I am actor and filmmaker Joshua Leonard. Depending on your age, you might know me from IF I STAY or such indie films as THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT or HUMPDAY. AMA!

how was it working with Chloe Grace Moretz??

Humbling, but totally fun. I'm 20 years older than her, and was amazed every day by her level of talent and professionalism. Chloe is exactly where she is supposed to be, doing exactly what she was born to do.

How do you feel knowing you help start the whole found footage thing?

I think its kinda weird that "found footage" has become a genre unto itself. When we made BWP, we made it the way we did because it was the only way to execute the film with super-limited resources. I love that it's become an acceptable punk/DIY way to go out and make a film... but I will admit, it always seems a little strange to me when I hear of a big-budget studio making a found-footage movie. Kind of like if Kanye decided to record his next album on the same equipment that the Sex Pistols recorded in order to sound grimier.

Is Chloe Moretz as cool as she seems?

Absolutely. But also a total pro.

How many Rush albums do you own?

Sadly none. But I did once have a girl tell me that she lost her virginity to Tom Sawyer -- and have been obsessed with that song ever since. Maybe it's time to buy one, eh?

Great story, and yes it's time to buy one. Moving Pictures is the easy choice, but I'm going to suggest Permanent Waves. (But what's really odd is that I was listening to Tom Sawyer as I read your comment. And that is the truth. )

Ok. Permanent Waves it is. I'm on it!

what was the process of filming blair witch like??

fatbatcatrat123 -- It was pretty strange, but I'd never made movies before that, so I didn't actually know how strange it was. We got very cold and tired, and the directors stopped giving us food after the first 5 days. Their intention was to make us feel like the events were actually taking place. "Method" filmmaking is what I think you would call it. It worked!

So where exactly did you get your food from?

We didn't get food for the last 3 days. That was the point! We were really hungry.

Did you read the If I Stay book before or after you filmed If I Stay? Or you didn't read it at all?

I read it after I read the script, but before we filmed the movie.

Joshua, can you tell us something about you we'd never guess, and something that would make us laugh? ;)

I have a tattoo on my chest of a ghost holding a baby's hand.

Hi Joshua! What's the difference between preparing to do a movie as an actor, and preparing to do one as a director? Which type of work do you prefer and why? :)

Good question! I'd say the biggest difference is that when I'm preparing an acting role, my primary focus can be selfishly on my own character... whereas when I'm preparing to direct, I'm thinking about the best way to tell the story as a whole -- from the acting, to the cinematography, production design, etc... Also, I eat way more donuts when I'm directing.

Josua, i thought your were fantastic in If I Stay, i was wondering how tall are you, what's your shoe size, and what are your most sensitive spots??

Thank you!! 6' size 11 shoe. And, my heart.... awwww......

Can you tell us anything about The Blair Witch Project 3?

I wish I could! I hear rumors every so often, but nothing concrete. That said, anyone who wants to see another Blair Witch, should definitely harass Lion's Gate!! They're the studio that owns the rights to the franchise and are the ones who would have to approve us making another film.

did you ever while filming the movie throw out suggestions to Rj Cutler?

Once in a while, but honestly RJ knew that movie better than the rest of us combined. He lived and breathed it for months before we showed up on set, so I always trusted him to keep us all steered in the right direction.

Hi Joshua! In what ways do you think Blair Witch changed the landscape of the film industry? And; in what ways is directing music videos different to short films? Love your work!

I think we came around at the right time in the right place. We certainly weren't the first micro-budget film on the block, but because of the exposure we got, we were able to remind folks that you don't need huge movie stars or special effects to engage an audience -- you just have to tap into their own imaginations!

My work is mostly narrative -- even in music videos. The biggest difference to me between MV's and a short film is that if you're missing a shot to tell the story in a MV, you can usually get away with putting something that looks cool in its place and the audience will forgive you.

Hi, Joshua. Is there any story behind the Night Shark 3D rap music video that was played after the movie ended? Who came up with the idea? It was cool but it sure caught me by surprise in the theater.

Oh, man -- there is, but now I totally forget who led the charge on that one. Sorry!

Wat is your favorite scene from If I Stay to film?

The spontaneous jam session in the yard. All that love -- all that music.

you were so funny in the movie! do you think you will work with any of the people you worked with in "If I Stay" again?

Thank you! I would work with any of them in a heartbeat. It was the sweetest/most-talented group of people. One of those movies that really spoils you by reminding you how awesome the experience can be.

where there any hard parts for you in "If I Stay"?

Chloe had most of the heavy lifting to do in terms of dramatic material. We mostly got to be awesome and have fun, since all the sadness came after the family's accident. The only hard part for me was trying to make sure that we did justice to Gayle's beautiful book.

