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On-Demand December 15, 2020:
The Story
Code is everywhere. Every phone call you make, every website you visit, and even every car you drive has software powering it. For many people, code looks like the falling letters in The Matrix or what they see on CSI. But it’s not that inscrutable. By demystifying the profession, the film encourages people from every background into joining this profession.
The film delves into the history of software development that started as a woman-led industry but has evolved into a majority white male and Asian dominated industry. It tackles the tough topic of why women as well as black and latinx people don’t pursue software careers.
The film aims to shine a light on how amazing a career in software can be. The reality is that now is a great time to diversity the ranks of software development, not just for the typical social reasons, but also because it makes better software and can be a generational change for many.
The Team
Shawn Wildermuth
Director/Producer
HELLO WORLD is Shawn's debut feature-length documentary. It's the perfect vehicle for him to tell the story of the world he's spent over thirty years in. He's been tinkering with computers and software since he got a Vic-20 back in the early '80s. He's authored eight books and innumerable articles on software development. You can reach him at his blog at wildermuth.com. He released his first short documentary about his neighborhood which you can see on YouTube.
Randy Hill
Editor
Randy Hill is a editor and filmmaker whose career has spanned over 20 years. He produced his first feature while working on a degree in Film at Georgia State University. Since then, he has shot & edited features, narrative and documentary shorts and long-form documentary and reality television, including the Emmy-winning Public Television series, "Ecosense for Living".
Peggy Still Johnson
Music Supervisor/Composer
Peggy Still Johnson is a film composer, performing artist, casting agent and coach, Peggy has worked on projects such as “Curious Case of Benjamin Button,” “Parental Guidance,” “Bessie”, “Requiem for Herstory,” “Sugar on the Tip of My Lips,” “America’s Got Talent,” to name a few and has worked with artists such as T Bone Burnett, John Mellencamp, MoNique, Mickey Thomas, Larkin Poe, Joe Gransden, Dean Roland of Collective Soul, Justin Guarino, Tuk Smith of The Biters, writer Stephen King and more.
Message From the Director
Back in the early ‘80s I begged my mother and grandmother to help me get my first computer. When that Vic-20
arrived, I was mesmerized and spent my days and nights trying to get it to do what I wanted it to. This thirty
year love affair continues today. From my first job, I noticed that many software people were just like me:
passionate, awkward, and workaholic.
For many of the past twenty of those thirty years, I’ve been trying to turn my passion into story. After writing books, creating courses, recording seminars and speaking at international conferences, I’ve learned to love the art of the story and making a documentary is an extension of that.
As I started the journey to make a love letter to the industry that I love, I realized through other developer's stories that I had a part in the lack of inclusion and diversity in my industry. I pivoted the story to delve into problem of lack of representation in software development. I went back to the first coders (all of whom were women), and bring the history forward to try and understand why the representation of American women as well as black and latinx coders is so lacking.
Understanding my role as well as that of American society is key to making a difference in the diversity of the industry. I talk with developers, leaders, and educators to help understand how to make change the course we're on. That’s why I’m making HELLO WORLD.
Soundtrack
Available now, the soundtrack to the "Hello World" film is a collection of music and songs that were specifically written for the film. The composer, Peggy Still-Johnson, is an accomplished composer and musician. She and her team have put together a great set of music for the film.
The soundtrack is available on the following platforms:
Mailing List
Thanks to the Supporters!
I want to personally thank every supporter who helped me make the film. Below is a list of the supporters of the film:
Seed and Spark Backers
"Cray-1" Level
"Apple Macintosh" Level
Jem Young
Prairie Dev Con
"Commodore Amiga" Level
Donna Tingle
Dustin Horne
Gregory Riggs
James J. Bertino
Peter Mourfield
Richard Campbell
Victor Chacon
Wesley Reisz
"Apple ][" Level
Daniel McCoy
Doug Ware
Ian Smith
Immo Landwerth
Jake Dan Attis
Jeremy Likness
Jill Williams
Joseph Ficara
Julia Lerman
Kevin Grossnicklaus
Mike Hamilton
Mitchell Nguyen
René Karberg
Rob Windsor
Ryan Mendoza
Stéphane Lagacé
"Commodore 64" Level
Adam Byram
Adam Ralph
Albert Weinert
Alf Kåre Lefdal
Alvin Ashcraft
Andrew Bohm
Anne H Watson
Ashley Grant
Barbara Ericson
Barry Stahl
Bo Jordan
Brad Foster
Brendon Miszka
Cale MacDonald
Charles Bates
Cory Robinson
Damian Brady
Dan Forsyth
Dan Vestergaard
Daniel Sandberg
David Brillon
David Koontz
David Neal
David Yardy
Dominic Morin
Emily Best
Eric Anderson
Glen Germaine
Hakan Lindestaf
Henk Boelman
Henrik ElkjæR Hagen
Hernan Garcia
James Chambers
James Spibey
Jeff Gray
Jim Lenox
Joe Ruder
John Callaway
Joseph E Shook
Jr Cook @Eldorian
Kaj Bonfils
Ken
Khalid Abuhakmeh
Kristofer Andersson
Lars Pedersen
Laurent Bugnion
Laurent Duveau
Luke Foust
Mat Warger
Mattias Karlsson
Michael Dimoudis
Michael Szul
Michel van Duijse
Patrick Long
Paul Wheeler
Pete Laker
Pete Skelly
Richard L Taylor
Rico Suter
Rob Slavin
Rob Zelt
Robert Johnson
Roger Peters
Roland Weigelt
Rusty Zarse
Sam Beauvois
Stephen Forte
Thomas
Thomas Leonhard
Thomas Sebastian Jensen
Timothy Trout
Tom Conneely
Tsb
Wayne Green
"Tandy TRS-80" Level
Frey Clante
Gérald Barré
Gus Cavalcanti
Jesse Liberty
Joel Hulen
John Paddington
Marco
Nick Perno
Scott Addie
Steven Elliott
Venky Venkataraman
"MITS Altair 8800" Level
Bryan Bass
Dave Noderer
Jared Porcenaluk
Matthew Crews
Michael Kennedy
Steven McLintock
Velvárt András
Ben Strange
Bryan Bass
Dave Noderer
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Jared Porcenaluk
Matthew Crews
Michael Kennedy
Ryan Robbins
Steven McLintock
Velvárt András