Hey, Alex Winter of Bill & Ted here. Directing a new movie called "Deep Web: The Untold Story of Bitcoin and Silk Road." Ask me anything!

Bill& Ted 3: elaborate please!

We have the script and our producing team on board, in finance mode now... :)

• Best news today (I think?)
• Thank you for being EXCELLENT
• You kicked ass in Lost Boys

thanks!!

Since George Carlin has died, will there be some new character coming in to replace Rufus in helping the Wyld Stallyns?

we've spent a lot of time and thought on making this work. all i can say right now :)

On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely is it that B&T 3 will be financed and actually get made?

I'd say 10 but it's Hollywood... so 9.9?

I'd like to point out that Alex is being a real trooper - answering more questions than other AMA participants and doing a great job of getting to the questions that are responses to other questions. Kickin' ass and takin' names.

thanks much!!

Hey there. Any questions the Deep Web, Bitcoin, The Silk Road, Napster or whatever else is on your mind!

Did you buy any Bitcoins before they blew up in value recently?

Haha, I did not. The Winklevoss twins got them all :)

I love Freaked! More people need to see it. Those rastafar eyes!

thanks so much!!!

As someone who creates content, do you think there's a solution for middle class content creators? It seems that they're the most hurt by piracy, yet free-culture proponents almost exclusively focus on large corporations. Kickstarter, Indie Go-Go, and their brethren aren't picking up that slack- tales of success seem to be the outliers, and many of the poster-children (Radiohead, Amanda Palmer, etc.) rely on past success and marketing dollars. So, will this pick up, and will there be a middle class of creators? Or are we now living in a world of (sometimes skilled, but still) amateurs?

this is a smart question and demands a much longer answer than i can give here. but the short of it in my opinion is that it's a misunderstanding to assume it's harder for 'middle class artists' in this climate. it's always been very very hard. there have always been obstacles and gatekeepers. the digital landscape has opened many many doors and closed some doors. it's in many ways easier, but you still need that magic combo of talent, tenacity and luck.

Thanks for your response. You do great work.

thank you!

what is socrates like in real life

A windbag

Be honest…has Keanu admitted his immortality to you?

I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you. And then he would drink your blood and live for another millenia...

Thanks for doing this AMA, and for being part of one of my all-time favorite films.

You've been quoted as saying "[Bill and Ted] was a happy accident. No one thought it would ever see the light of day." Could you expand on that?

Both BnT movies were made independently. The first one was really low budget and kind of under the radar when we made it. then it sat on a shelf for a year after being made, when the producing company went belly up. So we kind of gave up on it. Then it was bought up and released and was a big hit :)

Man I'm sorry but I've gotta ask...what happened to you man? Why did Keanu make it out and why did you disappear into obscurity?

haha. not an offensive question at all. I quit acting professionally in 94, after Freaked to focus on writing and directing. I'd been acting professionally since I was 10 years old and I wanted out of the public eye. It's really only been in the last couple of years that i've intentionally been slipping back in front of the camera. But I think it's important for child actors to spend time away from constant exposure. I tell a lot of kids this in that field.

Your stepmom is cute. Remember when she was a senior and you were a freshman?

Do You get BnT references constantly and do they annoy you?

No, thankfully I like the movies a lot. I have some friends who acted in movies that they can't shake that they hated. that is an existential nightmare from which one can never awaken!

Did you ever use the SR before it went down?

i honestly did not. I am a dull family man and most of what i need to purchase online can be found in the toddler section of Amazon :)

What was it like working with Mr. T? Is his public persona accurate as to who he really is?

It is! Exactly! He's a really great person, into community outreach and helping people. A wonderful guy.

Do you think the Tor network is forever tainted due to the Silk Road takedown, or does it still remain a viable method of obtaining true anonymity on the Internet?

absolutely not. SR accounts for a tiny fraction of TOR use and is not going to impact Bitcoin much either in the long run. As Wozniak so perfectly put it, you don't shut down the whole highway when one car is speeding.

When will we have a new Bill and Ted to watch any plot details You can share? What got You so interested in Bitcoin? Also, Thank You for being so Excellent! Party On!

I first got interested in Bitcoin in '09, when it magically appeared out of the ether. Much like Napster appeared out of nowhere 10 years prior. I recognized that Bitcoin felt like the next big thing to come out of peer-to-peer

What can I do to get into the Bitcoin World. I don't know much about it.

start at blockchain.info. that will lead the way

I have yet to ever have a question answered in an AMA, not a question but a simple acknowledgment of my existence would be fantastic. Love BnT BTW.

