The Man Behind the Curtain

THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN explores the troubled mind and tumultuous life of amateur artificial intelligence researcher Chris McKinstry. Without a college education or the backing of a major research lab, McKinstry managed to develop a model for AI that sparked polarized reactions among experts in the field. Plagued with mental instability, he ultimately left in his wake a swath of broken relationships and intriguing theories, ultimately culminating in an online forum post detailing his last moments. Across Canada to South America, Chris s friends, lovers and colleagues share their experiences with a creative man bent on fame and immortality. And the rich archives Chris left behind paint a vivid picture of a scientific outsider struggling against circumstance and biology. Directed by Michael Beach Nichols + Joshua Woltermann , , This was our 2009 graduate thesis film, completed as part of the Documentary Film Program at the University of Florida (now at Wake Forest University).