Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin Shares Some Thoughts About Steve Jobs Biopic, Woz Hired As Advisor

[MacRumors]

Aaron Sorkin, the creative genius behind The Social Network, The West Wing, and upcoming HBO show The Newsroom was recently confirmed as the screenwriter for Sony's upcoming movie based on Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs -- though, Sorkin himself says he has a lot of work to do.

Reuters reports that Sorkin held an interview with reporters and said he was still looking for something in Jobs' life to hang the movie on.

Sorkin noted that "The Social Network" saw the Facebook story through the lens of an acrimonious lawsuit that pitted CEO Mark Zuckerberg against his Harvard friends over the creation of the social media network.

"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.

He noted that it won't be a "straight ahead biography" because a biography has a natural "cradle-to-grave structure" that is very hard to overcome.

Sorkin also disclosed that Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has been hired as a consultant by Sony Pictures to advise the filmmakers on the technical aspects of computers and about Jobs himself.

Article Link: Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin Shares Some Thoughts About Steve Jobs Biopic, Woz Hired As Advisor

[Fishcake21]

I dunno, Steve and Steve was a different generation back then compare to the harvard kids. I love pirates of silicon valley because it had less bs compare to the social network.

Maybe I am being a hater... I guess I am, i don't care... eff him

[machomer]

I don't think there's difficulty in finding anything out! I read Steve Jobs and his life is was filled with drama as it is. A once in a lifetime individual that changed the world.

A strong minded person, created his company, stabbed in the back by people he brought in, starts his own company, buys another and influences the company to change animated movies, comes full circle when his original company buys his second, works behinds the scenes to force out existing CEO, he takes back his company (Thank GOD), brings his company back from the brink, unfortunately (understatement) has cancer, battles cancer, world loses a visionary. It's simple, his life is a damn movie. No need for any certain twist.

[Mjmar]

My expectations for this movie have just been set to high

[BlueParadox]

If the film's going to be made, then couldn't be happier that Sorkin is adapting Isaacson's bio. I'm sure he'll find the perfect MacGuffin to construct his screenplay around.

Now the other hard part - the right director and lead for the roles...

[blow45]

too early for this ****, the dust hasn't even settled on Steve's grave... hollywood always out to make big buck when they see the opportunity, what's new?

anyway biopics are dead boring, what can you put in 100 mins about a man's life that isn't a cliche and a caricature to anyone who knows his legacy and a bit about their life?

Read the bio instead.

[jlgolson]

Originally Posted by blow45

too early for this ****, the dust hasn't even settled on Steve's grave... hollywood always out to make big buck when they see the opportunity, what's new?

anyway biopics are dead boring, what can you put in 100 mins about a man's life that isn't a cliche and a caricature to anyone who knows his legacy and a bit about their life?

Read the bio instead.

Biopics are boring? Clearly you haven't seen Ali or Ray or -- ****, even The Social Network was a biopic.

[fruitpunch.ben]

It's fantastic that Woz is hired as advisor.
I remember the story about him being left out of Isacson's biography because of a misunderstanding (when Isaacson called him for an interview Woz declined, because he thought it was another unofficial biography and he wanted to respect Steve's wishes for privacy. He didn't realize that Steve had authorized Isaacson because he was dying). So I hope we get a little more of that side of the story. I love Woz he's such a gentle, humble man in interviews

[Capt Underpants]

Woz can give them some insights about the early days, but I doubt he'll be too useful once the film reaches the mid '80s. He's lost a lot of relevance since he left the company. But it'll be interesting to see where Sorkin decides to focus the narrative.

[blow45]

Originally Posted by jlgolson

Biopics are boring? Clearly you haven't seen Ali or Ray or -- ****, even The Social Network was a biopic.

Haven't watched Ali, but I found Ray dead boring. Ali might have been better dunno, there are exceptions to the rule.

I 've not watched the social network, I m not really into bs.

[dscuber9000]

Social Network took a few steps past "dramatization" to the point of being flat-out misleading. Like the total invention of that female character in the beginning and end of the movie. And making Mark Zuckerberg seem like an anti-social bully (which makes no sense considering he started the leading SOCIAL network).

Hopefully with Woz being an "advisor" things won't stray too far from the truth, but who knows how active Woz will be.

[edk99]

I lost interest in this movie when Ashton Kutcher was announced to play Steve.

[basesloaded190]

Originally Posted by blow45

Haven't watched Ali, but I found Ray dead boring. Ali might have been better dunno, there are exceptions to the rule.

I 've not watched the social network, I m not really into bs.

BS? What about The Social Network is BS? If you love or hate Facebook, the movie was fantastic.

[taylortm]

Originally Posted by edk99

I lost interest in this movie when Ashton Kutcher was announced to play Steve.

I'm with you on that one. Ditto for Sorkin being involved.

Sorkin creates characters that almost exclusively are only capable of using extremely condescending dialog and there was always something else that rubbed me the wrong way about every episode of West Wing (even though I watched almost all of them). But I couldn't put my finger on it until I just read this post.

Thanks to Aaron for pointing it out: he only knows one recipe for creating dramatic engagement. Very cookie cutter.

My expectations just got set to low(er). Definitely a "wait for DVD" film, for me.

[koolmagicguy]

The Woz is a big cuddly teddy bear

[arn]

Originally Posted by edk99

I lost interest in this movie when Ashton Kutcher was announced to play Steve.