You exist!!!

Hey Alex, Not sure if you'll see this but about 24 years ago you were at the DC Comics office in Manhattan checking out the production of the Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure comic. My Dad was one of the guys heading it up and he brought me to work that day so I could meet you (I watched the movie everyday, literally). I barely remember it, but my Dad loves telling a story of me seeing you and running away scared because you "were supposed to be in the TV." Anyway, he always follows up the story by saying what a great guy you were and how I hung out with you in his office after I settled down. So thanks for being cool enough to hang out with a 4 year old fan that didn't think you existed in real life. Good luck with your new project, I'll be sure to head over to kick starter and help out!

Haha thanks! Great story!

What was the funnest thing about making The Lost Boys?

having dirt kicked into my eyes by the two Coreys in my death scene. Actually it wasn't funny at the time; i had full eye contacts in and my cornea got scratched. had to go the hospital. Loved those guys tho...

any cool memorabilia you kept from Bill and Ted?

I had my evil robot head from BnT 2, but it eventually rotted. I used it as a doorstep. My kids loved it :)

is a melvin a synonym for wedgie, or a completely different maneuver executed from the front?

you answered your own question :))

We demand a sequel to Freaked. That is all.

Me too! One day.... many many eons from now... it will happen...

New Idiot Box sketches on YouTube please. Burrowing Bishop, If I Had My Way, etc.etc.

I think everything we shot has made its way up there :)

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yes i was serious :)

Kickstarter doesn't accept Bitcoins but we are setting up an account for the movie to accept bitcoins. Go for it!

what motivated you to be one of the first films to educate those about the online blackmarket? why exactly do you need the funding from the kickstarter?

Because, like the Napster story, there is a lot of noise but not a lot of context. I think we need some context and our film will be one form of providing that. We are using Kickstarter for some of the funding in order to begin to build our community for the film. We want people's input, the changes occurring through the Web are part of a global movement.

Alex, as someone who studied Napster so much for Downloaded, what would Bill & Ted have thought of it: Most Excellent or Non-Triumphant?

They would have said 'huh???'

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Our doc is an expansive examination of a movement that began decades ago and is now hitting a peak of global impact. we are interviewing the core players in this story. It's not the kind of thing news articles do in any capacity. join our kickstarter, be part of the process and of the movie's community :)

How did you do research for the script? How did you get a script just a few weeks after SR was busted?

It's a documentary :)

I was about to set up shop on the Silk Road and got to see it just before it went offline. My product is legal and all... I was just trying to be cool, so I have nothing to worry about. I first went in after someone linked to my site from the electronics section and I kept getting hits from an onion URL that I couldn't access from Chrome.

What are your thoughts on 2.0? Where should I set up shop now?

I backed your KickStarter campaign right away. Thanks for thanking me so fast! It would be elite if you could pop by /r/silkroad before things get too heated here.

And to hit on the deep web film's main theme: "when a community of individually invested people work together on something, particularly on the Internet, it can quickly become an unwieldy force"... check out my comment on the AMA with the brain researcher who specializes in social interactions. Or, for the lazy, read this article: http://pandodaily.com/2013/11/20/crowdfunders-beware-your-crowd-can-become-an-angry-mob/ about my stint as a hacktivist earlier this month.

I work in info sec during the day and am attracted to the deep web because of the elegant use of encryption and public keys.

thanks man. yes the silk road did, and does trade in all sorts of things. but unsurprising that the law has gone after them. it's early days for these types of transactions online, and the wheat will be separated from the chaff. And the really dark web folks will be shut down or burrow further underground.

"Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" and "Freaked" remains one of my favorite films of all time. As for questions I've got a few,

1. How do the people involved in Napster compare with the people involved with the Deep Web? Napster seems a lot more open than Silk Road, at least as far as public perception.

2. In one of your interviews you mentioned 'Side-by-Side', a documentary about the differences between film and digital movies. I was curious what you think as far as the transition from film to digital... For documentaries it sorta makes sense to use digital, but for films (and very possibly Bill and Ted 3), which do you prefer?

3. What films would you recommend to an aspiring filmmaker? What's your top 5? Not including yours of course, that would be too easy :)

Thanks again for doing this AMA, can't wait to see this movie!

