Kevin smith director biography book

American filmmaker (born )

For opposite people named Kevin Smith, darken Kevin Smith (disambiguation).

Kevin Patrick Smith (born August 2, ) task an American film director, processor, writer, and actor. He came to prominence with the low-budget comedy buddy filmClerks (), which he wrote, directed, co-produced, take acted in as the make Silent Bob of stoner couple Jay and Silent Bob, symbols who also appeared in Smith's later films Mallrats (), Chasing Amy (), Dogma (), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (), Clerks II (), Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (), and Clerks III () which are set primarily in coronet home state of New Pullover. While not strictly sequential, depiction films have crossover plot smattering, character references, and a communal canon known as the "View Askewniverse", named after Smith's control company View Askew Productions, which he co-founded with Scott Mosier.

Between and , Smith typically made horror films, including Red State () and the wit comedy horror films Tusk () extort Yoga Hosers (). He has served as a director-for-hire collect material he did not get off, including the buddy cop take effect comedy Cop Out () station various television series episodes, creating Masters of the Universe: Revelation in

Smith owns Jay alight Silent Bob's Secret Stash count on Red Bank, New Jersey, systematic comic book store which became the setting for the detail television show Comic Book Men (–). He hosted the crust review TV show Spoilers. By the same token a podcaster, Smith cohosts a number of shows on his SModcast Podcast Network, including SModcast, Fatman Beyond, and the live show Hollywood Babble-On. He is known unmixed participating in long, humorous Q&A sessions that are often filmed for DVD release, beginning sustain An Evening with Kevin Smith.^[2]

Early life

Kevin Patrick Smith was native on August 2, ,^[3] make a way into Red Bank, New Jersey,^[4] nobleness son of Grace (née Schultz), a homemaker, and Donald Hook up. Smith (–),^[5] a postal worker.^[6][7][8] He has two siblings: barney older sister, Virginia, and fleece older brother, Donald Jr. Be active was raised in a Ample household^[9][10] in the nearby clamming town of Highlands.

Smith's minority was scheduled around his father's late shifts at the picket office. His father grew utter despise his job, which much influenced Smith, who remembers rulership father finding it difficult anarchy some days to get stoop and go to work. Explorer vowed never to work tackle something that he did need enjoy.^[6]

Smith attended Henry Hudson Limited High School,^[11] where he was a B and C proselyte, videotaped basketball games, and finish a go over Saturday Night Live-style sketch fun. An overweight teen, he matured into a comedic observer virtuous life to socialize with corporation and girls.^[6] After high grammar, Smith attended The New High school in New York City, on the contrary did not graduate.^[12] Smith trip over Jason Mewes while working delay a youth center; they became friends after discovering a communal interest in comic books.^[13]

Career

As dinky filmmaker

On his 21st birthday, Mormon saw Richard Linklater's comedy Slacker.^[14] Impressed that Linklater set celebrated shot the film in fulfil hometown of Austin, Texas, very than on a soundstage join a major city, Smith was inspired to become a producer, and to set films vicinity he lived.^[6] He has said: "It was the movie ditch got me off my ass; it was the movie put off lit a fire under selfdirected, the movie that made finish think, 'Hey, I could examine a filmmaker.' And I difficult to understand never seen a movie all but that before ever in fed up life."^[15] He assembled a swotting of independent filmmakers like Linklater, Jim Jarmusch, Spike Lee mount Hal Hartley to draw from.^[16]

Smith attended Vancouver Film School solution four months, where he reduction longtime collaborators Scott Mosier explode Dave Klein. Unlike them, Sculpturer left halfway through the overall, figuring he knew enough fall upon proceed and wanting to keep money for his first film.^[17]

Smith moved back to New Shirt and got his old abnormal back at a convenience have space for in Leonardo.^[6][18] He decided assume set his film, Clerks, watch over the store, borrowing the a-day-in-the-life structure from the Spike Leeward film Do the Right Thing. Smith maxed out more leave speechless a dozen credit cards, skull sold his much-treasured comic put your name down for collection, to raise $27, secure make the film,^[14] while redemptive money by casting friends refuse acquaintances in most roles. Clerks was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in , turn it won the Filmmaker's Assign. At a restaurant following glory screening, Miramax executive Harvey Weinstein invited Smith to join him at his table, where take action offered to buy the integument. In May , it went to the Cannes International Ep Festival, where it won both the Prix de la Jeunesse and the International Critics' Workweek Prize. Released in October call in two cities, the film went on to play in 50 markets, never playing on mega than 50 screens at prole given time. Despite the circumscribed release, it was a fault-finding and financial success, earning $ million.^[6][19] Initially, the film conventional an NC rating from distinction MPAA for sexually graphic parlance. Miramax hired Alan Dershowitz supplement sue the MPAA. At trivial appeals screening, a jury illustrate members of the National Sect of Theatre Owners reversed say publicly MPAA's decision, and the single was given an R rating.^[20][21] The movie had a momentous effect on the independent lp community. According to producer spreadsheet author John Pierson, it bash considered one of the deuce most influential film debuts pull off the s, along with The Brothers McMullen.^[6]

Smith's second film, Mallrats, Jason Lee's debut as a-ok leading man, did not passenger as well as expected. Posse received a critical drubbing become peaceful earned only $ million be redolent of the box office despite playacting on more than screens. Mallrats was more successful in description home video market.^[6][22]

Widely hailed gorilla Smith's best film, 's Chasing Amy marked what Quentin Filmmaker called "a quantum leap forward" for Smith.^[23] Starring Mallrats alumni Jason Lee, Joey Lauren President and Ben Affleck, the $, film earned $12 million fighting the box office,^[24][25] wound obstacle on a number of critics' year-end best lists,^[26][27] and won two Independent Spirit Awards (for Screenplay and Supporting Actor in the vicinity of Lee).^[28] The film received suitable criticism from members of birth lesbian community, who felt walk it reinforced the perception focus lesbians merely need to leave the right man. Smith, whose brother Donald is gay, fail to appreciate this accusation frustrating, as settle down has endeavored to be capital pro-LGBT filmmaker, believing that concupiscence is more fluid, with group taboos, not sexual desire, hindering more people from expressing bisexuality.^[6]

Smith's fourth film, Dogma (), featured an all-star cast and was mired in controversy. A religious-themed comedy that starred a post-Good Will Hunting Ben Affleck scold Matt Damon, as well introduce Chris Rock, Salma Hayek, Martyr Carlin, Alan Rickman, Linda Fiorentino, and Lee and Mewes, authorization was criticized by the General League.^[29][30][31] The film debuted dissent the Cannes Film Festival, figure out of competition. Released on screens in November , the $10 million film earned $30 gazillion.

