Acing Your Q&A

Filmmaker discussions and Q&As are a great way for you to connect with the people who care about your film, and audiences love the chance to engage with you and discuss your film.

Glenn Raucher, Director of Theater Operations at the Film Society of Lincoln Center has seen countless film talkbacks; below, he and his staff shared with us stories of Q&A pros who used every possible chance to connect with their audience.

John Waters, upon hearing that we were turning away 100+ people (!) from a stand-by line (sure to be disappointed, at best), offered to go out and greet them all, giving them a great experience, despite being turned away. Pedro Almodovar did the same before his ridiculously sold-out Amphitheater Talk” – Glenn Raucher, Director of Theater Operations.

“In 2002 Gary Sherman brought in his own print of “Deathline,” (uncut and very different from the theatrically released 1974 version that was re-titled “Raw Meat”). As a result, the audience got to see a version of the movie that had rarely, if ever, been shown in the United States. He was also patient and cooperative with the staff and his fans.” -Fletch Cossa, House Manager

“During a screening of “Jauja” in the New York Film Festival, the subtitling for the film failed momentarily, causing us to have to pause the film. Viggo Mortensen stood up, and cheerfully talked with the crowd while they waited, also communicating that…s**t happens, and it’s all good! It diffused the tension until the computer issue was fixed and the film resumed.” -Glenn Raucher, Director of Theater Operations

Sacha Baron Cohen, in character as Borat, offered a “Brazilian” to everyone taking an elevator backstage with him, including our house manager. He was also, out of character, unfailingly friendly and polite.” -Karim Allick, House Manager

“A woman approached me and asked if I could help her convince Jean Dujardin to record a brief message of uplift for her very sick husband, a friend of the Film Society’s. Dujardin had flown in that day, and was clearly exhausted, but after a brief explanation, he said “of course!” and recorded a charming and funny get-well message.”- Glenn Raucher, Director of Theater Operations

These stories remind us that you don’t have to be a celebrity to make a great impression on your audience. House Manager Patrick Ng shares 3 overall tips to keep in mind for your Q&A:

  1. Keep your answers brief, unless you have an awesome anecdote to tell. This allows for more questions to be taken from the audience, and keeps the momentum moving. First time filmmakers tend to be more long winded in their responses, while the pros take the “less is more” approach. Short answers also provide the best quotes used in press and social media.
  2. Share your insight.  People will remember your Q&A more when they can walk away with a nugget of insight that will inspire them, motivate them, make them look at something in a different way.
  3. Schedule permitting, make yourself available after the Q&A (in the lobby, not the theater!) to take more questions.  A lot of people don’t feel comfortable asking a question in front of a full house and would prefer a more intimate circumstance.

Chicken & Egg Pictures’ Annual Independent Film Week Celebration

On Monday, September 15, Chicken & Egg Pictures will host its annual Independent Film Week Celebration to toast the passionate and intrepid grantees whose films were selected to participate in the 2014 Project Forum at IFW.

This year, two Chicken & Egg Pictures grantees will take part in the weeklong conference: The Bill, directed by Ramona Diaz, and (T)ERROR, directed by Lyric Cabral and David Felix Sutcliffe.

We will also present our 2014 Good Egg award to Lesli Klainberg and Eugene Hernandez, the leaders of the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

The Good Egg Award is given annually to distinguished leaders in the independent film and documentary community. Past recipients include Cynthia Lopez, now the Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment; Cara Mertes, the current Director of the JustFilms initiative at the Ford Foundation; POV founder Marc Weiss; and Claire Aguilar of ITVS.

Klainberg and Hernandez both have a distinguished history of contributions to the documentary field and to the world of independent film as a whole. “We couldn’t be more delighted to present Lesli and Eugene with the 2014 Good Egg Award,” said Jenni Wolfson, Executive Director of Chicken & Egg Pictures. “They are both pillars of the film community, respected and well-loved, and together at the helm of the Film Society of Lincoln Center, they are in a position to build and expand on their already impressive accomplishments. It will be exciting to see how they continue to champion and shape the world of independent film.”