Super stuff from Silent Bob.
Like so many directors and screenwriters, Harvey Weinstein was instrumental in launching the career of Kevin Smith. In fact, there’s a bonus feature on the Clerks anniversary DVD that details just how influential the film producer was in Smith’s career.
After a screening of Clerks at the Sundance Film Festival, Weinstein burst out laughing after one particular scene and the rest is history. He bought Clerks, launched Smith’s career and the pair would later make Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jersey Girl, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back and other films at Miramax.
In the wake of the recent sexual misconduct allegations leveled at the disgraced producer, Smith has decided to donate all of his future residuals from Weinstein-connected projects to Women In Film, a non-profit organisation that advocates for progress and gender equality in the industry.
Speaking on the latest episode of his podcast, Hollywood Babble-On, the director of Red State said: “My entire career is tied up with the man. It’s been a weird fucking week. I just wanted to make some fucking movies, that’s it. That’s why I came, that’s why I made Clerks. And no fucking movie is worth all this. Like, my entire career, fuck it, take it. It’s wrapped up in something really fucking horrible.”
Smith added: “I had a dream and I made it, and I presented it to somebody, and they didn’t make me do something fucking horrible. So I feel like there are so many people that we know of now, and maybe even more, that were made to do horrible things to make their dreams come true and maybe didn’t even get to touch the dreams; this fucking dude chased them away.”
Regarding the decision to donate any future earnings from Weinstein-made films to Women In Film, Smith said that he will give $2,000 per month to the organisation for the rest of his life.
“That feels like a start. Hopefully, that goes to people that get to make shit without having to deal with some fucking animal saying, ‘Here’s the price.’”