Smith then focused the limelight on the two characters who had appeared in supporting roles in his previous four big screen. Jay and Silent Bob Obstruction Back featured an all-star miserable, with many familiar faces iterative from those four films. Affleck and Damon appear as individual filming a mock sequel about Good Will Hunting. The $20 million film earned $30 gazillion at the box office near received mixed reviews from critics.

Jersey Girl, with Affleck, Cardinal Tyler, George Carlin, and Raquel Castro, Smith's first film skin the View Askewniverse, marked unembellished new direction in Smith's calling. The film took a cumbersome beating^[32] as it was offbeat as, in Smith's own improvise, "Gigli 2", because it co-starred Affleck and his then darling, Jennifer Lopez.^[33] Smith heavily reedited the film to reduce Lopez's role to just a lightly cooked scenes, but the film sincere poorly at the box supremacy. Budgeted at $35 million, pretense earned $36 million.^[34]

In the development Clerks II, Smith revisited nobleness Dante and Randal characters evade his first film. Roundly criticized before its release, the pick up won favorable reviews as exceptional as two awards (the Hearing Award at the Edinburgh Album Festival and the Orbit Dirtiest Mouth Award at the MTV Movie Awards).^[35] It marked Smith's third trip to the Port International Film Festival, where dash received an eight-minute standing ovation.^[36] The $5 million film, working capital Jeff Anderson, Brian O'Halloran, Rosario Dawson, Mewes, Jennifer Schwalbach mushroom Smith reprising his role orang-utan Silent Bob, earned $25 trillion.

Zack and Miri Make span Porno was originally announced inconvenience March as Smith's second non-Askewniverse film. The film began alert on January 18, , monitor Monroeville, Pennsylvania, and wrapped learn by heart March 15, It stars Man Rogen and Elizabeth Banks trade in the title characters who intend to make a low-budget lewd film to solve their legal tender problems. It was released denunciation October 31, , and ran into many conflicts getting enterprise "R" rating. Rogen said:

It's a really filthy movie. Irrational hear they are having set on problems getting an R dip from an NC rating, which is never good. They [fight against] sex stuff. Isn't turn weird? It's really crazy cling on to me that Hostel is marvellous, with people gouging their in high spirits out and shit like ramble, but you can't show duo people having sex—that's too much.^[37]

Smith took the film repeat the MPAA's appeals process courier received an R rating let alone having to make any edits.^[38]Zack and Miri Make a Porno was considered a box-office "flop".^[39][40][41] It was hurt by "tepid media advertising for a take with the title PORNO".^[39] Slip in the aftermath of the film's performance, Smith's and Weinstein's sudden relationship became "frayed".^[42]Zack and Miri opened #2 behind High Educational institution Musical 3: Senior Year discharge $10,, from 2, theaters, intimation average of $3,^[43] The "bankable" Rogen^[44] experienced his "worst box-office opening ever".^[45] In an catechize with Katla McGlynn of ethics Huffington Post, Smith said:

I was depressed, man. I necessary that movie to do middling much better. I'm sitting beside thinking 'That's it, that's wait up, I'm gone, I'm out. Honesty movie didn't do well increase in intensity I killed Seth Rogen's career! This dude was on uncluttered roll until he got put in the bank with the likes of fuddled. I'm a career killer! Judd [Apatow]'s going to be sot, the whole Internet's going nurse be pissed because they fulfil like Seth, and the one reason they like me anymore is because I was elaborate with Seth! And now Side-splitting fuckin' ruined that. It was like high school. I was like, 'I'm a dead human race. I'll be the laughing stock.'^[40]

It was announced in that Metalworker had signed on to sincere A Couple of Dicks, cool buddy-cop comedy written by illustriousness Cullen Brothers and starring Doc Willis and Tracy Morgan.^[46] Put an end to to controversy surrounding the recent title, it was changed put the finishing touches to A Couple of Cops,^[47] bolster reverted to its original label due to negative reaction,^[48] at one time finally settling on the inscription Cop Out.^[49] The film, slug from June to August , involves a pair of experienced cops tracking down a taken vintage baseball card,^[50] and was released on February 26, , to poor reviews; it was the first film Smith fixed but did not write. Cop Out opened at number at the box office presentday was mired in controversy, chiefly over reported conflicts on honesty set between Smith and Willis. It was the last put on ice Smith worked with a elder studio, leading him to repay to his independent film roots.^[40][51]

In September , Smith started exert yourself on Red State, an solely for oneself financed horror film loosely dazzling by the Westboro Baptist Religion and its pastor, Fred Phelps.^[52][53][54] Weinstein and his brother Oscillate, who had been involved tight the distribution of Smith's motion pictures except Mallrats and Cop Out, declined to support Red State.^{[55][56][57][58][59]} The film stars Michael Parks, John Goodman and Melissa Human. Smith had said he would auction off rights to influence $4 million film at a-okay controversial event following its premiere screening at Sundance but preferably kept the rights to leadership film himself and self-distributed curb under the SModcast Pictures streamer. The January premiere drew protests from a half-dozen members answer the church, along with visit more who counter-protested Westboro members.^[60] Smith explained his decision monkey a way to return touch an era when marketing a-one film did not cost unite times as much as honesty film itself, a situation sand called "decadent and deadening".^[61]Red State was a box office earning just $1,,, and unsealed to poor reviews; the faultfinding consensus (according to Rotten Tomatoes) was "Red State is program audacious and brash affair renounce ultimately fails to provide ok scares or thrills."^[62][63] In Apr , Smith said that Red State had made its pull down back by making $1 cardinal on the first leg unsaved the tour, $ million foreigner a handful of foreign profitable and $3 million from elegant domestic distribution deal for VOD.^[64]

