Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs Biopic: Three 30-Minute Scenes Taking Place Before Three Product Launches

Thursday November 15, 2012 10:34 am PST by Jordan Golson
Aaron Sorkin, screenwriter of the movie based on Walter Isaacson's Steve Jobs biography, has shared some details behind the structure of the upcoming film.

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Speaking from The Daily Beast's Hero Summit, Sorkin disclosed that the entire movie "is going to be 3 scenes, and take place in real-time." Further, each of the three 30-minute scenes will take place backstage before a major product launch.

Sorkin has previously noted that biography screenwriters frequently have difficulty overcoming a "cradle-to-grave structure".
"Drama is tension versus obstacle. Someone wants something, something is standing in their way of getting it. They want the money, they want the girl, they want to get to Philadelphia - doesn't matter ... And I need to find that event and I will. I just don't know what it is," Sorkin said.
With the movie laid out in this real-time format, Sorkin seems to have written a rather unique film. It seems likely that the three major product releases that Sorkin is referring to will be the original Macintosh in 1984, the iMac in 1998, and the iPhone in 2007.

Update: According to Baba Shetty, the CEO of Newsweek, Sorkin mentioned the launches of the original Mac, the NeXT cube, and the iPod.

Update 2: The Daily Beast has posted the video of Sorkin's interview, with the Steve Jobs segment beginning around 22:30 and continuing through the end.


(Image courtesy Asa Mathat/All Things D)

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BornAgainMac
94 months ago
I want to see the Mobile Me meeting.
Rating: 39 Votes
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Patriot24
94 months ago
Good to see all of the writers and directors of MacRumors coming out to weigh in here. Sorkin clearly has no idea how to write good stories and produce great works.

oh.
Rating: 18 Votes
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Mal
94 months ago
I actually really like this idea. The thought of getting a feeling for what Jobs was like before each of those major launches (without a doubt the most significant points in Jobs' career) is really intriguing. I have a feeling I'll enjoy seeing this, unless it's just really poorly done.

jW
Rating: 13 Votes
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extradryny
94 months ago
I'm intrigued, mostly because I agree with Sorkin on the trouble with cradle-to-grave biopics. They only seem to work when the the character is fictional, like Forrest Gump or Jesus Christ.
Rating: 12 Votes
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frayne182
94 months ago
Sounds terrible.


Make it in the format Social Network is and make it dramatic.
Rating: 11 Votes
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8CoreWhore
94 months ago
That's not a biopic, it's a triopic.

Look, 2 hour biopics suck. You can't cram the story in there. If people really want a biopic, they'll read the book.
Rating: 8 Votes
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Small White Car
94 months ago

I want to see the Mobile Me meeting.


That'll be the DVD special feature: 2 hour movie + 6 hours of Steve yelling and firing people
Rating: 6 Votes
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Small White Car
94 months ago
Sounds good to me.

As much as I love Jobs, face it, he's not George Washington or some big war hero.

People want to see a movie about Jobs because of what he did at Apple. Makes sense to structure the move in such a way that the company is as much a character as he is.
Rating: 6 Votes
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DudeDad
94 months ago
I thought the idea of a Facebook movie was a joke. However, Sorkin wrote a fantastic screenplay, regardless of what you think of Facebook or the main players.

He's a brilliant writer. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he will write another wonderful screenplay.

Reading the comments I'm reminded of the "end-of-the-world" reaction to Apple's change to the current iTunes icon. I believe we survived and are beyond that overreaction. Let the movie come out before you pan it.
Rating: 5 Votes
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mohsy90
94 months ago
Say all you want, but I've seen Sorkin's work and I'm sure he wont disappoint.
Rating: 4 Votes

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