Posted by Buddomonn at 1cust26.tnt1.rockingham.nc.da.uu.net on July 10, 2001 at 11:28:12:
Kevin,
A couple of weeks ago I worked as a Youth Counselor at a week-long Christian summer camp, and two of the staff came over to me and said, "You remind me of someone...a celebrity, but who?" They studied my eyes, glasses, and beard for a while, and then they went, "Oh, yeah! That guy who directed DOGMA! Kevin Smith!" They went on to describe DOGMA to me, and they told me it was a great film, a real must-see. Their reaction surprised me, to be honest, because I'm aware of how some of the religious right have responded to it...(I try to be more open-minded than most, even though -- if you were to label me -- I would probably admit to being evangelical and conservative, when it comes to my religious leanings)
For years now I have read about you and your career, and I've always thought there was a physical similarity between the two of us, but the comments made to me at the camp really tickled me. At that point I hadn't seen DOGMA yet but, like I said, I was aware of it. I went out and rented three of your movies when I got home from camp, and my wife and I watched them in succession (the video store didn't have "CLERKS," which I could have bought in Kentucky for $3 one time, but didn't...and, as stupid as it sounds, I will always regret that). We saw MALLRATS, CHASING AMY, and DOGMA. Personally, I liked MALLRATS best (the only reason I hadn't seen any of your flicks before is due to the fact that I was in seminary, and otherwise committed to something else, when most of them came out and I didn't have the time or money to see them on the big screen. I knew about them, though, and was glad to get the chance to finally view them -- I especially love all your references to comic characters, and pop culture).
I'm a little older than you are. I'm 35. My background is not similar to yours (I'm a Minister, and I was brought up protestant -- as if that counts for anything -- and I'm Southern; born and bred), but we have common interests: Comics, movies, pop culture. We're both married, and we both have baby daughters (mine's 2-and-a-half, and she's the spittin' image of her mother; she looked like me when she was first born, but her genes began to betray me as she grew older).
The main difference between you and me, though, is that you're directing movies, and I'm wishin' I was...directing has been a lifelong desire for me, but my life has taken a different turn than yours. Because of everything that's going on with me, it is highly unlikely that I will ever be able to direct, as you are doing. I respect that you're making statements with your films (even when I don't necessarily agree with them), and I admire that you were able to follow your dream. I'm following mine, to a degree, but you can only say so much from behind the pulpit.
Don't really have much more to say. Just thought it was funny that someone other than me noticed that we looked alike. Can you imagine Silent Bob as a minister? Well, I guess you can. You've already imagined him as a prophet. Take care. My best to your wife and child. BUDDO <