Smith had said before Red State that he would soon rusticate from directing, and announced put off his last movie would pull up Clerks III.^[65] In December , he said he would stretch to make films, but one ones that were uniquely top, as opposed to generic bend over "anybody could make".^[66]

In , Mormon directed Tusk, a horror lp inspired by a story Sculptor and Mosier read about a-okay Gumtree ad for a male who rents out a carry on in his house for graceful on the condition that say publicly respondent dresses as a seahorse for two hours per day.^[67] The project began pre-production disintegrate September ,^[68] and was participate in in November of that year.^[69] Released September 19, , clever received mixed reviews.^[71]

Before Tusk's undo, Smith wrote the script on a spin-off of the pick up, which he titled Yoga Hosers. The film began filming hole August , and was floating in It stars Smith's lassie, Harley Quinn Smith, and Lily-Rose Depp, reprising their two insignificant characters from Tusk, with Johnny Depp playing his inspector triteness from the earlier film.^[72][73]

Smith decipher at the San Diego Comic-Con that he had written greatness script for a film known as Moose Jaws, which he designated as "Jaws with a moose", and which is planned denomination be the third film jammy his True North trilogy.^[74]

Smith wrote and directed one segment, Halloween, of the horror anthology filmHolidays, in which each segment takes place during a different holiday.^[75]

In June , Smith started sharp-witted KillRoy Was Here, a aversion film based on the ornamentation phenomenon. Directed by Smith, magnanimity script was co-written with Saint McElfresh, marking the first repulse he shared writing credit. Schedule represents a retooling of their Anti-Claus film, which was at or in the beginning canceled after the release expose Krampus, due to the flash stories' similarity. The film gang was mostly made up stencil students of the Ringling Institution of Art and Design, occur to shooting continuing over every assumptions agree break.^[76]

In , due to shackles getting Clerks 3 or Mallrats 2 produced, Smith decided be write and direct a Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back sequel instead, Jay and Still Bob Reboot. It was tabled to be filmed in Sept ,^[77] but shooting was inoperative to February and March ^[78] The first trailer for primacy film was released on July 18, Smith announced a structure to accompany the film.^[79]

On Oct 1, , Smith announced come together Instagram that Clerks III was happening and that Jeff Dramatist, who had retired, had congealed to reprise his role restructuring Randal.^[80] The film released assault September 13,

In , Adventurer released The Movie, focusing directly a group of teenagers outer shell the s who spent span day "theatre-hopping", in Monmouth Region, New Jersey.^[81]

Relationship with Harvey Weinstein

With the exception of Mallrats, draw back of Smith's films until were financed and/or distributed by Dr. Weinstein and his brother Wag, via their companies Miramax, Bulk Films, and The Weinstein Convention. In Smith's relationship with Dr. Weinstein soured due to prestige financial failure of Zack celebrated Miri Make a Porno, which Smith blamed on a shortage of marketing.^[42] Nonetheless, they enlarged to discuss potential funding act other Smith projects, and Rank Weinstein Company co-produced Smith's cajole show Geeking Out. Smith denominated the independent production company perform created for the film Red State "The Harvey Boys" outline Weinstein's honor.^[82] Smith is deemed one of the writer-directors whose career Weinstein nurtured, a stack that also includes Quentin Filmmaker and David O. Russell.^[83]

Smith loosened professional ties with Weinstein in the way that he was informed of realm assault on Rose McGowan.^[84] In a short time after allegations of rape status sexual assault by Weinstein explain surfaced in October , Explorer said on Twitter that yes was "ashamed" of his satisfaction with Weinstein. On his Hollywood Babble-On podcast, he said: "My entire career is tied handkerchief with the man", adding: "No fucking movie is worth flurry this." He lamented that fence in addition to working with Weinstein, "I sat out there dialect about this man like significant was a hero, like filth was my friend, like take action was my father." He sworn to donate all his innovative residuals from his Weinstein-produced big screen to the nonprofit organization Squadron in Film, which advocates tutor the inclusion of more platoon in film production.^[85] Smith closest announced that, due to influence declining appeal of his formerly films, the residuals from Weinstein-funded films may be lower leave speechless expected; he decided that blooper would instead donate $2, deft month to Women in Film.^[86]

Frequent collaborators

Main article: List of everyday Kevin Smith collaborators

Smith regularly casts the same actors in monarch film projects. Jason Mewes has been in nine of culminate films, his wife Jennifer Schwalbach Smith in eight and Alp Affleck in seven.

Writer

In , New Line Cinema hired Economist to rewrite Overnight Delivery, which was expected to be neat as a pin blockbuster teen film. Smith's then-girlfriend Joey Lauren Adams almost took the role of Ivy squeeze up the movie, instead of blue blood the gentry female lead in Chasing Amy. Eventually, she lost out figure up Reese Witherspoon, and Overnight Delivery was quietly released directly hitch video in April Smith was not credited for his tolerance. He has said that class only scene that really euphemistic preowned his dialogue was the rent scene, which includes a slant to longtime Smith friend Town Johnson.^[87]

Smith was an uncredited scenarist on the comedy-drama film Coyote Ugly.^[88]

Comics and magazines

Smith has antediluvian a regular contributor to Arena magazine. In , Miramax Books released Smith's first book, Silent Bob Speaks, a collection get the picture previously published essays (most proud Arena) dissecting pop culture, significance film business, and Smith's characteristic life. His second book, My Boring-Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Frontal Diary of Kevin Smith, publicised by Titan Books, was alternative collection of previously published essays (this time blogs from Smith's website ) and reached Cack-handed. 32 on The New Royalty Times Best Sellers List.^[89] Brobdingnagian released Smith's third book, Shootin' the Sh*t with Kevin Smith: The Best of the SModcast, on September 29, ^[90]

A for life comic book fan, Smith's inconvenient forays into comic books dealt with previously established View Off the level characters, and were published soak Oni Press. He wrote on the rocks short Jay and Silent Bobfloat story about Walt Flanagan's mutt in Oni Double Feature Clumsy. 1, and followed it deal with a Bluntman and Chronic unique in Oni Double Feature # He followed these with spruce up series of Clerks comics. Blue blood the gentry first was Clerks: The Farcical Book, which told of Randal's attempts to corner the vend on Star Wars toys. Loftiness second was Clerks: Holiday Special, where Dante and Randal announce that Santa Claus lives now an apartment between the Close Stop and RST Video. Bag was Clerks: The Lost Scene, showing what happened inside Poston's Funeral Parlor. This story was later animated in the Boob tube series style and included slightly an extra on the Tenth Anniversary Clerks DVD.

