planetpixar

[planetpixar]

Hi. I'm James. I worked for Pixar. I was not an animator. I am posting a Chapter from my upcoming book called "The Fall"

Have a read if you like.

Chapter 3: A galaxy, far far away

10 years old. San Francisco. A flickering screen pulsates with the now-iconic blue letters: "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."  This wasn't just a movie; it was a portal. Twenty-one Fridays in a row, I found myself transported to that galaxy, mesmerized by the dazzling visuals, the thrilling adventure, and the timeless story.  Star Wars ignited a spark in me – a burning desire to create worlds, weave stories, and make audiences feel the magic of cinema.

Fast forward two decades.  I found myself in a different kind of wonderland – the Palo Alto Apple Store. The year was 2004, and I was a Mac Genius, a frontline soldier in the Apple revolution. Apple Retail was just beginning and the energy was electric, the technology cutting-edge.  Little did I know, my path would take an unexpected turn, one with echoes of that childhood dream ignited by a galaxy far, far away.

Steve Jobs, the visionary co-founder of Apple, was a frequent visitor to our store. Steve, and the head of Apple's Retail division, Ron Johnson, would stop by the store and make their way over to the Genius Bar every couple of weeks. Steve was incredibly intelligent and let me say that again, Steve was incredibly intelligent, and straightforward, and he had this way of looking through you and biting at you. If he asked one of us a question, which he often did, each one of us knew that the answer given had better be correct, concise, and articulate. In retrospect, I now know that Steve already knew the answer to the questions he asked. He wanted to see if we had the requisite knowledge to stand behind that Genius Bar. He wanted people that were not full of shit. We were the public face of Apple's Retail business and his passion for design, innovation, and creating delightful customer experiences was of the utmost importance. It was all that mattered. The slogan at Apple was surprise and delight, which was far beyond just going above and beyond. Steve wanted to return to retail and Mac Geniuses were the primary vehicles he used to achieve that aim.

His passion for the Apple Retail division reminded me of the spirit I witnessed onscreen in Star Wars. 

Working at Apple was an incredible experience, but the pull of that childhood dream remained strong.

Then, in 2006, fate intervened.  One of my customers, Erik Foreman, the Mac OS X team manager at Pixar, noticed my technical expertise and perhaps even a hint of that Star Wars-fueled passion in my eyes.  He saw potential and offered me an interview – not as a filmmaker (yet!), but as a Mac OS X Systems Administrator at Pixar Animation Studios. I accepted, and after three months of interviewing at Pixar, I was chosen.

Pixar, I soon discovered, had its connection to the galaxy far, far away.  Founded by John Lasseter and Ed Catmull, the studio emerged from Lucasfilm, the very birthplace of Star Wars.  It was a full-circle moment, a chance to be part of the creative legacy that had so inspired me as a child.

Walking through the doors of Pixar on my first day of employment, was like stepping onto a movie set, except the sets were real, alive with creativity and a playful spirit.  While I wasn't directly involved in animation, my role was crucial.  Maintaining the Mac OS X desktops, laptops, and servers ensured a smooth workflow for the talented artists, animators, and storytellers who brought these incredible worlds to life. I was still helping to build a galaxy, albeit a digital one.

Every day at Pixar was a reminder of the power of imagination and the pursuit of a dream.  It was also a masterclass in storytelling.  Witnessing the meticulous detail, the collaborative spirit, and the unwavering dedication to excellence that went into each frame was an education in itself.

Being at Pixar wasn't just a job; it was a return to that childhood spark, a chance to be a part of the magic I had witnessed on screen years ago. The next chapter will explore how the lessons learned at Pixar, coupled with the practice of mindfulness, empowered me to take the next step on my creative journey, and eventually my demise.

End of Chapter 3

Wanna read more? Chunk on the link