Do you know you scarred my childhood in the most wonderful way? I first watched BWP when I was 7, just a day after I came home from a camping trip. I have never had more surreal hindsight in my life. I swore something followed me home and was gonna kill me if I went outside at night... I had a nighttime phobia for years o_o

7 is WAY to young to watch that movie!!! What were your parents thinking!?

I wanted to thank you for helping scare the shit out of me when I was a preteen with The Blair Witch Project. What's your favorite scary movie?

The Shining. Still scares me every time.

I am an aspiring actor/director and have done some extra work, would you have any advice for me getting my foot farther in the door?

My biggest successes have come out of projects that I made for practically no money with my friends (Blair Witch, Humpday). It's a rough business, but if it's your true calling, then my only real advice is to keep making stuff!! Find friends to work with and never stop creating. The business stuff will come to you if you have the dedication and the talent. Mark and Jay Duplass have an amazing story about how they launched their career for 3 dollars -- the price of an HD video tape. That was what it cost to make their first short film, This is John. That film got into Sundance and they've been working nonstop ever since!

Were there ever moments during the filming of the Blair Witch Project in which you were actually frightened?

The babies crying outside the tent was pretty disturbing.

Hey, Wait! Can I get my money back for Blair With Project?

Sure. just write these guys: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artisan_Entertainment

First off, thanks for this IAMA. My Mum loves some of your films!

Here is her question.

Can you please explain the ending to the Blair Witch Project?

I get what happened, but would like a clearer explanation, or rather an expanded explanation.

I have my own theories, but what I love about it is that everybody gets to come up with their own ideas! I always think the imagination is far better than when stuff gets spelled out and wrapped up in a bow.

http://www.reddit.com/r/FanTheories/comments/1gkn9w/blair_witch_project_perhaps_an_obvious_theory_on/

Do you still meet people who think that the Blair Witch Project is real?

Occasionally... and let me tell you, it is VERY weird. They think I am an actor hired to play Joshua Leonard after the REAL Joshua Leonard was killed in the woods. Hmmm...?

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Ha! It's not for everyone, that's for sure. I've done all kinds of stuff, so depends on your taste. But Humpday is one of my personal favorites.

Hey Joshua, I see that you worked on the fourth episode of the awesome show True Detective, I was wondering myself how was it to work with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson and what are your thought about the show?

Those guys were great. Matthew is one of the funniest dudes I've met in a long time. My old buddy Cary Fukanaga directed all 8 episodes and KILLED it. He just won a well-deserved Emmy for his work. I'm super proud of him and was personally excited to be a small part of such a groundbreaking show.

Hey Joshua! I have a question about Blair Witch, seeing as how you used method filmmaking, did you guys have trailers in the woods, or did you just sleep in tents or something?

Ha!!! No trailers. No Crew. Nothing fancy at all. Just a wet tent, a sleeping bag and some protein bars. It was TRUE independent filmmaking.

Do you still talk to Eduardo Sanchez or work with him on anything?

Not working on anything with him currently, but we still keep in touch. Here's the trailer for his new movie, which I'm super stoked to see: http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/lions_gate/exists/

Joshua, what was the best part about waorking with Chloe Moretz & what attracted you to the role of her dad in If I Stay??

I love Chloe and I love Denny (The dad character in If I stay). I think the family in Gayle's book, and now in our movie is really unique and one that I haven't seen on screen before. I felt very lucky to help bring them to life.

I saw Blair Witch on my 12th birthday. I stayed up all night staring at the trees outside my window because it backed up to the Tahoe national forest. My question is, how do you plan on compensating me for the lost sleep and emotional trauma? I am willing to accept the Super sweet interactive CD-Rom game that came with the VHS of the film.

Ha! Amazing. I guess we will just have to break it down by minutes of sleep lost and therapy bills paid. Come up with a final tally on that and send an invoice to my agent. :)

Why was there a Blair witch 2? And where did you get your idea for If I stay?

Simple answer for why there was a BWP2? Greed. The studio just wanted to milk the success of the first one for whatever it was worth.

And I didn't come up with the idea for If I Stay -- I just acted in it! The script was based on Gayle Forman's beautiful book of the same title.

Hey Joshua, fun quest, what makes you laugh & wha's your biggest weakness?

I'm a pretty easy laugh. And I have very funny people around me, so that helps. I love a well-told joke. I love Mitch Hedberg. I also love inappropriate farts, people falling down, and kitten videos.

My biggest weakness is probably letting myself spend too much time in my head.

Isn't spending too much time in your head where all the inspiration and ideas come from? :)

It is, but it can also be where you get paralyzed by options or fears. In my experience, better to just think a bit, then get to the doing part. in the 'action' of it is where I've always learned my greatest lessons.

Hi Joshua! Here are some random questions: Boxers or Briefs? Socks or barefoot? Coffee or tea? Beach or mountains? Mani or pedi?