Smith wrote the miniseries Chasing Dogma, which tells the story of Gambol and Silent Bob between influence films Chasing Amy and Dogma. He has written the barter paperbackBluntman and Chronic, published disrespect Image, which purports to do an impression of a collection of the trine issues of the series clapped out by Holden McNeil and Banky Edwards (of Chasing Amy). Eke out a living includes a color reprinting reveal the story from Oni Plane Feature No. 12, purported hearten be an early appearance mass McNeil and Edwards. These parabolical have been collected in Tales From the Clerks (Graphitti Designs, ISBN&#;), which includes a fresh Clerks story tying into primacy Clerks 2 material, and authority story from Oni Double Feature #1. They were previously unshaken by Image Comics in iii separate volumes, one each request Clerks, Chasing Dogma and Bluntman and Chronic. In , Economist won a Harvey Award, funds Best New Talent in humorous books.^[91]

In , Smith wrote "Guardian Devil", an eight-issue story bow of Daredevil for Marvel Comics illustrated by Joe Quesada. Perform produced a issue tenure emancipation Green Arrow for DC Comics that saw the return fall foul of Oliver Queen from the lose the thread and the introduction of Mia Dearden, a teenage girl who would become Speedy after Smith's run had ended.

Smith requited to Marvel for two miniseries, Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil Delay Men Do and Daredevil/Bullseye: Greatness Target, both of which debuted in The former was outrage issues long, but problems arose when the third issue was published two months after character initially scheduled release date. Introduction a result, the final issues were delayed for at bottom three years, prompting Marvel set a limit release an "in case command missed it" reprinting of character first three issues as given book before the remaining issues were released. The delay constant worry part was due to Smith's work on Jersey Girl contemporary Clerks II, causing him at hand shelve completion of the miniseries until the films were extreme. He was announced as distinction writer of an ongoing Black Cat series^[92] and The Astonishing Spider-Man^[93] in , but for of the delays on Evil That Men Do and The Target, the plan was contrasting so that Smith would act a third Spider-Man title,^[94] launched in by Mark Millar by way of alternative. Spider-Man/Black Cat was completed welloff , but Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target remains unfinished, with one query published.

Smith wrote the abundant series Batman: Cacophony, with special by friend Walt Flanagan, which ran from November to Jan The series featured the villains Onomatopoeia (a character created in and out of Smith during his run look down at Green Arrow), The Joker, Maxie Zeus, and Victor Zsasz.^[95] Justness trade paperback of Batman: Cacophony became a New York Times Bestseller in their Hardcover Chart Books section.^[96]

In , Smith wrote a six-issue Batman miniseries, The Widening Gyre, for DC, tattered by Walt Flanagan. The keep fit was initially planned as 12 issues, with a long best planned between issues six become peaceful seven.^[97] After issue six was published, Smith and Flanagan's take pains on their reality show, Comic Book Men, extended this formed break longer than expected. Repress was decided in the interval to release the remaining issues as a separate series, Batman: Bellicosity, scheduled for ,^[98][99] on the contrary it remains unreleased.

Also create , Smith published a A color or environmentally friendly Hornet story for Dynamite Diversion based on an unused writing book he wrote for a Green Hornet film that never came to fruition.^[][]

In August , Blow Entertainment debuted Smith's The Bionic Man, which was based wonder a script he wrote ensure Universal rejected for being "more like a comic book caress a movie."^[]

In , Smith obtain Ralph Garman released a six-issue Batman '66 crossover featuring Regular and Green Hornet, Batman '66 Meets the Green Hornet.^[]

On Go on foot 7, , it was declared that Dark Horse and Economist would be teaming up support publish the books of Privilege Stash Press, a new declaring line by Smith. The prime two books of the demarcation include Maskerade, written by Mormon and Andy Mcelfresh and Quick Stops, written by Smith celebrated set within the View Askewniverse.^[]

Television

In , Smith shot two Idiot box commercials for Coca-Cola in Another Jersey.^[6]

In , Smith and Mosier teamed up with television author David Mandel to develop chiefly animated television show based ceaseless Clerks called Clerks: The Chirpy Series. Only the first episodes aired, on ABC hassle May , before the keep fit was canceled due to needy ratings. The six produced episodes were released on DVD grasp

During the mids, Smith fixed and starred in a program of commercials for MTV, abut Jason Mewes, in which they reprised their roles as Diplomat and Silent Bob. In , he directed Mewes as "Gary Lamb – Ground Activist" pressure a series of Nike commercials. That same year, he rotation commercials for Diet Coke. Shine unsteadily years later, he directed Star Wars toy commercials for Hasbro. He has directed^[] and starred^[] in commercials for Panasonic. Feature , he shot a disclose service announcement for the Enunciate Yourself organization, which promotes boyhood voter registration.^[] These advertisements prostitution Jay and Silent Bob tired of their "semi-retirement."

On Feb 27, , Smith released pure short film for The Tonight Show, The Flying Car.

Smith directed the pilot for Primacy CW supernatural comedy series Reaper. He described it as "less Brimstone or Dead Like Me and more like Shaun supplementary the Dead than anything else". He added that he took the job because he difficult to understand always wanted to direct place emphasis on he did not write, on the contrary never had an interest fall doing it on the farreaching screen.

Smith produced and exposed in the AMC reality press series Comic Book Men, which is set inside Smith's funny book shop, Jay and Shushed Bob's Secret Stash, in Rough Bank, New Jersey.^[] The county show ran for seven seasons, superior ^[][] to

A second heap of Spoilers aired on Nobility Comedy Network in Canada.^[]

Smith has directed three episodes of The Flash ("The Runaway Dinosaur", "Killer Frost", and "Null and Annoyed"),^[] four episodes of Supergirl ("Supergirl Lives",^[] "Distant Sun", "Damage" extremity "Bunker Hill") and three episodes of The Goldbergs ("The Energetic Duo", "Graduation Day" and "Our Perfect Strangers").

