Meeting the inventor of 3D printing at the Hollywood premiere of The Last Inventor
Chuck Hull, who invented 3D printing, and his wife, Anntionette, invited me to the Hollywood premiere of The Last Inventor, a documentary about how 3D printing has changed the world and keeps changing it. I brought my second wheelchair, and they showed me the first object ever 3D printed.
- Date
- Nov 10, 2026
- Place
- Hollywood, California
- Invited by
- Chuck and Anntionette Hull
- Red carpet
- The Last Inventor
- Chuck Hull
On November 10, my family and I went to the Hollywood premiere of The Last Inventor: Chuck Hull & The Hope of 3D Printing. The film starts in 1983, when Chuck Hull printed the world’s first 3D object, and shows how 3D printing has changed the world and keeps changing it. Chuck and his wife, Anntionette, invited us as their special guests.
The red carpet
I brought my second wheelchair, which I had just finished building for a 22-month-old girl in Southern California. I took it down the red carpet with me and showed it to people at the event. The next day, I gave it to her.
Meeting Chuck and Anntionette
Before the movie, Chuck and Anntionette invited me to the VIP lounge for a private meeting. They showed me the first object ever 3D printed: a small eyewash cup that Chuck printed on March 9, 1983, 43 years ago. I got to hold it.
Anntionette told me how it happened. Chuck had been trying to get it right for a very long time, and there were many failed attempts where all he got was “spaghetti.” During that time, she refused to make spaghetti for dinner, because after he saw so much of it at work, she thought it would be too cruel. I know that frustrating “spaghetti” all too well from my own failed prints, so it was fun to hear that story. The day his first 3D-printed object finally worked was a huge milestone.
She also told me that I have the same creative spirit she saw in Chuck all those years ago. She knew back then that 3D printing would be a force for good in the world, and she believes I’ll do great things in my life.
The movie
Later that day, I watched the premiere with my mom and dad, my grandparents, and my two siblings. The film follows Chuck’s journey from a small-town innovator to the father of 3D printing, and shows how the technology is changing industry, medicine, pop culture, and space exploration. It was inspiring and touching to see the real difference 3D printing makes in people’s lives, especially through medical advances and devices.
The movie isn’t out yet. The filmmakers are working on bringing it to streaming services. If you’d like to know when you can watch it, sign up for updates on the film’s site, or follow it on IMDb.
