‘Jersey Girl’ director and no-budget filmmaking hero chats with Patrick Norton.
By Tim Moynihan
In the “what have you done for me lately?” world of entertainment, you’re only as popular as your latest project.
Some filmmakers are criticized for making movies that are far different from anything they’ve done before, while others are dubbed a one-trick pony if they keep churning out similar fare.
With his latest film, “Jersey Girl,” director Kevin Smith has polarized fans and critics by doing a little bit of both. In exploring the bond between a father, his daughter, and his friends and family, “Jersey Girl” is a far cry from anything Smith’s directed before.
But many critics have complained that while “Jersey Girl” may be something new for Smith, it’s nothing new for a Hollywood movie. Fans of “Clerks,” “Dogma,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” may be stunned that this movie was made by the same director.
On tonight’s episode of “The Screen Savers,” Patrick Norton talks to Smith about the hubbub surrounding “Jersey Girl,” the challenges in making a film that’s so different from any of his previous works, and why “Jersey Girl” is basically the same movie as “Chasing Amy,” except — as Smith puts it — “with a 7 year old instead of a lesbian.”
What’s in it for you
By watching tonight’s show or clicking the video link to the right, you’ll also learn about the following items at no extra charge.
– The best CG effects should be unnoticeable, which means Smith has done a great job with them in his last two films. Learn about the computer-generated effects he used in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” and “Jersey Girl.”
– Learn why Smith isn’t a card-carrying member of the digital-video revolution, even though he gets good use out of digital-editing equipment.
– Who’s the bigger computer geek — Kevin Smith or Ben Affleck? Find out who Smith gives the nod to in the interview.
– Smith is a self-proclaimed “Mac whore.” Wait ’til he tells you how many rooms in his house are wired.
– Smith’s next project is an on-screen adaptation of the “Green Hornet” comic books. Find out whether Smith is intimidated by bringing these classic comics to life and why a niche audience can be harder to please than a mainstream audience.
– Learn why Smith describes making “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” as an exercise in anger-management therapy.
– Find out which goodies are in store for the DVD version of “Jersey Girl” and why the DVD probably won’t be part of the Criterion Collection series.
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