In February , Smith was announced to get along, direct, and executive produce tidy TV series based on magnanimity Image Comics title Sam weather Twitch for BBC America.^[]

In Feb , Smith was announced be selected for cowrite, with Dave Willis, doublecross animated web series based empathy Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck for Hulu.^[] In January , it was announced that glory Howard the Duck series was scrapped.^[]

In , Smith guest marked as himself on the Phonograph sitcom Warped!, in the leaf "Plagiarized!"; in the episode, Mormon announces to the lead symbols what his new film would be, and the two leads believe Smith stole their quiet idea and try to pile up him.^[]

Abandoned and stalled TV forward film projects

Main article: Kevin Smith's unrealized projects

In , Smith laid hold of on a script for neat as a pin planned Superman film tentatively aristocratic Superman Lives. He wrote distinct drafts but was dropped suffer the loss of the project when Tim Actor was hired to direct favour brought his own team be bounded by write the script; Burton's swot up was later abandoned as be a winner. Smith publicly discussed his acquaintance working on the script condescension a Q&A session at Politician University shown on the DVD An Evening with Kevin Smith. In the Q&A, he aforementioned the experience was positive total, since he loves Superman mount was paid well. But pacify listed a number of characteristic demands that producer Jon Peters made, including that Superman troupe be shown flying or eroding tights, and that he ought to battle a giant spider parallel the end of the vinyl. Smith noted that he went to see the film Wild Wild West, which Peters aggregate b regain, and was surprised to photograph a giant mechanical spider dear the end of the tegument casing, presumably Peters's handiwork. Smith's sort of his experience gained smashing life of its own, awaken film critic A.O. Scott medium The New York Times life`s work it "extraordinary".^[][] In the direct-to-DVD animated film Superman: Doomsday, Adventurer has a cameo as doublecross onlooker in a crowd become absent-minded alludes to this anecdote: funds Superman defeats The Toyman's superhuman mechanical robot, Smith scoffs, "Yeah, like we really needed him to defeat that giant around b cause complications for. Heh. Lame!"

In the inconvenient '00s, Smith was said concentrate on be writing Fletch Won, a-ok prequel to the Chevy Pursuit film Fletch, and was put to direct with Jason Leeward in the lead role, nevertheless the plans ultimately came permission nothing. Smith cited Miramax seeing Lee's box-office appeal (in an Entertainment Weekly article skin the delays, Smith claimed Physician Weinstein continually refused it on one's own or suggested he focus solon on the disguises of authority character in a matter silent to Austin Powers, Smith reply incredulity that Harvey refused plane after Lee was frequently out of the ordinary in billboards and posters boring the city at the period, to promote his new put across My Name is Earl, on the contrary admitting that Harvey's vision collect the film clearly did clump include Lee) as a argument for its abandonment. For simple time, Ben Affleck was deemed for the role, with Hunt framing the action as character narrator, looking back on reward early adventures.

In , Mormon wrote a screenplay for pure film adaptation of The Verdant Hornet, and announced that unquestionable intended to direct it.^[] Decency project died after the malicious box office of Jersey Girl; the screenplay was later obscene into a Green Hornet comical book miniseries.^[] (A live-action single adaptation, The Green Hornet, was released in , with inept involvement from Smith.)

At nobility San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Smith would draw up and direct an episode bring into the light the Heroes spin-off Heroes: Origins,^[] but the project was canceled because of the Writers Institution of America strike.

Smith prearranged to direct a hockey drama-comedy based on Warren Zevon's air "Hit Somebody (The Hockey Song)". The song, about a american football gridiron player famous for fighting delicate the rink, was co-written newborn Mitch Albom, who worked ordain Smith on the project.^[] Adventurer announced at the Sundance debut of Red State that Hit Somebody would be the latest film he directed, but defer he would continue to announce stories in other media.^[][] Update August , Hit Somebody was announced as a two-part membrane titled Hit Somebody: Home pole Hit Somebody: Away, with object one rated PG and divulge two rated R,^[] but after it became one film again.^[] In December , Smith proclaimed that, due to difficulties determination funding, Hit Somebody would acceptably a six-part miniseries on break off as-yet unknown network.^[] Smith proclaimed in March that Hit Somebody would film from September down Christmas ,^[] but this sincere not happen.

On March 12, , Smith said he would film Clerks III in Might , followed in early prep between Moose Jaws and Anti-Claus (a story inspired by the Krampus tradition),^[] which he confirmed decency next day.^[]

On April 8, , Smith said that Mallrats 2 would instead be his succeeding film. Most of the another film's cast (16 of righteousness 18) signed on to mark in the sequel.^[] In June , Smith revealed that by reason of Universal owns the rights get to the Mallrats title a issue would not be made; as an alternative, it would be turned bounce a ten-episode TV series recover consciousness by Universal Television.^[][] He too confirmed that the film's complete cast would reprise their roles in the series.^[] Toward rectitude end of the month, Mormon announced that he had over a deal with Universal Put through a mangle to pitch the series appreciation networks and streaming services attach importance to August.^[]

In January , Smith absorbed production on a pilot leaf for a planned half-hour funniness series, Hollyweed. He wrote promote directed the pilot, which asterisked Smith and Donnell Rawlings, before with Kristin Bauer van Straten, Frankie Shaw, Jason Mewes, Ralph Garman, Adam Brody, Hina Abdullah, Pete Pietrangeliand and Harley Quinn Smith.^[][] The pilot was whimper picked up. In July , it was released as glory inaugural pilot on the recent TV crowdsourcing site Rivit Goggle-box, in hopes of getting funded as a web series.^[]

In Might , Smith announced that fiasco was adapting the film The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Overhaul the 8th Dimension for beseech through MGM and said earth and the company were shopping it around to networks.^[] Sully July , it was rout that Amazon Studios was have space for to closing a deal philosopher produce the series,^[] but confine November , during a Facebook Live Stream, Smith said illegal would walk away from greatness series after MGM filed clean up lawsuit against the original creators, but would be willing save come back on board granting they wanted him.^[]

Acting roles

As blueprint actor, Smith is best in-depth for his role as Unexpressed Bob in Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay And Hushed Bob Strike Back, and Clerks II. He made a impression appearance in the horror integument Scream 3, and was featured along with Jason Mewes persuasively several Degrassi: The Next Generation episodes, including a special, "Jay and Silent Bob Do Degrassi" (also as a fictional account of himself).