1: Napster is just one little company. The Deep Web refers to all content on the web that is not indexed, which accounts for 96% of the web. it's a vast canvas populated by all manner of people

2: I feel sad for the demise of film, having grown up with it and used it most of my life. That being said, once Arriflex introduced the Alexa, I knew that was the end of film. I myself haven't shot film in many years, and I shoot all year long. I miss it romantically, but not practically.

3: My top five films: Solaris (Tarkovsky), The General (Keaton), Ugetsu (Mizoguchi), Touch of Evil (Welles), High and Low (Kurosawa),

Is there any fond memory that stands out from making The Lost Boys?

Honestly the most fun i ever had 'working'. Joel Schumacher knows how to create an amazing environment to work in. It's one of my fondest memories of my crazy youth! :)

What was it like working with a big star like Larry "bud" Melman?

He was awesome of course. RIP

I don't have a question but Excellent Adventure made me who I am today. Thank you. Fuck it, uh. Do you agree that Cinnamon Toast Crunch is hands down the best cereal?

my kids do. it's evil.

Hi Alex,

I don't know if you remember me, but I went to school with your son in LA, me and my brother stayed at your house a few times. Kinda funny how I never got to thank you for being so excellent in Bill and Ted back then, so I figured I'd do it now!

I suppose I should ask a question, so what drew you to the idea of the deep web? What made you want to make this movie?

Thanks, Dante

Hey Dante! Hope you guys are well!

The Deep Web lies at the heart of the digital revolution, that has impacted every corner of our lives. There are huge changes that have occurred in the last decade, and many more around the corner. Examining the Deep Web in detail allows us to closely examine this revolution and its implications.

thanks for asking!

How did people find silk road online? That always boggled my mind, because I assume it wasn't as easy as googling it haha Did you have to like, "know" someone in the business to gain membership?

it's not hard to find these sites, it's just dangerous. don't go hunting for scorpions unless you are prepared to get stung.

Excellent job on Downloaded! I enjoyed remembering a time in the not so distant past when 'regular people' could not envision a world in which their music lived on a computer. Today, regular people cannot envision a world in which their money lives on a computer.

I was also surprised to learn about your early connection with the world of MP3s. Could you elaborate on what you think we can learn about Bitcoin based on your experiences with Napster and the MP3 scene in the late 90's?

The world is responding to Bitcoin and a new awareness of the Deep Web much like they responded to Napster, with fear and demonizing. Our film aims to put these things in some context.

Do you think that the high prices that bitcoins are experiencing right now is actually a bad sign, since it indicates instability? Where do you think the value of Bitcoins will ultimately fall once the bubble bursts?

No one knows where it will settle. It's not unlike gold in this regard. But once it's been around a bit longer and more people are taking it, the value will increase within that framework but not in such a wild manner. this form of currency is here to stay, of that there is no question.

When did you get into directing?

I realize I could easily find this out on IMDB but it's just cooler to ask the source!

Hah, thanks for asking! I actually went to NYU film school to study directing before I acted in all the movies. It's always been one of my passions. I started directing professionally in about 86. Shooting music videos and commercials and then our show on MTV, The Idiot Box.

So I'm guessing MTV/Viacom or somesuch own the DVD rights to The Idiot Box? There was a fair amount of comedy from that era of MTV that I'd love to be able to watch again…

MTV owns it... why no DVD... yet...

First off, I want to thank you for posting my Rasta Eyeball with a machine gun tattoo on your blog. It made getting it completely worth it. I just want to know which of the characters from Freaked is your favourite?

Stuey Gluck!!

And your tat is amazing!

how much about the deep web did you investigate?

I have done some looking into it recently and there is some pretty disgusting stuff out there. To be honest I kind of wish I never heard about it. Silk road is only the tip of the iceberg and to me doesnt seem like that big of a deal compared to some of the other stuff out there like the hitmen websites and human dolls for sale etc.

what is your take on the rest of it outside of silk road?

there is a lot of dark and horrible stuff in the Dark Web. The Deep Web is a much broader world, and in my view needs to be understood as separate from the much smaller Dark Web, and in need of protection.

wait, does Satoshi = Stations?????

Ahhh you cracked the code!!!!!

Hello there, thanks for doing this! I just wanted to ask if by making a movie that sheds light on the dark web/bitcoins etc. It will shed more light on an area of the web that generally dislikes the attention. In other words could it create a misaprehension of the mission and possible positive effects the darkweb community tries to provide?

