Love the man, only mildly like his movies... OK, I only mildly like some of his movies. But as a dude? Kevin Smith is tops. Maybe his move towards talk show/talk circuit presentations is the best "direction."
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Kevin Smith: "I Am So, Like, Sick of Movies and Shit"
On the road with the cult filmmaker turned podcaster turned DIY warrior
Smith wrote Red State four years ago, but he couldn’t find financing in the usual places. “Harvey and Bob [Weinstein] passed on it, and then over the course of the next three years we looked for money. We looked low and high. We looked for $5 million, we looked for $15 [million], we looked for any number of permutations. But nobody was putting up any money.”
Smith and producer Jon Gordon eventually cobbled together $4 million from private investors, with Smith eschewing a paycheck. The diehards who pay big bucks to see him live, he says, “almost crowd-source financed this movie.”
PHOTO BY KEVIN SCANLON
"I was, like, 'I'm going to say this, and watch people turn it into something it fucking wasn't.'"
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It may be easy to forget that Smith was a critical darling early in his career, though he hasn’t forgotten: When I mention Amy Taubin’s review of Clerks in The Village Voice, he effuses, “I will remember that piece on my deathbed.” His popularity and respectability arguably peaked with 1999’s Dogma, plummeted five years later with the Bennifer-damaged misfire Jersey Girl and, though Clerks II and Zack and Miri Make a Porno were middling successes, never fully recovered.
Smith’s last directorial effort, Cop Out, was a work-for-hire action comedy that grossed more than any previous Smith film — and also cost more to make, earned abysmal reviews and alienated Smith from some fans who had been drawn to his work for his distinctive voice as a screenwriter. “A lot of people think [going indie] was a response to Cop Out,” Smith acknowledges. “But if I had the money, we could have done this four fucking years ago, and Cop Out wouldn’t exist.”
Smith admits he was passionate about Red State when it was first conceived, but “that passion had to go on the shelf because nobody wanted to make the movie. [Filmmaking] is just so fucking costly and time-consuming. Four years ago I started this Red State conversation. And if I would have just done it as a podcast, it would have been done four years ago — it would be a classic episode by now. And that was why I was, like, ‘I don’t want to do this again.’ ”
Is he saying there’s nothing he could say using cinema that he couldn’t just say on a podcast?
“I’m saying, after Hit Somebody, if I say anything, it’s just going to be redundant. A lot of people don’t like my shit right now — they’ll tell you, it’s been diminishing returns for the past 10 years. So why make it worse on people? I’ve got a nice fucking wave here that I’m gonna ride out big on. But if I can be honest with myself, after that, it’s gonna suck.”
Smith’s friend Richard Kelly, the director of the cult hit Donnie Darko, who has appeared on Smith's podcasts, recognizes the toll that filmmaking often takes. “I don’t think he wants to fight these battles again unless he has the proper inspiration,” Kelly writes in an email. “I think he wants to cruise the open road for a while after Hit Somebody and see where it takes him. I can’t say I blame him ... as the vitriolic personal attacks and market disintegration can wear any filmmaker down.”
On the one hand, Smith’s brand of “fuck it” realism is an example of the dispiriting dark side of his stoner-slacker philosophy: Why do the hard thing and risk criticism from those who don’t already like you, when you can do the easy thing that draws almost universal praise from the same choir over and over again?
But it’s also reflective of an argument that seems increasingly valid in our changing media landscape. Online tools like Kickstarter allow filmmakers to directly communicate with, and solicit donations from, their fans. Once you’ve built up that choir, if their support is enough to financially sustain and justify whatever it is that you want to produce — movies or otherwise — there may not be much to gain from attempting to expand the circle beyond the passionate, reliable few.
We're moving from a top-down culture in which media companies dictate where the eyeballs will be directed to one in which each of us curates our own personal “mainstream” from a variety of niche content streams. This is why someone like Conan O'Brien can lose a gig like The Tonight Show without losing cultural cachet, and why shows like Mad Men and Gossip Girl stay on the air — and dominate blog conversations — despite the fact that traditional audience measurement tools suggest that they reach far fewer people than Two and a Half Men. It's also why Charlie Sheen can get fired from such an ostensible top-shelf media platform, for pure assholery, and walk away with his highest-ever market value — and the freedom to squander it indiscriminately (more on that later).
34 comments
Lol...Maybe if his films were better he probably wouldnt be quitting..His movies as of late have been quite boring...He lost that spirit after Dogma ever since then nada. So no big deal in my book. Just gives someone hungrier and with more creativity a chance. Now if only M Night whatshisname will follow suit.
Clerks II was good. It had heart behind it. Everything else? Yeah they were pretty bad. But he had dipshits putting him down hardcore. That would dishearten even Kings and Nobles
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[incorrect event name listed dept.] APRIL IS JAZZ APPRECIATION MONTH!
Thurs. Apr. 28th - Special TRIPLE signature "Companion Events" Jammin Foundation & Linda Morgan, Ms. SmoothAhead Jazz Presents: HONORING -6PM CHARLES OWENS "Sensei Maestro" & DOLORES PETERSEN - A.Pro-Advocate Rep.
