Iam Joseph Gordon-Levitt, just posted a short film I directed featuring Edward Snowden. So, AMA...

Hey Joe, what is your take on Edward Snowden? How do you see him? Do you see him as a traitor? Do you see him as someone who did us a favor?

I think it's not as simple as all that. One thing I've noticed as I've delved into the Snowden story is that a lot of people really try to over-simplify it. Words like "traitor" or "hero" are overly simplistic. But yes, I do think that what he did ultimately benefitted the country and the world.

Wow, did you give snowden a theme or did you just edit a longer interview ?

Did you expect his relatively positive opinion ? Was it in anyway scripted or guided (in multiple takes rewordings ?)

Thanks for watching!! (I'm down to answer questions about breakfast burritos and all, but it's cool when someone actually watches the thing we all worked so hard to make, hint hint, guilt guilt :)

Snowden answered the same question as everyone who contributed to the project: "Is today's technology good or bad for democracy?"

We did talk for a longer time, and then we edited it down to the three minute length.

I love that he was optimistic. I think a lot of people assume he's a pessimist because he revealed the truth about some pretty bad stuff that was (actually still is) happening. But I share his belief that ultimately the good outweighs the bad, and tech isn't something to shy away from, it's something to embrace.

How did the information that Snowden leaked affect your life or attitude to the government?

I tend to be really optimistic about technology. I was raised to like computers. I started a company that would be impossible without the Internet. I still feel positive about tech and the future, but I do think that Snowden's revelations made me take a good hard look at the potential downsides of our generation's new technology. Any technology can be used for good or used for bad, and usually it's somewhere in between.

Who is the nicest person you've ever worked with?

John Lithgow tied with Bryce Dallas Howard tied with Don Cheadle, hmm also Ben Schwartz, and Robert Zemeckis, oh wait, I'm supposed to be promoting Snowden, Shailene Woodley is super nice also

Hi Joe, love you! Did you spend time with any cancer patients to try and better understand/prepare for your role in 50/50? Did they surprise you in any way?

My friend Adam died of cancer in 1999. (Total coincidence that the 50/50 character was named Adam.) He made a lot of positive changes in the last few months of his life. One was he stopped watching TV.

One was he stopped watching TV.

Interesting response. Do you consider watching cinema a more noble or worthwhile venture?

Good question. Not necessarily. Some movies are great, some are dumb, same goes for TV. Honestly there's less and less of a difference these days, right? I think for Adam, it was about being proactive about doing stuff with his mind, rather than just vegging out and channel surfing.

Can you describe Christopher Nolan to me please?
I'm a big fan of his films and always wondered what makes him so special.

He never sits down while shooting. At lunch, yes. Otherwise, no.

Hey Joe, it's spaceship. Regarding the Matrix trilogy: who's your favorite supporting character, and why? (Supporting meaning: not Neo.) :)

Toss up. I love the key-maker. "We are all here to do what we are all here to do." Tied with Rama-Kandra the computer program he talks to in the subway in part 3. Yes part 3. "Love is a word. What's important is the connection it implies."

How's it going? :)

dope dude dope

I have submitted to several challenges on hitRECord and found that not many people even look them over, mainly the writing submissions, do you have any suggestions for getting more writing actually read?

One thing you could try is, rather than submitting your own complete piece to a challenge, to jump in on a collaborative writing process. Often, an established writer within the community will lead a writing project towards a goal. Like they might post a draft, and ask people to make revisions or additions. In many cases, those writers will read everything people contribute. And if they like an addition or revision you contributed, you might @message them, and ask them to read something else of yours...

How was it playing those drums in the middle of the subway? Did you feel the least bit anxious?

Ha thanks, no I can't say I really felt anxious. It was fun as hell actually.

Joe, did you have any moral qualms or reservations about playing a real-life, still-living person many believe to be a traitor? (This isn't my personal view btw.)

I didn't have any moral qualms, no. There were definitely people in my life who advised me against playing a real-life person who, as you say, many believe to be a traitor. That advice had more to do with commercial career concerns, etc. Obviously, I didn't follow that advice.

Do you use conditioner?

nah

what was it like working with Brie Larson?

She's awesome.. we made a hitRECord piece with her too - https://hitrecord.org/records/1527916

As a hitrecorder who loved watching the short docu film process, what was your favorte part of making the are you there democracy films?

One part I always love when making stuff on hitRECord is the surprises. When making the short film with Snowden that we put out today, we asked people to contribute illustrations and animations that visualized the ideas he was talking about. I had no idea what people would do. A lot of those contributions surprised me. There's this moment where Snowden is talking about holding minority opinions, and this one contributor made an animation of a see-saw with a whole horde of people on one side, and only a single person on the other side, and they send her flying. I never would have thought of that.

If you could live in any time period, which would you choose?

Definitely right now. Or perhaps the future...

How old were you when you realized that you would actually meet your goals?

Who said I have?

Hey Joseph!

You've been working in the film industry practically your entire life. Who were your role models as a kid, young adult, and now? How have they changed and have you gotten to work them at any point during your career?