Thanks and stay excellent

i think the current media spin has that effect; in that it tends to paint the entire deep web and bitcoins and cryptography with a negative brush. this is both inaccurate and destructive. Our movie does not paint dark things in a positive light, it gives context to the entire arena.

So Deep Web... Do you have a script already? Are you dealing with the actual events, or fictionalizing them? If the former, are you worried about having to pay folks for rights? If you have a script, how does it toe the line between being too simplified to please the target demo/actually tell the story and too esoteric for the mass market?

it's a feature documentary. please join our kickstarter :)

I don't think the story is too esoteric at all, just as the details of the Napster story weren't. These are universal stories about global communities.

Will the Silk Road be back? Also, can you say hi to my smokin hot babe Sherry?

it is back

Bill and Ted was so huge and this is how I know. My name is Bill and for what seemed like a year when I was 17, everyone always asked me "where is Ted?" I never found my Ted. :(

No question, but good luck with the documentary.

hah! Thanks!

What made you want to do this documentary? I've been following the story myself and it's certainly one worth following but how did you yourself first get interested in the topic?

I have been interested in global web-based communities and emerging technologies since the mid 80's. There is a revolution occurring in global culture at the moment, that will change everything. and it's only just beginning. what's not interesting about that?? :)

If you could star in any movie from any time, what movie would it be and what role would you have and why?

Buster Keaton in anything probably. No one in the movies ever had a better time.

What was the most surprising thing you found out about the Silk Road?

that's in the movie :)

Hey Alex,

A quick glance at your wikipedia page has made me realise you directed Knock Me Down by RHCP! Did you have much contact with the band? How was it working with them?

Thanks for the AMA; Looking forward to B&T3!

I love the chili's and have known them for decades. they are still great, but in the mid 80's when I had the fortune of doing some work with them, it is hard to quantify how amazing they were. the best live act on the road, by far!!

So when are you planning to bless the world with Bill & Ted 3?

Soon as we get it up and running!

What are your thoughts on other cryptocurrencies like Litecoin?

I think it is early days for crypto-currency and eventually one will rule the roost. Whichever proves to be the most stable, trustworthy and provides the best ease of use.

Hm, don't know you but this does sound interesting. When can we expect this movie to come out? Anything interesting about these topics you learned?

Every day I learn something new and fascinating. We hope to finish within the next year. Join our kickstarter and be part of our community :)

What do you think would go down if in a strange, alternate universe, Bill and Marko met?

Bill would stake him. Then kick dirt in his eyes. That's Marko's sad fate in every multiverse

Alex, there are very few people in the world that genuinely shaped my childhood as much as you and Keanu. Just wanted to take the anonymous chance to thank you. Thanks man, what a great movie the original Bill and Ted was.

thank you!!

What ''good'' is there in the deep web? I only hear stories about horrific things like drugs, black market stuff, assassins, etc.

Also, were you fortunate enough to had invested in bitcoin in it's early stages?

The Deep Web is being demonized somewhat in the press, which is a misunderstanding of what it is. DW represents all content on the web that is not indexed. this doesn't mean people are doing bad things. it means they are unseen. the Dark Web is a term that has come to characterize people who use the web for illicit means. the dark web represents a fraction of the Deep Web.

What are your thoughts on the rather dubious "hired a hitman" charges against DPR (Ross Ulbricht)?

Do you think law enforcement used parallel construction to identify the SR server or otherwise make the case against SR/DPR?

Looking forward to this documentary, and I'm a huge fan of Bill and Ted!

It's a really fascinating case that is unfolding and changing constantly. No one knows the full story at the moment outside of the Feds, and I'm sure they're chasing some crazy leads trying to iron it all out!

Watched you on kickstarter. I have to say I disagree with you. You point at Bitcoin like it is a bad thing. Sure it can be used for illegal purposes but so can real money.

I do not at all think Bitcoin is a bad thing. quite the opposite. it is almost entirely used for legitimate purposes. it is, unquestionably, a controversial thing.

Are you covering other crypto currencies? Also, I didn't think porn hid on the internet.

I am yes. This movie is largely about the crypto-revolution.

Are you Bill or Ted? Or both?

I'm Bill. Keanu is Ted. That is the whole of the law.

If you could punch any famous person from any point in history in the mouth with no repercussions, who would you punch and why?

Yikes, i've got more folks from the past i want to hug than folks i want to punch :)