by Larry Richman
October 4, 2006 1:32 PM

The only problem with the Q&As I've attended was that it seems nobody ever wants to ask any questions, for the most part. It's almost always left up to me and I end up "running" it. But that's fine with me. I can't tell you how many times we've sat there, nobody says a word, the director says, "well anybody???" and I finally raise my hand and essentially monopolize the rest of the session. This happened at major festivals like Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, etc., where the best of the best of film aficionados are supposed to be present. One would think they would jump at the chance to ask the cast & crew about the film. Strange.

The Q&As tend to be quite awkward for some folks, I guess. Not to pump myself up here, but I spent about 18 years in radio and went onstage to introduce bands in clubs hundreds of times, so I am used to speaking in public. I guess for others it's more difficult. I don''t mind it, though. At least I'm always able to get answers to my questions, and over time I've learned the best ones to ask. I pretty much have a "system" now.

I've always had an interest in the "behind-the-scenes" aspects of filmmaking, as far back as I can recall. I don't know why. I majored in science, so it may have been that my brain was wired that way. I always wanted to know "how things work." Once I got into the industry myself, I needed to know about the business of it, and actually taught classes in it for awhile.