Jackson Fish Market
Posted on February 26, 2007 by hillel on About

I Used To Dream of Making Movies

In my completely unscientific fashion I’ve found that in my experience an unusual number of people engaged in the business of making software have many creative endeavors and dreams outside software. Lots and lots of musicians. Lots of photographers. And lots of people who will secretly tell you (once they get to know you) that someday they’d really like to make a movie.

Since I’m already off the scientific path, I’ll offer a hypothesis for this phenomenon. The creation of software is a fundamentally creative enterprise. In addition to intelligence, and thoughtfulness it takes imagination. So it should be no surprise that the people attracted to making it are a generally creative bunch. But why do some still want to make movies? I would imagine it’s because movies still capture the imagination in a way that’s unique to the medium.

But recently I’ve had a change of heart. It’s not that I know longer think it would be fun to make a movie. It’s just that I realized that making software is the modern medium for creativity. Books, music, tv, movies, painting, sculpture and all the rest are still as great as they always have been. But software is new and still forming. We have just scratched the surface of what software is capable of. Software is a canvas with incredible possibility. I believe software can tell a story. And coolest of all, software makes just about every other form of self-expression… better. It’s software that will make it possible for me to make a movie. And I feel fortunate that I get to make software at this moment in time. When the world of software is filled with possibility.

Join the discussion 3 Comments

  • Reply

    Marcelo Calbucci

    February 26, 2007 at 3:27 pm

    You’ve found my secret, I mean, one of my passions…

    http://marcelo.sampasite.com/brave-tech-world/e/Software-is-art.htm

  • Reply

    Chuck T

    March 1, 2007 at 6:43 am

    I agree with you, but it’s going to take a long time before the world catches up. Newsweek just did a story about how some of the great writers and directors who were working in Hollywood have just started discovering the potential of TV!

    The potential for storytelling and creativity on an interactive, non-linear platform is huge. Probably the best example of this is in the gaming world where users can move around and manipulate their environment.

    That’s also what makes Second Life interesting, since it gives people the chance to build their own creative visions on an existing platform. Though, most aren’t doing anything truly interesting with it yet.

  • Reply

    Michael Ciarlo

    July 8, 2007 at 7:48 am

    I really admire the character and dedication at this company-more specifically the down-to-earth nature of those responsible (Hillel, Jenny, Walter). The name Jackson Fish Market really highlights what an intelligent and creative company you are. With any luck (and a bit of skill), I hope to work for Jackson Fish Market one day and I look forward to submitting my resume in the future.

    -Michael Ciarlo

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