The Sleep-Deprived History of Open Source Video

Rebuilding trust with the open-source community required more than messaging—it required acknowledging history honestly. I concepted, wrote, and creative-directed a short-form video designed to reconnect Microsoft with a deeply skeptical audience by leaning into vulnerability and shared experience rather than corporate reassurance.

The concept embraced humor and self-awareness, openly acknowledging Microsoft’s complicated relationship with open source while highlighting the universal realities developers recognize: late nights, collaborative problem-solving, and innovation driven by people—not platforms. The goal was to meet the audience with respect by saying the quiet part out loud.

Although the piece was ultimately shelved prior to release due to legal considerations, the work helped shift internal conversations and contributed to early cultural groundwork for Microsoft’s renewed approach to open source during the Satya Nadella era.

Note: This is a work-in-progress cut and contains unfinished elements.