Breaking Normal

Jessica Cabot

A story about acceptance, friendship, and courage, Breaking Normal explores the unique way neurodivergent people explore and experience the world, and showcases the anxiety that can be felt when you feel you have to try to change yourself to experience the world.

The film stars two neurodivergent actors, autistic actress, Tal Anderson as Kitty and comedian Anthony Purnell, who lives with ADHD, as Mask.

NICOLE BETZ, Executive Producer and Writer of Breaking Normal, is a comedy TV writer who started out working at the very bottom. Her first gig in television was as an office PA on Showtime’s “Ray Donovan.” Five years later she landed her first staff writing job on Netflix’s “Atypical.” During those five years she busted her hump as a writers’ assistant and script coordinator on various TV projects. In 2016 she had a life changing comedy room experience working as the writers’ assistant for season 3 of “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.” In 2017 she was hired to be the script coordinator for season 2 of “Atypical.” During the run of the season she was given the chance to show her writing skills which ultimately lead to her being staffed on season 3. She was brought back for the
fourth and final season of “Atypical” where she was promoted to Story Editor.


TAL ANDERSON (Producer, Editor and Co-Star of Breaking Normal) is a storyteller and an advocate for change. As an autistic actor, she uses her voice and platform to support inclusion and authentic representation in Hollywood, and to advocate for disability rights in the workplace. She is best known for her work in the Netflix series “Atypical” as ‘Sid’, as Becca King in the new MAX series, The Pitt, and as a guest star in Season 5 of NBC’s series, “Magnum P.I.”

Tal is an alumnus of both the CBS Leadership Pipeline, and the 2022 Sony Diverse Actor’s program. She holds a B.S. in Film from Full Sail University, and when she’s not acting, she flexes her creative muscles with producing, editing and writing. Along with producing her podcast, Hairy Yarns which she co-hosts with actor Kayla Cromer, she published her first children's book last year entitled, "Oh, Tal! Not Today," and just completed the edit of "Meandering Scars," a feature documentary for Birdmine Stories, as well as 55 videos for the Smithsonian Institute exhibit, "Japanese War Brides: Across a Wide Divide," which opened December 14, 2024 in Dallas.

Tal is an avid horror movie fan, lover of rock music, and is a true crime enthusiast, and stands firm in her belief that everyone deserves to turn on the TV and see themselves represented on-screen, especially children as they grow into their own. She can be found online at:
www.theTalAnderson.com
www.instagram.com/theTalAnderson
www.imdb.me/TalAnderson

ANTHONY PURNELL, is a writer, comedian, and actor. Originally from Philadelphia and a film school graduate, Anthony has struggled with ADHD all of his life, and recently moved from Orlando where he worked for Disney, to pursue acting in Los Angeles. Anthony can be seen at Comedy venues throughout Los Angeles, on stage in various productions, and can be found online at: www.instagram.com/anthonyrpurnelljr