film to Disney and Nickelodeon.

Pelican Pete, as Frances Keiser put it, "Is a one-year-old brown pelican who is a character in a series of books for environmental education. They are used to help children connect with nature."

That's why Keaton thinks it'll make a great film. Keaton told First Coast News, "It can be a family movie...of any proportion...and for people to learn about the environment."

France Keiser believes it will do more than that."We hope it brings awareness for autism because here is a child that has a dream and he's making it come true. He's a child that many people -- even doctors -- said wouldn't even be able to speak."

But Keaton is doing more than speaking. He's put his mind to movie making...and he's bringing a pelican named Pete to life.