Although this was certainly one of the most memorable Q&As this year, it's not the only one that has had voters like the "SAG nom comm" excited.

In fact, a key component of awards season strategies is the emergence in the past few seasons of the guild screening Q&A – full disclosure, many of which we have moderated ourselves.

Needless to say, the 'in person' appearance has become an essential piece of the campaign puzzle.

The practice really began in 2001 when Dreamworks consultants persuaded Russell Crowe to make a personal appearance after a screening of "Gladiator" at the AMC theater in Century City (which academy members were invited to attend).

Even though the film was pretty much played out and had already been in theaters for months, the well-timed event – situated right in the heart of prime-time academy voting from the last week of December to the first week of January -- drew heavy local TV news coverage and certainly didn't hurt Crowe's bid for an Oscar.

He won best actor.

It didn't take long for the academy to clamp down on such activities aimed at its membership and a rule soon took effect preventing studios and distributors from doing campaign-oriented Q&A screenings for its voters.

Of course, that rule didn't prevent the awards architects from arranging Q&As following WGA, DGA, PGA, ICG and every other conceivable guild screening.

Chief among these are the much-prized SAG Nominating Committee screenings which seem to draw, as the old MGM phrase goes, "more stars than there are in heaven."

The 2,000 strong members of the "SAG nom comm," as it's known, are so used to these sessions with stars at movie showings, that it's become a rare exception not to see big-name actors doing a Q&A and even shaking hands and taking photos afterwards.

And if a stray academy voter, who also happens to be a member of a guild, wanders in to one of these screenings, well, how about that! What a convenient coincidence.

There is now an established circuit many award-contending actors, writers and directors travel during the season that includes Q&A stops for various guild, BAFTA, National Board of Review, AFI and other voting group screenings.

Plus there are major screening series sponsored by local entertainment publications such as Variety, Backstage magazine and the recent launch of the Los Angeles Times/The Envelope series at the Landmark in West L.A.

The circuit can also include stops at public screening series such as KCET, UCLA Sneak Preview and Reel Talk.

Then there are key film festival appearances to consider, where it's not unheard of to find a two-hour chat/tribute with a potential nominee.