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An unknown autistic playwright who spent years in
isolation writes a startlingly original new play that brings neurodivergence center stage in an electrifying theatrical event..
Tornado Tastes Like Aluminum Sting is a formally adventurous, sensory-driven short film co-directed by Harmon dot aut and James Rutenbeck. It traces the creation of a groundbreaking new play by Harmon—an autistic, queer, nonbinary playwright whose work centers perception, voice and neurodivergent embodiment.
For most of their life, Harmon worked in obscurity—unhoused for a time, later housebound and always creating in the margins. This play and film mark their first professional recognition.
At the film’s core is Harmon’s alter ego, Chantal Buñuel—a nonbinary cinephile navigating the layered textures of autism and synesthesia. Through nonlinear structure and hallucinogenic animation by Soul Proprietor (a studio of autistic artists), the film echoes Harmon’s play of the same name, refusing normative timelines in favor of fractured intimacy and neurodivergent logic.
Weaving together workshop scenes with playwright/director Craig Lucas (The Light in the Piazza) and rehearsals with Oliver Butler (What the Constitution Means to Me), the film draws on moments from its 2024 world premiere at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival. More than documentation, it’s a collaborative exploration of artistic process, perception and belonging.
Directed by Harmon dot aut, James Rutenbeck, and James Rutenbeck