Photos from Dimension Films Kevin Smith,
the actor/director of "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back," speaks with
the Daily Bruin about his latest movie and the filmmaking
process.
By Antero Garcia, Mary Williams and Daniel
Wong
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Everyone in Hollywood wants to be a director, but Kevin Smith,
who has already received acclaim in this profession, just wants to
write.
“I’ve been writing since I was 14, but it was more
along the lines of personal essay stuff,” Smith said in a
phone interview from New York. “I didn’t know how one
earned a living off of writing, so I really didn’t consider
it as a profession.”
After seeing the 1991 Richard Linklater film
“Slacker,” Smith realized the potential in
screenwriting.
Since his debut film, “Clerks,” won the
International Critics Week Award at Cannes Film Festival in 1994,
Smith has attracted a cult following.
“I don’t know, I think there’s an identity
factor at work in as much as people recognize themselves or people
they know up on the screen,” Smith said. “I used to get
that with Jason Mewes (who plays the character Jay in his movies) a
lot. I still do.”
Despite his loyal fan base, Smith also has many detractors.
For example, after the controversy of his last film,
“Dogma,” Kevin Smith isn’t planning to return to
the topic of religion anytime soon.
Clerks: 1994
Silent Bob’s Words of Wisdom:
"You know, there’s a million fine looking women in the world,
dude. But they don’t all bring you lasagna at work. Most of ’em
just cheat on you."
The "Star Wars" Connection:
Dante and Randal argue whether "The Empire Strikes Back" is
better than "Return of the Jedi."
Hockey in Smith films:
Dante closes the store to play hockey.
Mallrats: 1995
Silent Bob’s Words of Wisdom:
"Adventure, excitement…. a Jedi craves not these
things."
The "Star Wars" Connection:
Silent Bob tries doing Jedi mind tricks.
Hockey in the Smith films:
Renee breaks up with Brodie because he is playing Sega
Hockey.
Drawing Flies: 1996 (Silent Bob
only)
Chasing Amy: 1997
Silent Bob’s Words of Wisdom:
"But, by the first time I figured this all out, it was too
late; she moved on. And all I had to show for it was some foolish
pride which then gave way to regret. She was the girl. I know that
now. But, I pushed her away. So I’ve spent every day since then
chasing Amy. So to speak."
The "Star Wars" Connection:
During his speech against racism, Hooper discusses the "Star
Wars" films.
Hockey in the Smith films:
Holden and Alyssa break up at a hockey match.
Dogma: 1999
Silent Bob’s Words of Wisdom:
"No ticket!"
The "Star Wars" Connection:
When Jay meets Bethany he says, "It’s like I’m Han, you’re
Chewie, she’s Obi-Wan and we’re in that fucked-up bar!"
Hockey in the Smith films:
The Stygian triplets all carry hockey sticks.
Scream 3: 2000
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back:
2001
The "Star Wars" Connection:
Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, of the original "Star Wars"
series make cameos.
SOURCE: IMDB.com Original
graphic by TIMOTHY NGO/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Web adaptation by
CHRISTINE TAN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
“I don’t feel the need to do that in every
movie,” Smith said. “It’s just that you need to
get something like that out of your system. It will be some time
before I feel the need to talk about faith or religion again,
particularly based on the death threats we received.”
Instead of tackling serious and controversial issues, Smith has
turned to the irreverent fun that serves as the basis for his
newest film, “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.”
Based on a comic book created by Smith, “Jay and Silent
Bob Strike Back,” is a comedy featuring Smith’s brand
of humor. Namely, quick wit and verbal comedy rather than visual
stunts or gags.
Though the five Smith films starring Jay and Silent Bob have
become immensely popular, Smith has declared that this is the end
of the series.
“I’m wrapping them all up within live action film,
I’ll still continue to do them in comics,” he said.
Even though Smith is ending the string of New Jersey based
films, he isn’t suffering from a shortage of work. Along with
more comic books and a possible animated movie featuring Jay and
Silent Bob, Smith is offered scripts to rewrite and, occasionally,
to direct.
“I thought I’ve made myself very clear that I
don’t consider myself a director. Primarily, I’m more
of a writer,” he said. “So when they send me a script
that they would like me to direct, I just want to say, “˜Did
you see the movies we’ve done? Do you really want to hand me
that script?'”
Unlike the character he portrays on film, who is famous for
remaining quiet and serving as a foil to his motor-mouthed, raunchy
side-kick Jay, the writer/director is verbose and articulate.
His way with words allows him to create dialogue-heavy movies
with unconventional starting points.
“Sometimes you just sit down and start with the ending.
“˜Clerks’ was a movie where I knew the ending first, and
then I didn’t even wind up using it, where Dante got
killed,” Smith said. “And sometimes you just start with
a scene that you cut out of something else, something that
didn’t work in another movie or never made it into another
movie.”
As unusual as his methods may seem, without a career in film
Smith supposes that he’d be no better off than Dante, the
cashier in “Clerks.”
“I’d probably still be working at the convenience
store. The Quickstop is a pretty comfy job.”