Archive for February, 1999
Watch Article On Supes, Dogma, & More…
- it’s a BIRD it’s PLANE it’s. . . super SMITH Kevin Smith is still flying high
by: PEDRO CABEZUELO
It’s been five years since Kevin Smith made his acting and directorial debut in Clerks, the low-budget indie film that garnered him critical accolades and launched his career.
Since then he’s released two more films, or Mallrats and Chasing Amy and he’s been called everything from a one-hit wonder to a genius. But whatever the label, Smith has gained a sizable following. His success is rootedsomewhere between the indie and the blockbuster, and his fourth film, Dogma. is set to premiere this spring.
Along the way he’s also managed to run a successful comic book store, write for Marvel Comics and have himself immortalized as an action figure. He even dipped his toe into big-budget Hollywood when he was asked by Warner Brothers to pen the script for Superman Reborn in 1995. The film was expected to reboot the franchise and Smith turned in what many insiders called a brilliant story. Unfortunately, the project failed to fly.
“They really had high hopes for this,” Smith reminisces regretfully. “Everything was going smoothly until Tim Burton got into the mix and ironically, now he might not even direct it”.
Burton had been one of Smith’s idols, (think the Batman homage in Mallrats). But Burton’s concept (the Nicolas Cage Man of Steel) and producer Jon Peter’s merchandising mentality didn’t gel with Smith’s character-heavy script. It was a disappointing experience for Smith.
“Being a Superman fan, it was kind of sad being in on it. I mean, hearing them say ‘It’s not about how good the dialogue is, it’s about how many toys we can sell’ – and that was a quote too, you can’t make that stuff up.”
Smith is perplexed by the blockbuster mentality that sacrifices good storytelling for spectacle. “It would be nice if the studios would wake up and realize, ‘You know, if we make a good flick we’ll make money and we won’t be laughed at.’
Look at Superman. You’re guaranteed to make at least $100 million, why not just make a good movie? Why think just about the profit – you win profit – but why not at the same time try to make a good flick and maybe you’ll make more of a profit? And then at the end of the day you could hold your head up high and say, ‘This is our film and we like it.”
Even so, he hasn’t sworn off Tinseltown. He’s seen the dark side of the indie world, too. “I know everyone credits indie film with being the savior of modern cinema, but you know, for as many crappy Hollywood movies out there, there’s as many crappy indie flicks too. It really just comes down to who’s in charge, who’s writing the cheque, and who’s got the most to gain from it.
But the recent success of small films is encouraging for Smith who co-executive produced Oscar winner Good Will Hunting. For his new film, Smith has again teamed up with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, who play a pair of guardian angels sent to earth.
Dogma is a film which involves religion (Alanis Morissette will appear in a non-speaking ‘ role as God), and with such touchy subject matter, Smith anticipates some controversy. But he is quick to dispel last summer’s media buzz that Miramax owners Disney and the Catholic Church are having problems with the final product. “There was about a week where the press kept telling us that we were receiving a lot of flack, but we hadn’t even started cutting the movie yet so we were like ‘Really? Disney wants us to cut the film down to two hours? They hate it? They haven’t even seen it”.
As for the Church: “I think somebody jumped the gun. There was-never anybody going ‘This is bad news and you’re in trouble.”
Controversy aside, the film will certainly capture the attention of independent and mainstream fans alike, and is sure to keep Smith a silver-screen Super hero with a foot firmly planted on each of his two worlds.
Clerks Toon To Hit ABC In 2000…
- …Now the two companies are making final plans to strike a second deal, this one for a series based on filmmaker Kevin Smith’s popular slacker comedy Clerks. Smith will executive produce the series, which ABC is eyeing as a midseason replacement.
David Poland’s Hot Button column from Roughcut.Com has some choice words to say about the show, too, and they ain’t so good:
- MAXI-BAD: Miramax is joining the family TV business. ABC looks like it will order “Clerks: The TV Series.” Let the whoring begin! Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier are back in business and this could be a show that in tandem with the singularly overrated “Sports Night” (the show with dialogue so pretentious and thick that Harold Pinter watched it and cried, “What is their problem?!”), could bring the network to a critically acclaimed complete stop. An HBO series could be worthy, but this?!?! Argh! Clerks in prime time. Just think about it. Kind of like “Basic Instinct: The Saturday Morning Animated Series” or “Friends” without the tight clothes. No one could take it! And, uh, by the way, where the hell is Dogma?
Don’t worry, Danny – While you’re not gonna see Randal watching any hermaphroditic porn on ABC, we’re sure the series will still be entertaining. As for Dogma: This fall. Pay attention!
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Boy, oh boy do we ever have a ton of them for ya today:
- Guy- Cool! The comic shop! I need an issue of “Hate”.
Girl- Hey-are Jay and Silent Bob ever really here?
Meanwhile in a nearby editing room (A pic of Kev and Jason is shown).
Kevin- Er, Jase? Who’s minding the store?
Jay-No Problemo, amigo. I left those life-sized prototypes in charge.
Guy(looking in on Stash)-I see them!
(They walk in and see the huge action figures).
Girl (Whispering)- Don’t mess yourself or they’ll think we’re Gilligans.
