the billionaire founder of Amazon, saw a screening of October Sky in 1999. In a subsequent conversation with the science fiction writer Neal Stephenson, Bezos commented that he had always wanted to start a space company. Stephenson urged him to do so. Bezos then started the private aerospace manufacturing and services company Blue Origin, and Stephenson became one of the company's early employees. References External links Homer Hickam's Official Website Information and Photos of Filming Locations Photo gallery from the filming of October Sky in East Tennessee October Sky at The Numbers 1999 films 1990s coming-of-age drama films 1990s biographical drama films American teen drama films American coming-of-age drama films American biographical drama films Biographical films about scientists Cultural depictions of engineers 1990s English-language films Cold War films Films based on biographies Films about technology Films directed by Joe Johnston Films produced by Charles Gordon Films set in 1957 Films set in Appalachia Films set in mining communities Films set in West Virginia Films shot in Tennessee Universal Pictures films Model rocketry Films scored by Mark Isham 1999 drama films American children's drama films Films about father–son relationships 1990s American films