Documentary Production and Distribution News

AboutOne is featured in CTRL+ALT+COMPETE, Microsoft's feature-length, theater-ready documentary that takes a revealing look at the startup business scene.

(Philadelphia) AboutOne (http://www.aboutone.com), the free online organizer that makes it fast, fun, and easy to preserve family memories and manage household information, is featured in Microsoft's new documentary, CTRL+ALT+COMPETE (http://www.facebook.com/CtrlAltCompete). This feature-length, theater-ready film examines the world of startup businesses through the eyes of five founders, including AboutOne founder and CEO Joanne Lang. Microsoft screened the world premiere of the film at the Napa Valley Film Festival (http://napavalleyfilmfest.org) on November 11, 2011, sharing the story of entrepreneurs like Lang, who are focused on building the future and changing the world.

The film follows Lang as she faces the challenges of making her vision for AboutOne a reality, with insights and commentary from seasoned industry watchers and tech sector pioneers. Documentary film-making isn't something you'd typically associate with Microsoft, but according to the film's Executive Producer, Daryll McDade, developers like Joanne "are fundamentally changing the world. The things that developers create, the ideas that they're able to make reality, the tangible value they deliver is reshaping the way people live their lives every day."

This is particularly true of Lang, the mom of four young boys and a former software company executive. She was prompted to develop AboutOne after her young son collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital by ambulance. Lang was away from home, with only her keys and phone, and unable to provide a list of his medications to the paramedics. She knew there had to be a simpler, better way. Despite the number of tools on the market, Joanne felt that none adequately provided the assistance in managing the daily details of home and work life that she both wanted and needed. As part of a special group trained in cloud technology at SAP Labs, Lang had seen how cloud computing helps businesses gain new levels of efficiency. She wanted to use her technical training and personal experiences to develop technology that simplifies a mom's life.

According to McDade, "There are lots of tech startups out there taking their shot at changing the world. There's no shortage of ideas. There is a 'story behind the story' of just how hard it is for these ideas to go from inception to reality and become the products and services that we use every day. It's a story of the power of people pouring their passion, drive and dedication into building something that changes the world - no matter how hard." Lang agrees, "Building a company is like having another child. You do everything in your power, and more, to make sure it succeeds."

AboutOne, scheduled to launch its newest release in January (http://www.acornpoints.com/) at the CES MommyTECH Summit, is a majority mom-owned and managed company, building a product for moms, with a philanthropic component in its corporate mission that includes special emphasis on charities that support women, children, and the military.

Resources:

http://www.aboutone.com/
http://www.acornpoints.com/
http://www.microsoft.com