(Now they start to talk to the action figures)
Guy- Jason, I’ve seen all your flicks! Do a Jay line for me!
Talking Jay Action Figure- Snootch to the Nootch!
Guy- Kevin Smith! I have an idea for a movie! It’s called “Dingleberries”. It’s about a bunch of dudes who just, you know hang out and read comics and say stuff. It’s kinda semi-autobiographical.
Guy- Umm…Are you not saying anything because you’re “Silent” Bob or because you just think I’m an idiot?
(The pair leave the store)
Guy- Did those guys seem weird?
Girl- People in movies always look different in real life. I heard Ben Savage is a midget.
Guy- I heard Melissa Joan Hart has a shiny forehead.
The article was written by Mark Voger and Kathy Voglesong. At the bottom, there’s info about the Stash Gala (even though it’s sold out!).
Kim Sings In NJ, March 5th…
- Location: the Smart Bar (formerly the Metro) in Long Branch, NJ
Also on the Bill: Red Engine Nine and The Amazing Meet Project (all incredibly talented people, and friends/recording partners of mine…)
The Date: FRIDAY, March 5th
The Rules:18 to enter, 21 to drink.
The Charge: $5.00 cover, to support the 3 acts for the night.
The Time: Should start around 9:30 – 10:00 PM. “I’m not sure if I will be 1st up or sandwiched in the middle – much like the creme in an oreo cookie :-)”
More From Kim: “I am printing a flyer which I am coordinating with Marksman to be distributed at the hotel check-in. I’ll list directions and start time there. If there are other questions, I’ll try to answer them on the board.”
Let’s pack the joint, people!
Commentary…
Dogma In The Blue Pages…
(Miramax)
Cast: Linda Fiorentino, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Jason Mews, Joey Lauren Adams, Kevin Smith.
Credits: Written and directed by Kevin Smith. Produced by Scott Mosier.
Change of pace for the director of Chasing Amy – the story of a woman chosen by a group of angels to save the Human race.
Okay, so, nothing too major, but cool all the same. Interestingly, Cinescape dropped Dogma from their previews listing in the latest issue. We assume they’ll be gathering Dogma info from us and Rumor Control for an upcoming piece closer to the film’s release. We’ll keep ya posted.
Clerks Toon To Hit ABC In 2000…
- Toon ‘Clerks’ lurks
Alphabet spelling out latest primetime animation pact
By JENNY HONTZ, February 25, 1999
ABC is finalizing a deal with Miramax and Touchstone TV for six episodes of an animated series based on Kevin Smith’s first film “Clerks” as the latest addition to the primetime cartoon explosion.
The comedy, slated for a midseason or fall 2000 launch, will be executive produced by Smith and former “Seinfeld” supervising producer Dave Mandel, who has a $9 million deal with Touchstone.
“Clerks” is only the second TV series ever produced by Miramax, the other being Kevin Williamson’s upcoming drama “Wasteland,” also for ABC. The film powerhouse hired former CBS exec Billy Campbell as president of its fledgling TV division last August, and the company appears to be getting up to speed quickly.
The TV version of “Clerks,” like the low-budget and raunchy 1994 pic, is about two young slackers, one who works at a Quick Stop convenience store and the other at a video store in New Jersey, and their wacky friends.
The idea to translate the slacker ennui of the pic into an animation skein sprung from the recent success of several “Clerks”-related comic books that Smith did for the Oregon-based indie Oni Press.
Smith’s previous work in TV was limited to a handful of shorts for MTV. The helmer says he wants to “open up” the horizons of the characters in the animated series’ beyond the convenience store setting of the pic.
“For us, it’s not about recreating the movie,” Smith told Daily Variety. “We want to push the edge of the envelope in another direction. We’re talking about being a bit surreal using the animation medium. I mean, why bother doing animation unless you’re going to be wacky with it?”
Although the film was laden with four-letter words and racy exchanges, Smith is realistic about the constraints of the network TV environment.
“What we lack in vulgarity or salaciousness we’ll make up for in flat-out laughs,” he said.
Aside from “Clerks,” which Smith wrote, produced, directed and starred in, Smith’s films include “Chasing Amy” and “Mallrats,” and he was a co-executive producer of “Good Will Hunting.” Mandel also was a writer on “Saturday Night Live.”
“Clerks” will be the first animated series at ABC since the short-lived “Capitol Critters” in 1992, but it’s the latest example of the unprecedented boom in edgy primetime animated fare.
Keep in mind, a lot can change between now and Fall 2000, but with Dogma’s success looming and the popularity of the comics, this looks like a good bet. Hopefully we’ll at least get a sneak peek at a pilot sometime early next year. Stay tuned.
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“Robots, Punks, Weed and Buzoms” — by Churen COMMENTS: Alrighty, we got Gwen Stefani (lead singer of No Doubt) recieving a bear-hug from Calibretto (big robot dude from the Battle Chasers) while Jason Mewes (known on the silver screen as Silent Bob’s pal “Jay”) pimps on Kasumi (from Dead or Alive) with joint-in-hand. And what party would be complete with my mascot, the celestial BULB.
Click the thumbnail for a larger pic, of course.