Watch: Clever Short ‘The Launch’ – Kids Get Ready for a Tech Launch
by Alex Billington
March 8, 2024
Source: Vimeo
“It’s not everyday you get to release the planet’s greatest operating system for personal computing…!” This delightfully clever, amusing short film is now out to watch online. Written & directed by KK Apple, The Launch is a parody of the Microsoft team getting ready to launch Windows 95 at a big tech event in 1995. “When a ruthless tech ubernerd is faced with pushback right before a big launch, he must find a way to hype up the team – and himself – before going onstage.” It’s inspired by true events and “one very viral Bill Gates video.” This film riffs on the whole event by casting a group of young women to perform as kids pretending to be these not-so-confident tech nerds – the Microsoft boys. Starring Alyssa Limperis as Bill, Tien Tran as Dave, Katie Sisk as Steve, Alise Morales as Richard, and KK Apple as Marcus; along with Pallavi Gunalan, Betsy Helmer, and Nathan Pearson. Of course this is similar to Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs film, but it’s also creative in its own savvy ways. The short is only 9 mins and will definitely make you laugh.
Thanks to Vimeo Staff Picks for the tip on this. Brief intro to the short from Vimeo: “When a ruthless tech ubernerd is faced with pushback right before a big launch, he must find a way to hype up the team — and himself — before going onstage.” The Launch is written & directed by Los Angeles-based writer / filmmaker KK Apple – you can view more of her work on her Vimeo page or visit her official site or follow her on IG @kkapples. Produced by Julia Kennelly, Cameron Morton, Stephanie Roush. Featuring cinematography by David Merino, and music by Upright T-Rex Music. With support from: The NYC Women’s Fund for Media, Music and Theatre by the City of New York Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment in association with The New York Foundation for the Arts. This initially premiered at the 2023 Seattle Film Festival last year. For even more info, visit Vimeo or stop by KK’s wesbite. To discover more shorts, click here. Your thoughts?