How I got my proposal to Steve Jobs.

I was an unknown film-maker in Boston. I had won lot's of awards but to the world at large I had no name recognition. I want to tell you a story that changed my career. It was the day that out of the blue, using a flash of creativity, I got my film proposal read by Steve Jobs. When I got my proposal to his assistant it made it to Steve, he read it and asked me to follow up with his team. The miracle however was that I figured out the most creative way to get the proposal in his hands and started a career in networking and putting deals together. It all started with a big brown envelope.

It was January 24th, 1984. I was sitting in my studio in Watertown, MA., trying to decide if I should go to Boston to see the big reveal of Apple's new creation, the Mackintosh Computer. The event had huge press. The world had the Apple computers but this event was the big one, the big reveal. As I sat there in my office I was thinking about my new idea. I had dreamed up a way to use the Apple computer to create color animations from black and white images. My idea was to register a 16 mm film camera to the computer screen and animate the images onto high contrast film and then print them in different colors and make an animation. A nice germ of an idea. I though Mr. Job's should see it. And then a light went off in my head. Just like that. Fast and total.

I got to work. I wrote the idea up quickly. Did some fast drawings and printed it out. I grabbed a big brown envelope. I stuffed my idea into the envelope. I headed for the car and on the way grabbed a courier slip. At the time we were doing film projects and used couriers to get products and film across town by car fast! I addressed the envelope to Steve Jobs, Apple Computer. And off I went to downtown Boston where the Big Reveal Meeting was to take place at an insurance company, in a huge auditorium. But when I arrived I was shocked to see a line of people going miles down the street, four persons wide for what seemed like forever. I was disappointed.

But just them as if guided by some inner light, I walked past the entire line and headed for the side glass door. There was a guard inside manning the door. I knocked. He opened the door. ( Now keep in mind, I am wearing shirt, jeans a ragged coat. ) “ Delivery for a Mr. Steve Jobs “ I said with authority in a tone that demonstrated that I had no idea who Steve Jobs was. After all I am a courier driver and that's my job. The guard turns and tells me to step in side. I walk into the room, It's moderately empty except for a small cluster of well dressed men and women in neat suits. The guard yells out in a loud voice. “ Package for a Mr. Steve Jobs.” ( He did not know who Steve Jobs was.)

Instantly two or three executives rush toward me and the woman at the head of the pack calls out.

“ I am authorized to take that. “ In a moment of brilliance, ( If I do say so myself ) I turn to her and say

“I am a required to give this to Mr. Job's in person. “ She says “ Come with me.” Off to the side she says. “ I will sign that and deliver it directly to him” I reluctantly agree. She takes the package and disappears into the hall. I turn around and realize I am at the auditorium door. Inside the great cavern is the Apple stage all decked out and thousands of empty seats stand by with just a few VIP attendees in the front few rows. I turn and look toward the door. Nobody is aware I exist. I turn and walk down the rows and take a seat in the front row, directly in front of the glittering stage.

The introduction of the Mackintosh computer was wonderful from my front row seat, but more importantly I realized I could use my creativity to get a meeting with anyone in the world which is now how I make my living. It was a wonderful day.