SHOWCASE: And OPEN MIC / JAM: "Welcome Home" And JAM w/ D'z "Lady & Gentlemen" In-House Live Jazz Trio "redoubtable jazz vets" Karen HERNANDEZ & Tony DUMAS · Ralph PENLAND
7PM SHOWCASE: feat. "Woodwindist" FUASI ABDUL-KHALIQ visiting from Germany, "Special" Guest Co-Host JEFFREY WINSTON - Jazz Historian, Philantropist, writer8PM (sign-up 7:30PM) OPEN MIC / JAM: "heavy surprise guests" "stellar assortment of top-flight jazz musicians" Guest Co-Host "Young Lion" RANDAL FISHER - Intern/s DOLORES PETERSEN Presents: @ HSB&G 6122-6124 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
This is an efing boring article, you lost me after the second paragraph; I didn't finish reading it. Sharp your writing skills.
ur an asshole using a word like that, u are trying to make urself seem above us all with your vocab, must be a film student
this guy is such a douche. never thought he was funny. his lame attempts at humor and use of offensive material come off like a community college student who still makes fart noises in the classroom like a third grader. dont get me wrong, i'm not offended by the jokes, theyre just not funny. clerks was probably the worst movie i have seen in my life
If you thought Clerks was so bad, why did you (a) watch more of his movies; (b) read this article? You don't like the guy, cool. Yet you took the time to read a six-page article on him? Seems weird to me. You must not have much of a life.
The guy simply isn't any good anymore. I loved Clerks, thought Mallrats was funny (purely because of Jason Lee), loved Chasing Amy and Dogma, J&SBSB was alright, liked Clerks 2 and Jersey Girl, and then...HATED Cop Out, Zack & Miri. Hating 2 movies isn't that bad but I used to love Smodcast and now, yikes! HE isn't funny. Scott is GREAT and the only reason I still listen once in a while. But he is so, so terrible. I have NO problem with smoking weed, but if the anti-drug guys and gals need an example of how far some one can fall, look no further than this guy. But, it may not be the weed. It may be the one thing that people don't want to directly blame. I think it may also be his wife. In case Mr. Smith (I'm not on a first name basis with him anymore as we've grown apart) ever reads this, I'll refrain from going any further on that as, even though his wife his ruined his sense of comedy, she should be more important to him than his career.
I love his films. He's a great guy, but sadly lives in a world 3/4 full of wankers.He definitely deserves better from people who slag him off for the sake of it. I mean nobody HAS to watch his movies. I don't like many people or they don't appeal to me and often I don't even know what they look like because I ignore the stuff that I know isn't to my taste.Not give it/them attention just so I can mouth off about them online.This was a good piece too.Now give that penis a sandwich.
You are so, like, sick of movies and shit, Smith? What a coincidence! Why? Because movies, moviemakers, and moviegoers are all sick of YOU.
Suggestion: please take a wee break from the endless Smith Co. branding and self-promotion. Just go away and leave us all alone for, like, 5 or 10 minutes, during which time you could put down the bong, maybe study writing and/or directing, learn how to structure a screenplay, use the camera to tell a story...y'know, shit like that?
[listing dept.(corrections & details]Upcoming Events• Showcase And Open Mic / JamEvery week Thursday Thurs. Apr. 7th, 7p and 8p, sign-up 7:30p (Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop And multi-genre)SHOWCASE: And OPEN MIC / JAM: "Companion Events" (vocalists/instrumentalists)LARRY DAVIS "CD Release Party" And JAM... + (both events) Guest Host: James GERALDEN & "D'z" In-House Live Jazz Trio " 'Lady & Gentlemen' too " Karen HERNANDEZ & Tony DUMAS · Don LITTLETON "masterful" accompanist/improv-musiciansDOLORES PETERSEN Presents: @ HSB&G 6122-6124 Sunset Blvd., HollywoodThurs. Apr. 7th, 7p and 8p, sign-up 7:30p (Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop And multi-genre)
[listing dept. details] Thurs. Apr. 7th, 7p and 8p, sign-up 7:30p (multi-genre - Blues, Jazz, Latin, Pop)SHOWCASE: and OPEN MIC / JAM: "Companion Events" (vocalists/instrumentalists)LARRY DAVIS "CD Release Party" and JAM... Guest Host: James GERALDEN DOLORES PETERSEN Presents: @ HSB&G 6122-6124 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood
He's one of the nicest people I've ever had the privilege to meet, and considering his place in the world - he didn't need to give me the time of day. He's ALL Class - no matter what ANY paper says. Great interview, I'm looking forward to the show on Saturday!!!
[listing dept.]
APRIL 2011 DOLORES PETERSEN Presents: (instrumentalists/vocalists)02 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]03 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]03 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]07 SHOWCASE: 7pm Larry Davis CD Release Party HSB&G [Jazz]07 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm Guest Co-Host James Geralden - HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]09 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]10 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]10 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]14 SHOWCASES: 7pm Sharon Stanley HSB&G [Jazz]14 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]16 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]17 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]17 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]21 SHOWCASE: 7pm Society of Singers Fundraiser HSB&G [multi-genre]21 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]23 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]24 Serge Kasimoff 5pm Duna Csárda [Classical, Jazz, Latin, Pop]24 Javier Vergara 5-7:30pm Señor Fish [Jazz]28 Pavior Night 5:30-7pm Honoring Charles Owens and Dolores Petersen HSB&G [Jazz]28 SHOWCASE: 7pm Fuasi Abdul-Khaliq, Guest Co-Host Jeffery Winston HSB&G [Jazz]28 OPEN MIC / JAM: 8pm Guest Co-Host Randal Fisher HSB&G [Jazz, multi-genre]29 Chambers, Herbert & Ellis 8pm Duna Csárda [Jazz]30 Carlos Guitarlos 6-9pm Señor Fish [Blues, Pop, Rock’n Roll, Roots]NOTICE - L.A. Acoustic Meetup Fridays @ Cafe Audrey on hiatus until further notice.
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