Posted by Placenta Jones at dpsnet.detpub.k12.mi.us on November 18, 1999 at 11:27:31:
In Reply to: Getting annoyed with Kevin posted by Lunch Box on November 18, 1999 at 10:57:59:
OK, let me try and explain something about the film industry...
In Hollywood, like in most street gangs, there is a little something called "street cred". It's your rep. It's the way people know that you are down, that you're one successful bitch. Once a director has a hit film, they've immediately got their own tiny piece of street cred.
"What? Is he any good? Man, he directed _______! The best ______ movie of last year!"
A person can live their whole life on that one sliver of street cred (for an example of this, see Terrence Malick.)
The problem with street cred is that there is a dark side when it comes to credibility. If you make a movie that the general public viewed as negative (like, I'm sorry, but most of America did with Mallrats), then you want to distance yourself from it.
You never hear Paul Verhoven addressed as "the director of Showgirls" or Joel Shumacher as "the director of Batman and Robin" and I'm sure those two piece of shit films have their followings. Even the makers of "Godzilla" will try to distance themselves from that film because of its poor reception by the public and it actually made a profit!
If you're trying to convince people that "Dogma" is a good movie that should be popular with audiences, it makes sense to bring up other good and popular movies that are associated with Kevin Smith (i.e. Clerks and Amy). BUT if you bring up Mallrats (a cult favorite that audiences didn't flock to), you immediately acknowledge that there may be some doubt about the quality of the new project. I mean, it could be the next Chasing Amy, but it also could be the next Mallrats.
I love 'Rats and I think it's great that we recognize it and Kevin discusses it with us, but dude, can't you understand why Kev wouldn't want to flaunt his one failure in Hollywood? He wants to convince the world that he produces quality stuff and the memory of Mallrats' poor public showing automatically makes his job a little bit harder.
I mean, I love the Brodieman, but I can see why he does it.
But hey, that's just me talking out my ass again.
PJ