Jobs (2013) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

The story follows Steve Jobs from unconventional education and spiritual exploration to the formation of an early computer company.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Lessons Beyond Reed

Jobs leaves Reed College because of tuition but continues attending classes with Dudman's permission. His interest in calligraphy and his journey to India shape his emerging philosophy.

Key Events

• Tuition Forces Withdrawal — High tuition costs force Jobs to drop out of Reed College. Characters: Steve Jobs, Jack Dudman Location: Reed College
• Dudman Grants Class Access — Dean Dudman allows Jobs to continue sitting in on classes. Characters: Steve Jobs, Jack Dudman Location: Reed College
• Calligraphy Awakens Interest — Jobs becomes particularly interested in a calligraphy course. Characters: Steve Jobs Location: Reed College
• India Journey Begins — Jobs and Kottke travel to India under spiritual and psychedelic influence. Characters: Steve Jobs, Daniel Kottke Location: India
• Spiritual Ideas Take Root — Their experiences influence Jobs's philosophical ideas. Characters: Steve Jobs, Daniel Kottke Location: India
• Jobs Rejects Footwear — Jobs decides not to wear any footwear. Characters: Steve Jobs Location: India

Return To Electronics

After returning to Los Altos, Jobs works at Atari and reconnects his ambitions with engineering. Alcorn's Breakout assignment brings Jobs and Wozniak into practical collaboration.

Key Events

• Return To Los Altos — Two years later, Jobs returns to Los Altos and lives with his adoptive parents. Characters: Steve Jobs, Paul Jobs, Clara Jobs Location: Los Altos, California
• Atari Employment — Jobs works for Atari as a video game developer. Characters: Steve Jobs, Al Alcorn Location: Atari, Inc.
• Breakout Assignment — Alcorn charges Jobs with redeveloping the arcade game Breakout. Characters: Steve Jobs, Al Alcorn Location: Atari, Inc.
• Woz Builds Breakout — Jobs has Wozniak build Breakout in his place. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak Location: Atari, Inc.
• Breakout Succeeds — The Breakout job succeeds, and Alcorn presents it to Nolan Bushnell. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Al Alcorn Location: Atari, Inc.
• Salary Dispute Emerges — Jobs inequitably distributes the Breakout salary between himself and Wozniak. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak Location: Atari, Inc.

The Apple Idea

Wozniak's Apple I prototype gives Jobs a new commercial focus. They name their company Apple Computer despite the failed HP sale and the bored Homebrew audience.

Key Events

• Apple I Revealed — Jobs discovers that Wozniak built a prototype personal home computer. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak Location: Los Altos, California
• Apple Computer Named — Jobs and Wozniak name their new company Apple Computer. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak Location: Los Altos, California
• HP Demonstration Fails — Wozniak demonstrates the Apple I at his employer company, but the sale fails. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak Location: HP
• Homebrew Audience Rejects Demo — Wozniak reluctantly demonstrates the Apple I to a bored audience. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak Location: Homebrew Computer Club

A Customer Appears

Paul Terrell's interest in the Apple I creates an early commercial opportunity. Jobs then secures permission to use the family garage as the company's workshop.

Key Events

• Terrell Shows Interest — Store owner Paul Terrell approaches Jobs and shows interest in the Apple I. Characters: Steve Jobs, Paul Terrell Location: Store
• Garage Permission Secured — Jobs persuades his father to let Apple use the family garage workshop. Characters: Steve Jobs, Paul Jobs Location: Jobs family home

The Garage Team

Jobs recruits Kottke, Fernandez, and Espinosa to join the Apple team. The group gathers around the Apple I venture in the family garage.

Key Events

• Early Team Recruited — Jobs recruits Kottke, Fernandez, and Espinosa to the Apple team. Characters: Steve Jobs, Daniel Kottke, Bill Fernandez, Chris Espinosa Location: Los Altos, California
• Garage Team Assembles — The recruited team gathers around the Apple I venture in the family garage. Characters: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, Daniel Kottke, Bill Fernandez, Chris Espinosa Location: Jobs family garage workshop

Story Breakdown

• Reed College Years — Jobs leaves formal enrollment but continues exploring ideas through selected classes.
  • Tuition Forces Withdrawal — High tuition costs force Jobs to drop out of Reed College.
  • Calligraphy Course — Jobs becomes particularly interested in calligraphy after receiving permission to sit in on classes.
• India Transformation — Jobs and Daniel Kottke share experiences that influence Jobs's philosophical outlook.
  • Shared India Journey — Jobs and Kottke spend time in India under the influence of spiritual and psychedelic experiences.
  • Rejecting Footwear — Jobs's philosophical ideas lead him to decide not to wear footwear.
• Atari Partnership — Jobs returns to California and enters video game development with Wozniak's technical assistance.
  • Breakout Assignment — Al Alcorn charges Jobs with redeveloping the arcade game Breakout.
  • Unequal Payment — Jobs distributes the successful Breakout salary inequitably between himself and Wozniak.
• Apple I Emerges — Wozniak's prototype gives Jobs the basis for a new computer company.
  • Prototype Discovery — Jobs discovers Wozniak's Apple I personal home computer prototype.
  • Company Naming — Jobs and Wozniak name their new company Apple Computer.
• Commercial Resistance — The Apple I faces an unsuccessful company presentation and an unreceptive club audience.
  • Failed HP Sale — Wozniak demonstrates the Apple I at HP, but the attempted sale fails.
  • Bored Club Audience — Wozniak reluctantly presents the Apple I to a bored Homebrew Computer Club audience.
• Garage Company — Terrell's interest and Paul's permission provide the conditions for assembling the early Apple team.
  • Terrell Shows Interest — Store owner Paul Terrell approaches Jobs and expresses interest in the Apple I.
  • Early Team Recruited — Jobs recruits Kottke, Fernandez, and Espinosa to work with the Apple team.

Directed by

Joshua Michael Stern

Key Cast

• Ashton Kutcher — Steve Jobs
• Josh Gad — Steve Wozniak
• Lukas Haas — Daniel Kottke
• Victor Rasuk — Bill Fernandez
• Eddie Hassell — Chris Espinosa