What type of "behind the scenes" questions are on-topic?

Question

The question regarding how they created the hole in Robert Downey Jr's chest was recently migrated to the Movies stack exchange. I agree that it is probably a better fit there, but as of last night, I saw that it had received 4 close votes for being "off-topic".

As Xantec pointed out the FAQ notes that questions regarding

Behind-the-scenes and fandom information

are on-topic.

Clara Onager mentioned that it was off-topic because

This should be a movies and tv question as it primarily relates to a special effect technique and only secondarily to scifi.

But the same could be argued about a lot of behind-the-scenes questions.

Take these questions, for example:

• How did Weird Al Predict "The Phantom Menace"? This question is really about how Weird Al may have come across massive spoilers or leaked information (in truth, he didn't - it was all based on rumors).
• Why are the Bene Gesserit tonsured/bald in the movie? This question is really about why a director made a choice.
• Why is Snarl not in Transformers: The Movie This question is really about why writers left someone out of the script.
• What is the reason John Williams did not compose more for the Harry Potter Movies? This isn't a question about sci-fi/fantasy at all; It's about why a composer did not get/take a job.
• How was E.T character created in the movie E.T -The Extra Terrestrial? Awfully similar to the Iron Man question - asking about how effects were created FOR a sci-fi/fantasy movie.
• Why did Peter Allan Fields leave “Deep Space Nine”? This is about why a producer left a show.
• How were the DRDs on Moya operated? This is about how special effects units were operated.

I don't actually think that any of the above questions are off-topic. They may skirt that same line that the Iron Man question did, but they all fall into "behind the scenes and fandom information" regarding a sci-fi/fantasy work.

So, what sort of guidelines should we adhere to for defining what is, or is not "on-topic" in regards to "behind the scenes" questions?

Answer 1

I think that question is squarely on topic for us here at Scifi.se.

I am not certain why it was migrated; if the OP was consulted, and agreed to the migration, then I see no problem with it being migrated. It is equally on topic on both sites, imo.

However, if the question was migrated due to the close votes, I disagree with the migration (given that the OP does not appear to have a movies.se account, this seems more likely), and the closure.

With all due respect to Clara Onager, her comment appears to be strictly based upon opinion, without having participated in any of the relevant meta discussions. Her comment is contradicted by many examples, including the ones you cited.

I believe our previous meta discussion on "behind the scenes questions" is quite clear that these are perfectly acceptable here.

The question should not have been migrated unless the OP specifically requested it.