Aaron Sorkin on Steve Jobs and swinging big

Aaron Sorkin is the man behind movies like Steve Jobs, The Social Network, and Moneyball — ambitious films exploring larger-than-life characters on the cusp of greatness. So you might be surprised to learn that the Oscar-winning screenwriter used to shy away from his own ambition.

That changed when he first started writing and learned to embrace "the quixotic theme of reaching high, even if you fail." It's also what draws him to the real-life individuals his movies highlight — and why he feels the need to empathize with them, flaws and all.

"I feel like the better version of myself is on paper...I'd rather have people know me on paper," he admits to Shad in studio q. "And I think Steve [Jobs] would rather people know him from his products than from anything else."

You also might not know that he drives around in his car and starts arguments with himself to nail the razor-sharp dialogue that has become his trademark, or that he captures his characters' humanity by imagining them bargaining with God about getting into heaven.

He opens up to Shad about writing what he feels is an honest portrayal of the Apple boss — and answers criticisms from those who think that portrayal is unfair.

WEB EXTRA | Watch the trailer for Steve Jobs below.