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The man who made your phone possible built unicycles and flame-throwing trumpets.
TMDB
66
IMDb
73
Rotten Tomatoes
71
Google
72
Watch(US)

The Bit Player (2019)

Brainy underdogWhimsical geniusRetro-tech comfort

Overview

Documentary

The Bit Player tells the story of an overlooked genius, Claude Shannon (the "Father of Information Theory"), who revolutionized the world, but never lost his childlike curiosity.

Flag of USUS
Content warning
biographyinformation technologycomputer scienceelectrical engineer
The cost of obscurityCuriosity as rebellionIdeas outliving ego

Standout Aspects

Writing

Elegant math explanations that won't make you cry.

Production

Charming recreations of Shannon's actual ridiculous inventions.

Best for:Solo: Quiet Sunday when you want to feel smarter than your algorithm.·Background: Fold laundry while absorbing existential dread about your own legacy.
Mark Levinson

Director

Mark Levinson

ReleasedMay 29, 2019
Runtime1h 25m
StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady
Intensitylow
Tonelight
Feellight
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Top Cast

Judith Ivey

Judith Ivey

Betty Shannon

Kaliswa Brewster

Kaliswa Brewster

Michelle

Adam Heller

Adam Heller

Psychoanalyst

Randall McNeal

Randall McNeal

Bell Labs Engineer

Michael Rose

Michael Rose

Bell Labs Engineer

Geoff Schuppert

Geoff Schuppert

Bell Labs Engineer

Ask about The Bit Player

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

Shannon's 1948 paper 'A Mathematical Theory of Communication' essentially invented the bit as we know it—yet he originally wanted to be an actor.

Insight

The film argues Shannon's retreat from fame wasn't failure but strategy; he treated life itself as an information problem to optimize for joy.

Gallery

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