By T. Carter Ross
RADIO WORLD
Kevin Smith brought a distinctly “non-D.C.” feel to the 2011 NAB Show.
The director of “Clerks,” “Chasing Amy,” and “Cop Out,” kept a full room of attendees laughing during the Wednesday morning session “A Conversation With Kevin Smith.”
Sponsored by Avid, the conversation was hosted by Matt Feury, producer of Avid’s “The Rough Cut” podcast.
In addition to discussing his new film, “Red State,” Smith talked about his creative process and how he’s grown as a filmmaker since his 1994 breakthrough film, “Clerks.” Over the years, Smith said, he has done all he can as an artist, and that is why his next film, “Hit Somebody,” will be his last.
When an audience member encouraged Smith to continue making films, Smith replied that to do so wouldn’t be true to his art, that he’s done all he can with the medium and that it is time to look to new endeavors.
Speaking of his future plans, Smith said he plans to expand his SModcast podcast to something resembling a radio station, with a daily morning podcast featuring Smith and his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, and a second daily podcast featuring Smith and his long-time collaborator Jason Mewes.
During the session, Smith showed a clip from “Red State” and talked about it was such a different film for him. Smith said he consciously tried to make it not like a “Kevin Smith film,” by easing back on the level of control he traditional exercised over his films.
As a director, Smith said, it was his job to help everyone else on the set make the movie they envisioned ... and, since he acts as his own editor, if he doesn’t like how it turns out he can just cut it.
Based on his own experiences, Smith encouraged all directors to be their own editors. And, in response to criticisms that he was killing jobs for film editors, he also encouraged all editors to be directors.
Smith ended the discussion with a story about how important it is to put aside self-doubt and to not worry about negativity from critics. There is always going to be someone who hates what you do, he said, so don’t worry about that. Be true to yourself.