Autistic Teen Heads For Silver Screen

Magic Johnson Meets Jason McElwain, Confirms Deal

(CBS/AP) 

They are confident that movie producer Laura Ziskin will do a good job.

"My main worry throughout Jason's life has been getting a financial backup for him," Debbie McElwain said in an interview. "Because he's not going to have a great job, nor is he going to have a college education, nor probably a high school diploma, it'll give him some financial backup and that's all I care about."

Before the movie deal came along, she said, one big concern was "what if his parents are dead, how is he going to make it on his own? It's taken some burden off us.

"He's only academically at a fourth-grade level — people have got to realize this. That's why I keep my eye on him, that's why he looks to his parents or his brother or whoever's around that he knows."

In the movie, McElwain will "definitely" have a cameo role, Johnson said.

"Everybody will go crazy when they see him on screen. I think that's a big part of it," he said.

Johnson said he got emotional when he watched highlights of McElwain's performance.

"It's like he was born to do it. And then to go back to his normal role in the next playoff game was also amazing. How many people would say, 'I just hit 20 points! What's up, I want some time! Man, I outscored everybody!"' Johnson said.

"He just went back, put the black tie on, the white shirt and the black pants. I'm right back cheering. That says a lot about who he is. It also says a lot about his parents, the coach, the players. But, again, God blesses us with special people who can be a beacon of light for others."

McElwain's father, David McElwain, told CBS affiliate WROC-TV in Rochester, N.Y., ""He amazes me, how he handles all this. He handles the questions well. He's not nervous at all. He seems to, I don't know, every day, he amazes me."