As a seasoned cinephile with over two decades of film-watching under my belt, I must say that Kevin Smith‘s journey from the humble beginnings of Clerks to his current status as a cult-classic director is nothing short of remarkable. The film’s production was fraught with challenges, one of which nearly derailed Smith’s career before it even took off.
The movie “Clerks” ignited the directorial journey of Kevin Smith, inspiring him to produce beloved films such as “Mallrats,” “Dogma,” “Chasing Amy,” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” However, a crucial choice concerning the film’s production almost thwarted Kevin Smith’s career before it even started, compelling the director to adapt and shape his creative vision in response to the demanding nature of the film industry he longed to be part of.
In an interview with GQ, Kevin Smith reminisced about his lengthy career as a filmmaker and shared a valuable lesson he gleaned from his debut movie, “Clerks.” This comedy follows Dante (Brian O’Halloran) and Randal (Jeff Anderson), two convenience store workers, as they spend their shifts discussing films, playing hockey, annoying customers, and dealing with the local stoners, Jay and Silent Bob (portrayed by Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith). Over the span of 90 minutes, viewers grow fond of these characters. However, in a surprising twist, Smith decided to end the movie on a poignant cliffhanger – Dante, the main character, is killed when the store gets robbed.
It’s fortunate that producer John Pierson intervened to prevent the movie from having an unfortunate conclusion, as Hollywood producers often modify a director’s vision for commercial purposes. In essence, John Pierson rescued Clerks and, by doing so, safeguarded Smith’s career as a filmmaker. The director elaborated on this:
John Pierson, the movie’s producer’s representative, said, “I’ll handle the representation for this film, but you need to remove that final scene.” I replied, “What are you referring to?” He explained, “Your film is excellent and audiences grow fond of the characters over 90 minutes, only to kill one of them without any apparent reason. It appears as though you’re struggling to bring the story to a close.” I countered, “It’s a humorous twist in the movie – he wasn’t even supposed to be there that day and his death is unexpected [ba-dum-tss]. He’s like, ‘That’s not even amusing. Eliminate it if you want this film to have a future.’
Kevin Smith Was Nearly Too Stubborn to Change Clerks’ Ending
As a fervent admirer of Kevin Smith’s work, I can empathize with his experience during the production of Clerks. Like many directors, he probably dreaded notes from producers about his own movie. However, much to our delight as fans, he managed to steer clear of disregarding studio suggestions altogether. Instead, he swiftly recognized the wisdom in their advice and made the prudent choice to implement it. In his words, “I almost fell into the trap of ignoring studio notes, but thankfully I came to my senses quickly.
“It was then that I realized the movie would have no chance with its original ending. The director would rather sacrifice himself for art than compromise. Can you believe it? That’s when I thought, ‘If we remove that ending, there may be a future for this project and another opportunity to work together.’
Once more, Kevin Smith has repeated a feat – twice! In 2006, he launched the much-loved “Clerks II,” which he recently declared as his top creative endeavor. More recently, in 2022, he concluded the trilogy with a long-awaited sequel. The world of “Clerks” isn’t confined to just three movies; it’s part of an interconnected universe called the View Askewniverse, where many of Smith’s films are set. His cinematic universe continues to expand, with his latest production, “The 4:30 Movie,” already out and “Mallrats 2” in the works.
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2024-10-05 16:01