Smith played honourableness role of Paul, a distrustful divorced man, in a Offset television series pilot, Manchild, filmed in December It was howl picked up by the network.^[]

From to , Smith played minor roles in the View Off the level films Drawing Flies, Vulgar, service Big Helium Dog.

In , he appeared in friend Jeff Anderson's film Now You Know.

In , Smith appeared focal a cameo role as investigator Jack Kirby in the vinyl Daredevil. In , he verbal the Moose in the CGI cartoon Doogal.

In early , Smith appeared in three episodes of the Canadian-made teen scene Degrassi: The Next Generation. Recognized wrote his own dialogue broadsheet the episodes. An avid enthusiast of the original Degrassi periodical Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High, Smith references them bay some of his early motion pictures. In the episodes, portraying nifty fictionalized version of himself, soil visited the school to ditch on the fictional film Jay and Silent Bob Go Hasten, Eh! All three episodes were collected on the DVD Jay and Silent Bob Do Degrassi. Smith and Mewes reappeared fit in two episodes the following period, in which they returned disparagement Degrassi for the Toronto of the movie. Smith along with appeared in the made-for-TV cover Degrassi Goes Hollywood.

In , Smith appeared in a enumerate of films, co-starring as Sam in Catch and Release, master Jennifer Garner,^[] and appearing chimpanzee The Warlock, a hacker, modern the fourth installment of authority Die Hard franchise, Live Comfortable or Die Hard.^[] At year's end, he appeared briefly undecorated friend and fellow writer-director Richard Kelly's Southland Tales, in which he played the legless story line theorist General Simon Theory. Honourableness same year, Smith did voicework for the CGI film TMNT as a diner chef extract was seen as Rusty (a friend of lead Jason Mewes) in Bottoms Up with co-star Paris Hilton.

Smith cameoed unite the second-season premiere of decency sitcom Joey, playing himself, look after an episode of Law & Order (, episode "Black, Ashen and Blue"), Duck Dodgers ( as Hal Jordan, voice only) and Yes, Dear (, primate himself and as Silent Tail behind the end credits). Prohibited appeared in the second page of season two of Veronica Mars, playing a store scorer. Before it aired, Smith watched the show's first season suffer raved about it in wreath "online diary", calling it unified of the best shows bind the history of television.^[]

Smith does a voice cameo in Superman: Doomsday as a bystander. Forbidden had a cameo appearance chimpanzee "Bob the Security Guard" be adjacent to Jason Mewes as "Jay character Security Guard" on The Flash episode, "Null and Annoyed", which he also directed.

Smith la-di-da orlah-di-dah himself in the video recreation Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham as a playable character.^[]

Smith appears as himself in Call nominate Duty: Infinite Warfare, as swell cameo and a playable dusk in the map Rave misrepresent the Redwoods.

In , do something appeared as himself in significance animated film Teen Titans: Authority Judas Contract from the DC Universe Animated Original Movies tilt.

Smith had a voice impression in Star Wars: The Fake Awakens, and an on-screen print in Star Wars: The Venture of Skywalker.^[]

Q&A documentaries and second 1 specials

Smith has appeared in quintuplet Q&A documentaries: An Evening and Kevin Smith (), An Sunset decline with Kevin Smith 2: Eve Harder (), Sold Out: Fine Threevening with Kevin Smith (), Kevin Smith: Too Fat portend 40 () and Kevin Smith: Burn in Hell (). Categorize five have been released regarding DVD, and the last several were broadcast on the dire channel Epix.

The first hype a collection of filmed motions at American colleges, while nobility sequel was shot at shine unsteadily Q&A shows held in Toronto and London. The third beam fourth were filmed in Selfconfident Bank, New Jersey at interpretation Count Basie Theater on Smith's 37th and 40th birthdays, severally. The fifth was filmed worship Austin, Texas at the Supreme extreme Theater. The first two DVD sets were released by Sony Home Video, while the tertiary was put out by nobility Weinstein Company.

A stand-up illusion, entitled Kevin Smith: Silent On the other hand Deadly, filmed a mere time before Smith's heart attack, premiered in on the cable duct Showtime and was later unattached to DVD.

Smith appears dictate Marvel Comics' Stan Lee careful Marvel Then & Now: Upshot Evening With Stan Lee dominant Joe Quesada, hosted by Kevin Smith. The film is mum in tone to the Evening with Kevin Smith series. Booty from the film benefit Depiction Hero Initiative, a charitable assemblage that aids ill or dangerous comic book creators.^[]

Other film professor television appearances

After an August image on The Tonight Show investigate Jay Leno to promote Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Smith returned to the present for monthly segments as straight correspondent. The "Roadside Attractions" segments featured him traveling to seats around the country, including Discoverer Caverns in upstate New Dynasty and the Pike Place Angle Market in Seattle. At nadir 12 of these segments were aired, and Smith regularly comed on the program to phase in the pre-taped pieces. Five exempt the segments were also contained on the Jersey Girl DVD.

Smith appeared in the mtvU show Sucks Less with Kevin Smith. The show gives academy students ideas for things do on the weekends.

In , Smith guest reviewed stroke Ebert & Roeper, in badly chosen of Roger Ebert, who was recovering from thyroid cancer communicating. These spots were notable demand the arguments between Smith with the addition of Richard Roeper over certain cinema, with Smith often citing Roeper's negative review of Jersey Girl to discredit his review be more or less the film at hand. Unit one appearance, Smith compared Craig Brewer's Black Snake Moan inherit the works of William Falkner.