Boxer-briefs! Socks with boots, barefoot with Vans. Coffee always. Mountains/woods are my jam. Love the ocean, but the trees are where I feel at home. Pedi -- 2-3 times a year. Keeps me from getting gnarly dude toes.

What role have you found to be more rewarding, acting or directing?

Most proud of my acting work in Humpday (although I do really love Denny in If I Stay), and my directing work in The Lie. Both were homegrown projects that I got to make with my friends. I feel like that spirit of making something for the love of it is very much infused in them.

What inspired you & what actors would you like to work with the most? :-)

People inspire me. Especially weird people and folks who march to their own drummer.

So many actors I would love to work with, but I think we can all agree that Cate Blanchett is about the coolest/most beautiful/talented human on the planet right now.

Hi Joshua, do you have a favorite classic movie? If yes, which one and why? :) Best of weeks, Lena X

Harold and Maude is probably my favorite movie of all times. It's about weirdos with huge hearts and love in unexpected places. I've probably seen it 50 times, and love it more every time.

If you could play any other character in If I Stay, besides yours, which would it be and why?

An interesting question, but not sure I can answer it. I loved the cast so much, that it's hard for me to picture anyone else in those roles! That said, how about that Stacey Keach??? He crushed it so hard. I hope to be able to play a role like that with the sensitivity and gravitas he brought to Gramps when I'm his age.

Can you remember the first time you were recognized in public as an actor? Do you have any interesting or memorable fan stories?

Around the time that Blair Witch came out, our faces were everywhere. It was truly like an overnight success story, where one week nobody had any clue who we were and the next week our faces were on the cover of Newsweek magazine. It was very strange, because I'd be walking down the street in NY and someone would yell "Josh!" and I would just figure I knew them... I actually get recognized a lot less these days, but when I do it's still strange to me!

What was it like acting with Stacy Keach?

Stacy Keach is a baller. It's ridiculous how good he is. Sometimes I would forget to act because I'd get so caught up just watching him.

As a man, he is lovely. Kind/quiet and true-blue.

Top five favourite films?

Top of My head:

Harold and Maude The Breakfast Club Hearts of Darkness Hal Hartley's Trust Boogie Nights

Hello sir! I was wondering if you read the book If I Stay to help develop your character? If so, did it help? I absolutely loved the story, I'm having reservations about seeing the movie adaptation.

I did! And you should go see it! Gayle was with us every single day on set. We did our best to always remain true to her story. In fact, the leather jacket I wear in the movie is the actual jacket owned by one of the people who inspired Gayle to write the book in the first place.

What's your all time favorite horror movie?

The Shining. So good. Sooooo scary.

1) What's it like working with the Duplass Brothers? 2) Do you still keep in touch with any Blair Witch people?

Mark and Jay are two of the most fun dudes out there to work with. It's always half work/half chess match, because everyone is always on their toes trying to come up with the coolest/most-surprising way to do a scene.

I keep in touch with almost all the BWP folks! It feels a little bit like a way-less-important (and traumatic) version of keeping in touch with the soldiers from your platoon 15 years after a war. They are your touchstone to what really happened -- like it would all feel like a dream if we didn't have each other to talk to.

Ed's new TV show, Exists, just started airing last week... And Mike now has two kids of his own and works as a high-school guidance counselor.

Hello Mr Leonard, I'm curious, how do you approach writing a script and do you always do a lot of research? How long does the writing part take you and what do you enjoy the most about it?

I always start with characters. People that I care about enough to live with them for however long it's gonna take to finish the project. None of my projects to-date have been very research-based, but I'm also not writing about the Russian revolution or neuroscience.

I find writing very hard, but also extremely satisfying. It pushes me to be my best. In recent years, I've found a couple of partners that I really enjoy writing with. This definitely helps with the loneliness aspect.

Hi Joshua, I've been a fan since The Blair Witch Project and I think you're awesome, here's a silly question, are you a ticklish guy? If yes, where? Kiss from Scotland!!

Thanks! So ticklish. And I HATE being tickled. Ever since I was a little kid. It's an awful dilemma, because your laughing, so nobody believes you when you tell them you're miserable. But I am! And I will never tell where are my weak spots. That would be like superman standing on the corner handing out kryptonite.

Salute Joseph, I think your work is fantastic, my question is, what's your best memory from the set of "If I Stay" and were there any fun shennanigants behind scenes? Kiss from France!!

Joseph says thank you! But sadly, it is only me, Joshua, answering questions here today.

Ohh Worst typo ever, I apologise, I'm on Facebook as well, and have gotten mixed! SO sorry so stupid!!

No worries, my dear. My father calls me by my brother's name all the time. My favorite scene to film in If I Stay was the backyard bbq/jam session.