Ten years at a theater means a lot of post screening Q&As. Gentle reminders for the season: ask a question, keep it short, do not ask about the budget in front of the whole room, and please do not begin with 'this is more of a comment than a question.'
Festival Q&A etiquette: please, a question, not a speech
TheLastUsherFanOriginal post#1 FestBeatFionaPress#2 Press addition: if you are a journalist, save your interview questions for the interview. The Q&A belongs to the audience.
ReelRotScriptsCreator#3 do not ask about the budget in front of the whole room
As someone who has been asked this in front of my parents: thank you.
NightSoilPicturesCreator#4 The budget question is fine one on one in the lobby. I will tell you. It will be less than you think and more than I had.
ScreamQueenQFan#5 Also: do not spoil the ending in your question. Some people are watching the Q&A clip online before their own screening.
HauntedMicTalksCreator#6 Podcast host take: the best questions are about a single choice. 'Why is the kitchen light always on?' gets a better story than 'what are your influences.'
GenreDeskGregPress#7 Worst question I ever heard: someone asked a director to explain the ending, then argued with the answer.
MidnightMatineeFan#8 At a midnight I have seen that argument continue into the parking lot. Beautiful and terrible.
StopMotionMortisCreator#9 Taking notes for my first Q&A in Utah. So far: short answers, thank the programmers, do not panic about the budget question.
PumpkinSpiceGhostFan#10 Is it okay to just say 'I loved it' into the mic? I get nervous.
TheLastUsherFan#11 Is it okay to just say 'I loved it' into the mic?
Always okay. Filmmakers remember that one more than you would think.
FestBeatFionaPress#12 Adding this thread to my festival prep folder. Bookmarked for every October from now on.