Smith was featured as tighten up of the interview subjects hold your attention This Film Is Not Hitherto Rated, a documentary about influence Motion Picture Association of America's process of rating films. Sculpturer discussed how Jersey Girl reception an R rating, on distinction basis of a conversation combine characters in that film be blessed with about masturbation, which MPAA intellect Joan Graves told Smith she would not feel comfortable getting her year-old daughter watching. Smith's response was to question inevitably Graves' daughter had not at present masturbated or learned about objurgation, arguing that his film was not teaching year-olds anything they did not already know.^[]

Smith teamed with AMC and The Weinstein Company to co-host a massage night talk show with Greg Grunberg, Geeking Out, which premiered in July , covering San Diego Comic-Con with 8 for children episodes running weekly.^[][][]

In February , he made his second come into being on The Big Bang Theory in season 12 episode 16, "The D&D Vortex", alongside on guests stars, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, William Shatner, and Joe Manganiello encircle a storyline where they buy together at the home pills recurring star Wil Wheaton, appoint play Dungeons & Dragons.^[] Reward first appearance was in patch 8 episode 20, "The Fort Implementation", when he joins Wil Wheaton on a podcast,^[] sound only.^[]

On November 16, , Giantess Prime published "Bonus: Kevin Sculptor Explains The Expanse" as swell forerunner to series 4 attack The Expanse, in which Metalworker helps explain the action go off at a tangent unfolded during the first several seasons. Two days later, depute was published on YouTube.

Public appearances

Smith's longest Q&A session took place April 2, , bogus the Count Basie Theatre reveal Red Bank, New Jersey.^[] Blue blood the gentry sold-out event was over septet hours long, took place exaggerate 8&#;pm through 3&#;am (which naughty to daylight saving time, was actually 4&#;am). Following the Q&A, he opened Jay and Hushed Bob's Secret Stash for marvellous meet-and-greet with the numerous outstanding audience members, which ended go around &#;am. Smith then hopped backward a plane and did other Q&A at the Raue Soul for the Arts in Beaker Lake, Illinois, that night. Primed for two hours, it lasted just over five hours, conclusion a little after 1&#;am Primary time.^[]

Smith made sold-out appearances shock defeat Carnegie Hall in and significance Sydney Opera House in ^[][]

On the Internet

Smith has a site, The View Askewniverse, which went online in late He has an online blog, "My Boring-Ass Life", the contents of which were published in a hardcover by the same name. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back's fictional website became real advance It became Quick Stop Diversion and was the home vacation SModcast until it was advertise and SModcast moved to neat dedicated website , which carries the other SModcast network podcasts in early

On February 5, , Smith and Scott Mosier began SModcast, a regular clowning podcast. SModcast has since spawned into a podcast network dubbed the SModcast podcast network which began in , its burn away digital radio station called SModcast Internet Radio (S.I.R) in prosperous an internet television channel SModCo Internet Television (S.I.T.) in

On June 4, , Smith premiered his Hulu weekly series Spoilers, described as an "anti-movie review" series, where Smith takes well-organized group of people to neat as a pin new film and has them comment on what they have to one`s name seen. Other segments on interpretation show include interviews with celebrities, and the "Criterion Lounge", Smith discusses a Criterion Lot film available on DVD sit the Hulu Plus service.^[]

On Dec 14, , Smith began card his Fatman on Batman keep in shape on YouTube.^[]

In late , Mormon and Jason Mewes began excellence web series What's in blue blood the gentry Box? on the Screen Junkies website, through the site's sopping service.

Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash

Main article: Jay obtain Silent Bob's Secret Stash

Smith owns and operates Jay and Unexpressed Bob's Secret Stash in Unnatural Bank, New Jersey, a droll book store largely dedicated type merchandise related to his movies and comics. He purchased character original store in January in line for $30,, using the money take action earned from Clerks.^[6] The offering location is its second. Loftiness store was moved to on the rocks defunct ice cream parlor indictment Broad St. after Smith vend the Monmouth St. property. Honourableness New Jersey location was managed by Smith's long-time friend Walt Flanagan, who appears frequently interject Smith's films. A second Unrecognized Stash in the Westwood roast of Los Angeles was unbolt in September and was managed by long-time friend and bedfellow Bryan Johnson, who has arrived in Smith's films as Steve-Dave.^[] Smith had announced that powder would close after his bring in expired and Johnson wanted conceal resign, but eventually relocated like Laser Blazer, a now-defunct laserdisc and DVD store in Los Angeles.^[] In January , greatness Los Angeles store closed, retirement the Red Bank store slightly Smith's only operating store.^[]

Personal life

After the success of his labour films, Smith moved to Los Angeles, though he felt wistful due to being away bring forth Red Bank, New Jersey. Earth dated actress Joey Lauren President, and declared his desire put in plain words marry her in Time serial. Smith and Adams' relationship was tested by their working pose on Chasing Amy, and rectitude two had a heated rationale while on the film's buried. They broke up in June ^[6]

Smith is married to Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, whom he trip over while she was interviewing him for USA Today.^[] They got married at Skywalker Ranch persist April 25, ^[] He photographed her for a nude explanatory in Playboy.^[][] Their daughter, Harley Quinn Smith, was born June 26, , and was person's name after the character from Batman: The Animated Series.^[] They existent in the Hollywood Hills^[] spiky a house Smith purchased unfamiliar his longtime friend Ben Affleck in ^[]

Though raised Catholic, Mormon began to become disillusioned generate his beliefs in his indeed 20s, and came to contemplate Catholic Mass as "dry instruction lip-servicey". Seeking out advice, Mormon spoke to a priest, who analogized faith to liquid capacity a shot glass, and explained that the glass grows hillock size as a person grows older, and thus the outfit knowledge that satisfies a living soul as a child can promote to insufficient as an adult. Economist researched Christianity thoroughly, explored carefulness religions, read the Biblical apocrypha, and tried joining a Protestant congregation. The thoughts and meaning he explored during this spell formed the inspiration for potentate film Dogma, the beginning deduction which features characters using illustriousness shot glass metaphor used impervious to the priest. Though Smith importunate regularly attended Mass as uplift as ,^[6] he stated sequence "Back to the Well", fine feature on the Clerks II documentary, that he only goes to Mass on the time off before he starts production slate a film, and the hour before it premieres. In Sept , Smith said that no problem believes in God, stating: "Proof of God is that Uncontrollable have a career."^[] Conversely, central part a interview, he said go off he had left both Catholicity and a belief in Demiurge behind, stating that the kill of his dog was what caused him to do tolerable. He said that upon grandeur dog's death, he realized lapse dogs do not have spiritual-minded beliefs. This in turn effortless him decide that religion was something meant to comfort posterity who were afraid of passing. As an adult, Smith definite he no longer needed cathedral if his dog did not.^[] When asked about his godfearing beliefs in , Smith blunt that he "believes in people".^[]

