GENRE HACKS: Why Screenwriters and Filmmakers should join Quora

There are quite a lot of websites, blogs, and forums on the internet related to screenwriting, filmmaking, and movies. There are also quite a lot of social networks, most recently Google+, that allow filmmakers and movie buffs to share links, tips, and build filmmaking communities. What then is Quora, and why should filmmakers use it?

"Quora is a continually improving collection of questions and answers created, edited, and organized by everyone who uses it. The most important thing is to have each question page become the best possible resource for someone who wants to know about the question."

For a longer explanation read Quora's about page. I myself learned about Quora from a Wired magazine article, Does Quora Really Have All The Answers?

Here are the reasons that screenwriters, filmmakers, and movie buffs should join Quora:

To Read Knowledgable Answers: Quora has already attracted quite a number of working professionals from the film industry who have written stellar answers to wide variety of filmmaking and screenwriting questions. Check out the shear volume of answers on the topic pages for Screenwriting and Movies. Read Neal Edlestien's (Producer of Mulhuland Drive, The Ring) answer to What are common mistakes made by new screenwriters. Read answers by working hacks like Mark Hughes, Ken Miyamoto, or James Kelly, or indie filmmakers like Jacques Thelemaque, or film experts like Audry Kelly (editor of Fade In Magazine)

To Read Celebrity Answers: Do you have a question about the movie Super-8? Why not read answers by J.J. Abrams himself? Want to know if it's fun for movie stars to kiss other movie stars on-screen? Read what Ashton Kutcher has to say, and ask a follow up question.

To Ask Specific Filmmaking Questions: Since quite a number of experienced screenwriters and filmmakers are on Quora, you can ask very specific questions and get quick detailed answers by people who know what they are talking about. I myself will drop by Quora almost daily and answer specific questions such as Who wrote Thor? Which writers did what? or In a screenplay, can a scene qualify as a Save The Cat scene without the hero taking any significant action? or Can I do a film adaptation of a short story or novel without obtaining the legal rights?

To Share your knowledge: No matter how much or how little experience you have writing, filmming, or watching movies, you likely have specific experiences and bits of knowledge that you can share with people who need the answers. For example you might know Who the primary contacts for anybody seeking to film a feature in Romania ? You might have a specific opinion on What franchise could replicate the success of the Harry Potter movies? or What are some great movie scenes with little to no dialogue?

To Curate: I maintain that it is the job of filmmakers, film lovers, and film critics to actively curate and promote amazing films that few people have scene. Why not stop complaining that you hated Transformers 3 and start reading and adding to lists of truly amazing and frequently neglected films? Start with What are the best movies nobody has heard of?

To Research: Where do you start if you are writing a story that involves a subject you know very little about? Need to know what's its like to be a private detective or a catholic priest? Do you have a very specific question about bio-engineering or the manufacture of candy? Do you want to know where a character in Chicago might go for breakfast? Someone on Quora is liable to have the answer, and you can often ask an "expert" directly. Ultimately, Quora hopes to grow into the Wikipedia of question/answer websites.

To Network: On of the most important aspects of working in a creative industry is developing a circle of fellow writers and filmmakers with whom you can exchange knowledge and ideas. Recently I wanted to know the answer to Who are the best movie directors working today for stories involving madness, psychological tension, and dark subject matter? I got a bunch of amazing answers and suggested them to my producer.

...Because its Fun and Addictive: Many, many answers are just fun to read, such as Mark Hughes' answer to Given our current technology and with the proper training, would it be possible for someone to become Batman? Answering questions yourself and watching them get up voted by grateful readers is as addictive as eating Pringles sprinkled with cocaine (not that I advocate the latter.)

...So you can Follow Me: I enjoy answering questions on a variety of film-related topics, and I enjoy getting feedback. Find me here: Sean Hood.

...So that I can Follow You: I suspect that you yourself have personal experience and knowledge that I'd benefit from reading about. Join up and share what you know. I personally would love to read your answers.