That's a different movie.

[blow45]

Originally Posted by basesloaded190

BS? What about The Social Network is BS? If you love or hate Facebook, the movie was fantastic.

I really don't think oneway or the other about facebook, I intensely disliked the fact that they are bypassing every privacy law in the book and making a buck off our data, but since facebook is here to stay I 've stopped caring and I hope the legislators do something about it. Just heard an interview of Zuckerburg (sp?) once and I though he was an effin moron -which he is- that had zero insight on the social implications and philosophical ramifications of what he had accidentally unleashed upon the world. Why would I want to see a movie made in hollywood (lowest common denominator oversimplified bs 99.9% of the time) about such a bozo?

[MacAddict1978]

I think the best focus would be his ousting from Apple and his return... it's that midpoint between the past and the end of his life, the even divide. There was so much drama and events that can round out both ends of that that would give the movie a non-biopic feel.

I just hope the film includes a scene where Steve Jobs pulls the mobile me team into a conference room and asks, "so what does mobile me do?" he gets his answer, and then as only steve jobs could do... "they why the F%#)@ doesn't it do that? You should hate yourselves for shaming Apple and being an embarassment."

Oh, and when he told Bill Gates he needed to go screw around and drop some acid because he was an uptight nerd

[iMikeT]

That one obstacle Sorkin is looking for is Jobs looking to change the world through technology and everyone and everything standing in the way. They can be personified in the likeness of Sculley, Gates, and death.

You're welcome Mr. Sorkin. Please send my consulting check to my secretary.

[basesloaded190]

Originally Posted by blow45

I really don't think oneway or the other about facebook, I intensely disliked the fact that they are bypassing every privacy law in the book and making a buck off our data, but since facebook is here to stay I 've stopped caring and I hope the legislators do something about it. Just heard an interview of Zuckerburg (sp?) once and I though he was an effin moron -which he is- that had zero insight on the social implications and philosophical ramifications of what he had accidentally unleashed upon the world. Why would I want to see a movie made in hollywood (lowest common denominator oversimplified bs 99.9% of the time) about such a bozo?

That's why I said love or hate facebook, it still is a fantastic movie, but apparently you can't imagine such a thing.

[blow45]

Originally Posted by basesloaded190

That's why I said love or hate facebook, it still is a fantastic movie, but apparently you can't imagine such a thing.

maybe we have different tastes and expectations from movies? I am not easy to please, I am at stage of too much been there done that, and seen this, read this in my life to be impressed so I try to chose wisely so I won't be disappointed.

----------

Originally Posted by MacAddict1978

I just hope the film includes a scene where Steve Jobs pulls the mobile me team into a conference room and asks, "so what does mobile me do?" he gets his answer, and then as only steve jobs could do... "they why the F%#)@ doesn't it do that? You should hate yourselves for shaming Apple and being an embarassment."

Lol that would be a great effing scene!!!!!
(doubt they ll put it in the film)

[DrWeevil]

Originally Posted by MacAddict1978

I think the best focus would be his ousting from Apple and his return... it's that midpoint between the past and the end of his life, the even divide. There was so much drama and events that can round out both ends of that that would give the movie a non-biopic feel.

I just hope the film includes a scene where Steve Jobs pulls the mobile me team into a conference room and asks, "so what does mobile me do?" he gets his answer, and then as only steve jobs could do... "they why the F%#)@ doesn't it do that? You should hate yourselves for shaming Apple and being an embarassment."

Oh, and when he told Bill Gates he needed to go screw around and drop some acid because he was an uptight nerd

Ditto to all that. Another possibility to focus on: Steve's commitment to destroy Android... if it takes every last penny in Apple coffer of amassed cash. Though his return to Apple and flawlessly lead it to unimaginable successes would be nicer :-)

[demodave]

From the Sorkin Quotation:
"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.

Kinda indirectly from Steve Jobs:
"I want to create the best damn user experience in the world, and I am willing to talk myself out of a job and get bought out of a job to do it! I'm even willing to go to thermonuclear war!"

Is this really that difficult?

[LethalWolfe]

Originally Posted by demodave

From the Sorkin Quotation:
"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.

Kinda indirectly from Steve Jobs:
"I want to create the best damn user experience in the world, and I am willing to talk myself out of a job and get bought out of a job to do it! I'm even willing to go to thermonuclear war!"

Is this really that difficult?

So Jobs vs HID w/a subplot of Jobs vs a competing OS in a 'war' that never had any resolution. That sounds wonderfully boring. Where's the character arc? Who's Moriarty to Jobs' Holmes? In Pirates of Silicon Valley it was Jobs vs Gates. It wasn't Jobs vs Windows or Jobs vs IBM.

Jobs getting ousted, returning to Apple and bringing the company from the land of monthly 'death knells' to one of the most successful companies ever obviously has drama and character growth in spades but I think it might be too large of a time frame. I think Sorkin is looking for a microcosmic event that could encapsulate the essence of Jobs' life, struggles and growth.


Lethal

[DavidLeblond]

Ugh, it sounds like Sorkin is probably going to pull the same crap he did with The Social Network and fictionalize it. Don't get me wrong, I loved the movie. But he clearly didn't understand the fact that someone can build something just for the sake of building it. Instead he invented some crap about how Facebook was created to get back at a girl. And now most everyone thinks that's true.