PIRATES OF SILICON VALLEY
US, 1999, 95 minutes, Colour.
Anthony Michael Hall, Noah Wyle, Joey Slotnik, John di Maggio, Josh Hopkins.
Directed by Martyn Burke.
The Pirates of Silicon Valley is a 1999 American telemovie attempt to give some insight into the characters of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as well as give some idea of how their computer empires began. It is not always an edifying story. Bill Gates seems to be something of the nerd who relied on Steve Jobs but was shrewd enough to be able to take software and hardware from Jobs in order to set up Microsoft. Meanwhile, Jobs, an erratic and vain person from the point of view of the film, develops Apple. For those not in the know, it is sometimes difficult to work out who is working with whom, especially since there is another Steve, Steve Wozniak, who works with Gates as well as Steve Ballmer.
However, the film is an interesting portrait of eager young men with great ambitions, who lack scruple at times, who are able to exploit situations, get patents, make contracts and build up an empire (and run the risk of losing it).
In the succeeding years Steve Jobs continued to be successful and Bill Gates increased his Microsoft empire (as well as, with his wife, being a humanitarian in donating his money to causes, especially medical research).
Anthony Michael Hall, best known for his performances when young in John Hughes’ films like The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, is Bill Gates. Noah Wile, from ER, is Steve Jobs. Director Martyn Burke is a Canadian who writes for television and has made only a few films including the Canadian Power Play in the 1970s.
1. The impact of the telemovie? Audience interest in the subject? The characters? Their success?
2. Audience interest in Bill Gates, in Microsoft? In Steve Jobs? In the developments of Apple and Mac? The issues of wealth? Rivalries? Their characters?
3. The span from the 70s to the 90s, the perspective from 1999? The development of computers by that stage? IBM, Apple Mac, Microsoft?
4. The period, the 70s, the two being presented as geeks or nerds? Obsessed with computers? Their experience, their skills, ambitions? Their ruthlessness? Friendships, stealing from one another – and justifying this? Developing the software? Management skills? Wealth and empires?
5. Steve Jobs and his character, strong, young and daring? His company, the development, Apple? The exhibitions, the popularity of Apple? Wealth and management skills? The touch of paranoia? Anti-IBM? Office work, teams, the relationship with Xerox, the aftermath with Xerox making accusations against him? The discussions with Microsoft? The personal interactions with Bill Gates? Interviews, no apology? His style – shorts versus suits? The relationship with Arlene, the baby? His unwillingness to take family responsibilities? The division and the rivalry? His continuing creativity?
6. Steve Jobs and his story, type, carried, speed and planes, his memories? The dinner and tribute?
7. Bill Gates, his friends, geeks? The development of Microsoft and his obtaining the material? Going to IBM? The buying of software in Seattle and the seller not realising the implications? Xerox and their concern? His visiting Apple? The developing of his empire, the consequences? The interactions with Steve Jobs?
8. The other Steves, their friendships, loyalties? Their contributions to buying software, developing it?
9. The personal background of the story, friends, falling out? Arlene and Lisa? Anne and the skating, the bump, going to the movies? Steve Jobs and his relationships? Gates and his wife?
10. America and the growth of computers, PCs from the 70s to the 90s?
11. Audiences watching the film after 1999, the later developments? The continued development of computers, personal computers and laptops?
12. Audience interest in the characters and themes – and a Reader’s Digest article kind of portrait?