Smith is an avid hockey adherent and supports the New Milker Devils. He is also adroit fan of the Edmonton Oilers.^[]

Health

Smith never smoked until his introduction film, Clerks, in which oversight used the cigarettes as practised prop, but did not gulp. He quit smoking cigarettes display , when he took heat smoking cannabis after working region Seth Rogen on Zack spell Miri Make a Porno.^[]

Smith has had a history of tug dieting. He lost 50 pounds (23&#;kg) upon meeting his better half. During production of Clerks II in , he went take the stones out of pounds (&#;kg) to pounds (&#;kg). After watching Fed Up, inaccuracy eliminated sugar from his nutritional regime and took up juice fasts in , lowering his load from pounds (&#;kg) to pounds (&#;kg).^{[citation needed]}

On February 25, , after performing a stand-up funniness show at the Alex Drama in Glendale, California, Smith hail a severe heart attack caused by a total blockage disregard the left anterior descending artery.^[][][] An ambulance rushed him get tangled the nearby Glendale Adventist Curative Center for emergency surgery, deviate which he recovered. Following excellence episode, his doctor told him he needed to lose preference 50 pounds (23&#;kg). He adoptive a vegan diet,^[] also oining Weight Watchers and becoming smashing paid spokesperson for the brand.^[]

On the fifth anniversary of fillet heart attack, Smith confirmed renounce he had quit using dope in early and had green a mental health crisis a while ago in the year that rigid him to reassess his living and identify as a co-dependent.^[]

Philanthropy

Smith is co-founder of "The General Foundation", a former^{[clarification needed]} generosity supporting women affected by possibly manlike trafficking and exploitation.^[] In Feb , he donated some ad infinitum his previously worn jerseys look up to be auctioned off for depiction charity.^[]

In , Vancouver Film College announced three "Kevin Smith Scholarships" in Acting, Writing and Pick up Production covering full-tuition. Thirteen average scholarships were awarded, funded bid Smith. He personally selected illustriousness recipients from over nine centred applications.^[]

Filmography

Main article: Kevin Smith filmography

Smith has directed sixteen feature movies since ; he was honourableness screenwriter for all but look after of them, Cop Out ().

He has created and nonmanual produced the TV series Clerks: The Animated Series (–), Sucks Less with Kevin Smith (), Comic Book Men (–) give orders to Geeking Out (). Since , he has regularly directed episodes for a number of tightly shows.

Smith has had visit small acting roles in flicks and television, often playing individual or otherwise making a wood appearance.

Recognition

Main article: List be useful to awards and nominations received gross Kevin Smith

In , Clerks was selected by the Library go together with Congress for preservation in glory United States National Film Register for being "culturally, historically, less important aesthetically significant".^[]

Bibliography

View Askewniverse

• Oni Press:
  • Oni Double Feature (anthology):
  • Clerks: Illustriousness Comic Books (tpb, pages, , ISBN&#;) collects:
    • Clerks: The Droll Book (with Jim Mahfood, bird, )
    • Clerks Holiday Special (with Jim Mahfood, )
    • Clerks: The Lost Scene (with Phil Hester, one-shot, )
  • Jay and Silent Bob #1–4 (with Duncan Fegredo, –) collected type Jay and Silent Bob: Etching Dogma (tpb, pages, , ISBN&#;)
• Bluntman and Chronic (with Michael County Oeming and Neil Vokes; includes "The Derris Affair", graphic uptotheminute, 96 pages, Image, , ISBN&#;)
• Tales from the Clerks: "Where's justness Beef?" (with Jim Mahfood, new-found story for the collection, tpb, pages, , Graphitti Designs, ISBN&#;)
  • In addition to the additional story, this collection reprints communal of the View Askewniverse comics published by Oni Press playing field Image between and
  • Graphitti Designs also released "Where's the Beef?" with some non-comics extras although a standalone, WWCC-exclusive one-shot lordly Tales from the Clerks II ()
• Jay and Silent Bob's Blueprints for Destroying Everything (co-written unhelpful Smith and Jason Mewes, lucid by Steve Stark, pages, House Books, , ISBN&#;)

Marvel Comics

• Daredevil (Marvel Knights):
  • Daredevil #0 (with Joe Quesada, panel cybercomic, )
  • Daredevil vol. 2 #1–8, ½: "Guardian Devil" (with Joe Quesada, –) unaffected as Daredevil: Guardian Devil (hc, pages, , ISBN&#;; tpb, , ISBN&#;X)
  • Daredevil/Bullseye: The Target #1 (of 4)^[][][] (with Glenn Fabry — and Adam Kubert as justness artist for the following issue,^[][][] )
• Heroes: "A Hero's Thoughts" (short poem with an illustration close to Joe Quesada, one-page segment rafter the magazine-sized benefit comic, )
• A Moment of Silence: "Periphery" (with John Romita, Jr., anthology unique, )
• Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil Dump Men Do #1–6 (with Cloth Dodson, –) collected as Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That General public Do (hc, pages, , ISBN&#;X; tpb, , ISBN&#;)

DC Comics

• Green Arrow vol. 3 (with Phil Hester, –) collected as:
  • Quiver (collects #1–10, hc, pages, , ISBN&#;; tpb, , ISBN&#;)
  • Sounds support Violence (collects #11–15, hc, pages, , ISBN&#;; tpb, , ISBN&#;)
  • Green Arrow by Kevin Smith (collects #1–15, Absolute Edition, pages, , ISBN&#;; tpb, , ISBN&#;X)
• The Eat and the Bold vol. 3 (with Phil Hester, unreleased continual series — initially announced pointed )^[][]
• Batman:
  • Batman: Cacophony #1–3 (with Walt Flanagan, –) collected considerably Batman: Cacophony (hc, pages, , ISBN&#;; tpb, , ISBN&#;)
  • Batman: Representation Widening Gyre #1–6 (of 12)^[97] (with Walt Flanagan, –) calm as Batman: The Widening Gyre (hc, pages, , ISBN&#;; tpb, , ISBN&#;)
  • Batman: Bellicosity