AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – Work has begun on a film based on the devoted relationship of a local father and his autistic daughter.
Scott Austalosh and his daughter, Sophia, are the inspiration for the full-length feature film that will bring to light their worries and successes.
Florida-based screenwriter Kristin Wollett is writing the script. The film will be directed by Ryan Sanderson of Pittsburgh.
Wollett spent several days living with Scott and Sophia last month to gain insight into their daily lives and their personalities, challenges, triumphs and joys. She intends to illuminate the journey that the two have faced.
Filming will begin in 2027. Television actor Brett Varvel will play the role of Scott.
Wollett focuses her storytelling on stories that deal with identity, resilience and human connection.
She described Scott and Sophia’s story as “one of unconditional love, perseverance and hope” and said she is honored to bring it to a wider audience.
Wollett is also an actor and a novelist. Her debut novel, “As a Last Resort,” was published in 2025. Her next book, a romantic comedy titled “A Killer’s Guide to Falling,” will be released in 2027.
As an actress, she has appeared in films on Netflix, Comedy Central, Hallmark Channel and Great American Family.
The Austaloshes’ story has already been told through a short documentary, “Sophia, I Love You,” made by Sanderson. The 13-minute documentary was released in 2022. It can be watched HERE.
“Sophia, I Love You” won the Autism Awareness Award at the Golden Door International Film Festival and inspired the creation of “Sophia’s Gift,” an assistance program for special needs families in Ohio.
Wollett’s film will not be a documentary.
“It will be a narrative feature film inspired by the truth of what Scott and Sophia’s story is,” she said.
Scott has been an advocate for autism on the local and national level for the past decade. He encountered a daunting setback a few years ago when he was diagnosed with cancer, but he is now clear of the disease.
An Opportunity
The upcoming film will be another opportunity for Scott to reach people interested in the autism community. He said he has total confidence in Wollett’s ability to tell his story.
The decision to make the feature film grew after Sanderson’s documentary.
Wollett came into the project through a recommendation from her friend, the Indiana-based Varvel.
“At the time, [Wollett] was incredibly busy and wasn’t planning to take on another project, but after we connected and she heard our story, she took a couple of weeks to think about it and ultimately decided to come on board,” Scott said. “We couldn’t be more grateful that she did.
From our very first conversation, I had a deep sense that she was the right person to tell this story.”
His certainty in Wollett was confirmed by a comment she made while watching the short documentary.
“[Wollett] noticed the wall in our home that Sophia had covered with her drawings and colorful shapes, and she said she’d love to find a way to include that wall in the film. That may seem like a small detail, but to me it meant she understood the heart of our story.”
Having the screenwriter stay with the Austaloshes so she could better tell their story was an incredible experience, Scott said.
“I truly believe meeting Sophia changed the heart of the story [that Wollett will] tell,” he said. “She got to witness the joy, love and light that Sophia brings everywhere she goes and see the genuine connections she creates with people. Spending that personal time together allowed Kristin to experience what makes Sophia so special, and I know that will bring even more authenticity and heart to the film.”
Filmmaker’s View
What compelled Wollett to take on the film was the story of what they’ve lived through, she said.
“The heart of the story is about a father choosing his daughter before she was even born and fighting for her, navigating the autism diagnosis that she had when she was younger,” Wollett said.
Sophia’s mother was considering having an abortion, but Scott stepped in to change her mind.
His battle with cancer deepened the story.
“Scott’s cancer diagnosis, and then ultimately his wrestling with the question of identity and worth, that is really interesting to me,” Wollett continued.
The part of the story that will deliver the most emotional impact will stem from Scott’s struggle with cancer.
“He’s been Sophia’s caretaker, Sophia’s rock, and has always been there for her,” she said. The cancer diagnosis made him wrestle with what would happen if he were no longer able to fill that role for her.
Wollett was captivated by the angle.
“I want audiences to walk away feeling the heart of Scott’s story and the hope of Sophia,” she said. “Because at its core, it’s a father-daughter story that asks a very universal question about what remains when the roles that we have built our entire lives around are stripped away. For Scott, being the caretaker and the father and the one that everyone depends on, when he’s no longer able to live that role, where does his faith go?”
Those questions will be at the core of the film, Wollett said.
To capture the details of their everyday lives, the screenwriter will rely on her observations from the days she spent living with the Austaloshes.
“I’m going to build in the things that she actually does in real life and the real interactions that they have,” she said. “An example is, we went to the aquarium, and she just absolutely loves this octopus named Hank. She talks about him 24/7. He stinks, and so she always makes this really funny face whenever she talks about him. … I would love to write that into the script.”
The film will probably have the feel of a documentary, she said, “because a lot of films that are inspired by true stories take creative liberties with timelines or events to create the strongest movie.”
But it will not be a play-by-play retelling of their lives.
“My goal is telling a story that’s inspired by the heart of their lives,” she said.
Wollett believes streaming and cable networks would be interested in acquiring the rights to the film once it is finished.
“I can see multiple places trying to pick this up,” she said. “There is a faith element to this as well. It’s not going to be preachy, and it’s not going to be a heavier faith-based film. But there’s a really beautiful faith element, where Scott, throughout his journey, has seen God’s hand working. Looking back on his entire life, it’s a really beautiful awareness and a shift in his identity, and I think it’s going to resonate with a lot of people.”
Expectations, Goals
Scott said he hopes the film will remind people of the value of every human life and the impact that one life can have.
“Sophia’s story is a testament to that,” he said.
“The film does touch on the difficult issue of abortion because it was part of our journey. During the pregnancy, Sophia’s mother was considering abortion, and I stepped in to fight for my daughter’s life. That decision changed everything, and I hope people see the beauty and purpose that can come from choosing life.”
As a father, he also wants audiences to experience the light that Sophia brings into the world.
“She has a unique way of making people feel seen, loved and accepted, and I hope that stays with viewers long after the credits roll,” he said. “If this film helps people embrace those with special needs with more openness, compassion and understanding, then I believe we’ve accomplished something truly meaningful.”
Scott has a track record of getting results for those with autism and their families. He founded the Voices 4 Autism organization, and in 2023 he created Sophia’s Place, a sensory facility at Carousel Center in Austintown.
He intends to use the same determination in supporting the feature film after it is finished.
“I’ve always believed that if something is truly worth doing, it’s worth giving everything I have,” he said. “Whether it’s for Sophia or for the autism community, I approach every project with the same mindset. I simply don’t have a fail switch. Once I commit to something, I already believe it’s going to happen.”
Because projects like this film are so personal to Scott, his commitment and tenacity comes naturally.
“I pour my heart into everything I do because I know what’s at stake and who I’m doing it for,” he said.
Pictured at top: Scott Austalosh and his daughter, Sophia.