Throughout time, there have been a bevy of storytellers that have entertained us, over and over. Films have been produced, awards won, and fans the world over have been given the gift of laughter, escape, and new perspectives. For me, besides Mel Brooks, one of the most influential masterminds of film that impacted my life is the one and only Kevin Smith.

The View Askewniverse

While it may be old news to some, it’s still fun to talk about the View Askewniverse and how it created more of a complex feel and wasn’t all gratuitous foul language. Smith knows what he is doing and he created layers within his story that may not be picked up while focused on the main plot in his films.

Clerks. Mallrats. Chasing Amy. Each movie within the “Jersey Trilogy” had its place, interwoven within events and characters that affected characters in different ways, driving their actions within their own individual storylines. We became invested and familiar with them, almost forgetting that they were fictional characters. Fictional characters.

My journey with Kevin Smith’s movies began when I found myself in a group of eighth grade teens who decided to venture into a skewed afternoon viewing Mallrats. I was never privy to R-rated films at the time, but in the long run, the profanity actually made me a more creative and effective communicator. So, thank you, sir. His tenacity is also something that has inspired me to pursue my own dreams as a youngster, but I’ll get into that later.

Tell ‘Em, Steve-Dave!

After the screwball comedy, I was hooked. I watched that movie over and over, thoroughly amused by Jay and Silent Bob’s Wile E. Coyote-esque quest in destroying the game show that was being filmed at the mall. The Easter bunny beatdown was a nice touch. I went back and watched Clerks and subsequently Chasing Amy.

Each movie had its appeal. Clerks had all of the grit and determination that a small film with a $27,575 budget and hungry artists had to give. It paid off big time and spurred Smith to continue his story. His need for super-eloquent, wordy dialogue was very apparent in his early work. That showed the effort he put into his craft. It felt like a stage play on film, but there’s nothing wrong with that. There is no other way that movie could have been done and have been as iconic as it was.

Chasing Amy had its moments with some laughs, but it was more a tragic love story than anything else. Dogma was the fantasy picture, also rooted in the View Askewniverse, though the other films weren’t dependent upon its plot to justify or connect to other elements found in other films in the series. Finally, the scene-stealing slackers get their own arc in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, with plenty of overt references to the preceding installments found in the campy farce. It was a great closer at the time. Of course, we know that wasn’t the end. 12 years later, Clerks 2 hit theaters, continuing the story of Dante and Randall. Smith also wrapped production on his spoof of the “reboot wave” with the forthcoming Jay & Silent Bob Reboot.

The Sign On The Back Of The Car…

It would be bereft if I talked about Kevin Smith without mentioning his recurring role as the sage Silent Bob. Silent Bob is the embodiment of Smith’s storytelling, the character within the writer whose actions speak louder than words. It’s genius that the guy who wrote the films created a character that says very little, and lets the script do the talking, speaking only to deliver the lines that mark the turning point – except for that one time his game of Charades wasn’t coming across to his hetero-lifemate in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back.

Kevin Smith: The Road To Reboot

Smith has always kept himself busy, even when he’s not making feature films. Outside of the View Askewniverse, he wrote and directed films. He performs live in front of audiences, as well. On one particular evening, Smith experienced a health crisis that nearly closed the curtain. On February 26, 2018, he tweeted a photo from his hospital bed after suffering a massive heart attack that would have been fatal if it not had been for the fact that he canceled a second show he was due to perform.

Luckily, he beat the odds and survived. A year later, with that same spirit of the underdog, production commenced on Jay & Silent Bob Reboot.

Whether you like Kevin Smith films or not, it is undeniable that his spirit is one of strength and drive. From the very beginning through the present, whether he had box office success, or not, his infectious enthusiasm never waned. In fact, it seems that he is as motivated as ever, and that motivates me. I’m no director, but the principles Kevin Smith lives by are by no means isolated to show business. Off-screen, his gratitude for life and attitude and approach to life are empowering. He believes in himself and what his passion is. He gives hope to people from all walks of life and creators with their own stories to tell, in whatever way illuminates the gifts they were given to communicate those stories.

With Reboot looming, let us all be reminded that when it seems that our dreams won’t come true, patience and longevity will prevail. Keep going.

Artwork for featured image by D. S. Bradford