Probably my first favorite actor was Dustin Hoffman. Still haven't met him, hopefully some day. Working with Daniel Day Lewis on Lincoln was a completely unique and extremely inspiring experience. And honestly, Oliver Stone (who directed Snowden) has been one of my favorite directors for a long time. I think the first thing I really saw of his was Natural Born Killers. Then I went back, of course, to see Platoon, Wall Street, JFK, Born On The Fourth Of July, etc, etc, etc..

Hey Joe, I'm a fan of your works and I've been trying to watch all of your movies. Do you have a movie bucketlist? Is there a movie you've been dying to watch but just don't have time?

Yeah we all have those movies we're embarrassed to say we haven't watched yet. I've never seen Lawrence of Arabia. I know, I know..

Have you ever thought of making a musical or acting in one?

yes

What are your thoughts on the 360° video industry?

Very very interested in pretty much all things VR. Although I think 360 video is gonna be short lived compared to actual 3D immersive environments.

Do you have some recommendation for movie editors, just starting to get into move making?

Check this out -- https://hitrecord.org/projects/2918306/interests/all -- it's called THE CUTTING ROOM, and it's an ongoing editing project on hitrecord. Every two weeks a curator picks a bunch of footage from the site, and people cut it together in all different ways. It's a great way to practice, and you'll likely meet some cool people you might wanna do bigger projects with.

Good sir, what is your favourite breakfast food?

Breakfast burrito

Hey Joe, I'm a huge fan of yours and for you to have an AMA on my birthday is just a great gift. =D

Two questions for you

1. I've been wanting to participate on HitREC for the longest time but I'm not sure what to bring to the table. I'm a jack of all trades, master of none and my stuff probably won't be that great. So the question is, do other people feel the same as well before they post? Have you ever felt the same?

2. The second question is have you ever had any doubts of your abilities as an actor? I want to become and I've had some success with independent movie in development but sometimes it feels like I'm pretending that I'm an actor. Have you ever felt that way? If so, how do you get rid of it?

3. Kind of related to the second question; how can I become a better actor? I've taken classes and I know I have grown but how do I progressively get better?

Thanks for doing this AMA and I hope you can answer at least one of my questions!

Happy birthday!

1. Yes, I think everyone (including me) worries to some degree that their stuff won't be good enough to put it out into the world.

2. Yes, I definitely have doubts on a daily basis about my abilities as an actor. And yes, I often feel like I'm pretending to be an actor.

3. Keep pretending! That's what we're all doing anyway :)

i often procrastinate ideas, any tips on how to get back INTO the habit of writing?

Shameless self promotion here, but also genuine. HITRECORD is perfect for that. When you're by yourself, it's easy to procrastinate. But there's a ton of people in our community who know exactly how you feel. And we like helping to motivate each other...

Also, I know Oliver Stone has a reputation for being "difficult," but what was your impression after working with him? (if you can say so without him beating the shit out of you or something)

He probably could have beat the shit out of me. Forty years ago :)

Hi Joe! Such a big fan of yours! How do balance maintaining all the aspects of Hit Record while also pursuing outside acting opportunities?

I work with lots of very cool, very smart people, and I owe a hell of a lot to them..

Will the analog ambient music album HR was working a few months ago on see the light of day at any point?

Yes! I really want it to, anyway. We're figuring that out. Ambient music isn't exactly a commercial slam dunk, but I really love the way that music turned out, and I definitely want to put it all together into a finished piece.

You can find the analog ambient project right here: https://hitrecord.org/projects/2624642

Hi Joe,

Can you please walk us through a video collaboration on HITRECORD and how there comes to be a final product?

Thank you! :) Andrew

I think this video will explain best -- https://hitrecord.org/records/2415037

I can't wait for your new movie to come out about Edward Snowden, who's become a big-time hero to me. This may be a weird question to ask, but as a well known person in the media, and playing Edward himself, do you ever feel like your life is on some sort of watch list concocted by the state, especially now with your own segment on HitRecord about democracy in media? Do you feel like you have to watch your back more cautiously or have you gotten warnings? Ever since wiki leaks and Edward's whistleblowing, I've been extremely paranoid about my own actions and whether I'm being watched. I can only imagine the possible anxiety you may feel if you thought if of this too. Sorry if this is too personal or you're not allowed to say anything. I just don't want to hear you mysteriously disappeared! Also, sorry for formatting, I'm on my mobile.

Personally, no, I don't feel that I'm in any kind of danger of the US government disappearing me or anything like that. And while I think our government deserves the criticism it's getting post-Snowden, I also think it's worth remembering that those of us living in the US are very lucky relative to a lot of other people who live in places with governments far more oppressive. To me, what's important about standing up for government accountability right now is to make sure our government doesn't BECOME the kind that will actually justify that kind of paranoia in the future.

Hello Joseph, may I offer you a parsnip?

I really liked the HITRECORD series on Netflix, it must feel good to work on projects you are very interested in and passionate about. Do you have any upcoming projects with outside studios or production companies? Or do you plan to focus on more personal projects in the near future?

Parsnips and Coffee? Cauliflower and Yams? (I'll be very impressed if anybody can guess which Prince song I'm singing those words to)