PublishedSchiffer Publishing, March 2023 |
ISBN9780764363931 |
FormatHardcover, 200 pages |
Dimensions21.6cm × 27.9cm |
This anthology of first-person stories by the American independent filmmaker Kevin Smith features fun and unseen visuals like on-set stills, candid personal photos, memorabilia, and international fan art. It's time to rejoice in the genius that is Kevin Smith!
This fun and photo-filled biography celebrates the life, films, and fans of the director responsible for such indie cult classics as Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Movie-industry veteran David Gati has compiled and edited a humorous and insightful look at Smith's nearly 30-year filmmaking journey. Through Smith's own funny, honest, and uncensored stories - taken from podcasts, Q&As, and documentaries - readers get to know him as a person, the struggles he's been through, and the people he's worked with, as well as his process for writing, directing, casting, shooting, editing, and showing his films to the public. The book is arranged chronologically, with each chapter exploring how an aspect of Kevin's life is reflected in one of his 14 films: . Clerks (1994): Consumerism . Mallrats (1996): Rebellion . Chasing Amy (1997): Building the Relationship . Dogma (1999): Secularism vs. Faith . Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001): Politics of Drugs . Jersey Girl (2004): Idealized Version of America . Clerks II (2006): Owning Your Own Destiny . Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008): Sex Education . Cop Out (2010): Celebrity . Red State (2011): Fanaticism . Tusk (2014): Creativity . Yoga Hosers (2016): Parental Love . Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019): Nostalgia . Clerks III (2022) Not to be overlooked is Smith's outsized fan base, who relate to the director's down-to-earth persona and his geeky, sometimes juvenile, often-nostalgic regular-person characters. Gati uses their fan art to add a visual facet to the book's colourful narrative gems. Rounding out this scrapbook presentation are on-set stills, candid personal photos, and memorabilia. The result is an exploration of how films affect and reflect the popular culture of their time, with a light-hearted analysis of the phenomenon of fandom. This unusual biography is not only a tribute to Smith but also a testimony to his amazing and loyal fans. It's a must-have collectible dedicated to a member of the pantheon of '90s independent filmmakers - which includes Quentin Tarantino, Allison Anders, Robert Rodriguez, Hal Hartley, and Spike Lee - whose relevance and popularity will only continue to grow. AUTHOR: David Gati studied film at UC Santa Cruz and earned an MA from Cal State Los Angeles in communication studies, specialising in film criticism. He works in the film industry and lives in Los Angeles. 140 colour images
