Former Apple exec Scott Forstall talks Broadway in rare interview
After years out of the public eye, former iPhone software chief Scott Forstall is back in the spotlight with a new interview that touches on life after Apple, as a Broadway producer.
Forstall was brought on as a co-producer of "Fun Home" --?which he announced on Twitter last month --?after meeting Broadway producer Carole Shorenstein Hays at a birthday party for Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, according to the Wall Street Journal. After Hays passed him the script for Fun Home, Forstall said he identified with the story and cut a check.
"It's about a real family with real love and real tragedy," he told the paper. "The family is so different than mine, but it still resonated."
In addition to providing financial support, Forstall has been heavily involved in the play's marketing. He worked on search engine optimization campaigns with ad agency SpotCo, and used his connections to involve several Silicon Valley firms, including Snapchat, Yelp, Uber, and Spotify.
The interview did diverge momentarily to ask Forstall about his departure from Apple following the Apple Maps debut fiasco, a subject on which he was politely respectful.
Forstall said he is "so proud of the thousands of people I worked with [at Apple] and with whom I remain friends. I am delighted that they continue to turn out great and beloved products."
Forstall was brought on as a co-producer of "Fun Home" --?which he announced on Twitter last month --?after meeting Broadway producer Carole Shorenstein Hays at a birthday party for Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, according to the Wall Street Journal. After Hays passed him the script for Fun Home, Forstall said he identified with the story and cut a check.
"It's about a real family with real love and real tragedy," he told the paper. "The family is so different than mine, but it still resonated."
In addition to providing financial support, Forstall has been heavily involved in the play's marketing. He worked on search engine optimization campaigns with ad agency SpotCo, and used his connections to involve several Silicon Valley firms, including Snapchat, Yelp, Uber, and Spotify.
The interview did diverge momentarily to ask Forstall about his departure from Apple following the Apple Maps debut fiasco, a subject on which he was politely respectful.
Forstall said he is "so proud of the thousands of people I worked with [at Apple] and with whom I remain friends. I am delighted that they continue to turn out great and beloved products."
Comments
Apple can't expect him to quit working in tech for the rest of his life. At some point in time the NDA will expire. Being he has been gone for a few years now, I'm sure he is free from any NDA from Apple.
I'd agree and add I suspect he doesn't feel like bad mouthing Apple anyway. He is probably heavily invested and loves Apple products.
LOL, I thought everyone hated him and were glad he left.
I doubt he was universally hated by everyone at Apple. I'm sure he still has friends who work there. But mostly I think it was a diplomatic statement as anything else would overshadow what he wants to talk about, his Broadway show.
Scott would do better being the boss than working for one. That's (likely) part of what his problem was at Apple.
The perfect place for him now is Tesla. Too bad it use some kind of Android software?
What!s next - a job at Victoria's Secret? His career is on an unpredictable course.
I'd argue that he can do whatever it is he wants to after the years at Apple. It's not like he's hurting for money
In addition to providing financial support, Forstall has been heavily involved in the play's marketing. He worked on search engine optimization campaigns with ad agency SpotCo, and used his connections to involve several Silicon Valley firms, including Snapchat, Yelp, Uber, and Spotify.
Where's Dr. Millmoss?
He should be here to post about how wrong Scott is about what co-producing entails and that all he should be doing as co-producer is writing checks and keeping his mouth shut. ;-)
An NDA could potentially last a lifetime. On the other hand, there is no way to enforce a 'non-compete' in California.
Would you sign a lifetime NDA for $60 million? $30 million? $5 million? I think most people would be eager to sign such an agreement.
Would you sign a lifetime NDA for $60 million? $30 million? $5 million? I think most people would be eager to sign such an agreement.
I would in a shot but I'm not in the position where money isnt a problem. I think Scot is showing a bit of class, his leaving Apple may have been a bit acrimonious but he's not badmouthing them when he can and I'm sure he knows if there are any skeletons in the closet.