The following is a record of the conversation with Kevin Smith, John Pierson and Michael Moore on February 1, 1996.


Moderator:

Welcome to the auditorium. Michael Moore, director of the movie "Roger and Me", is also joining us with Kevin Smith and John Pierson.
Please submit questions and be sure to include your name and where you are from.




Q:

Michael, why did you make Roger and Me?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I didn't have anything better to do, I was pissed at General Motors
and I thought that somebody should have something to say about the
Reagan bush catastrophe.




Q:

Kevin, when will the 3rd movie in the New Jersey trilogy be out?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Third movie in the NJ Trilogy? Please - who would ever
give me cash after "Mallrats"?




Q:

Matt, Matt, & George- Webster, NY

Hey Kevin, We were wondering your plans for your future movies. Also, would there be a place where we could order a "Clerks" hat from? (The one that was in Mallrats). We currently have a cable access tv show and are currently making several motion pic tures....would you have any advice to give to us?
-Thanks.

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Regarding the hat - if you send me about forty bucks or
something, I'll send you that hat. And if you act now,
I'll throw in the 'Rats' version of John Pierson's '\
'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes' - as (little) seen in
the movie.




Q:

Chris @ University of Maryland..
Kevin, if I can call you that...
I am a HUMONGOUS fan of your films,
thanks so much for the great work!
Anyways, Two things... "Clerks" has many qualities of
a neo-realist film, long takes, not many professional actors
true-to-life characters, did you intend this? Who is your
favorite film-maker? Who inspired you, and finally what advice do
you have to young film makers like myself who are trying to make it?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

For all neo-realism action, read John Pierson's
'Spike, Mike, Slackers, amnd Dykes.'




Q:

SM,Brooklyn- is 16mm/super 16mm still a feasible way to get distibution( with a blow-up)? Was CLERKS framed for 1.66:1?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

From John Pierson - "You can get into any of the major
domestic festivals in 16mm format. And they do a good
job of presenting work that way. Super 16 requires a blow-up."
So sayeth John.




Q:

Kevin, how old are you and how has your life changed since the success of Clerks and Mallrats?
Ladyred....Boston

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Twenty five, and not that much. But now I get queries
on the net from you, Ladyred, and that makes all the
difference.




Q:

Wow. Buy 2 get one free. How does an independent film maker get their
start in "the industry" today? How many films do you have to make before
you're an overnight success?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "By making an original work... 7um that hasn't been
seen before but not so far out that you're the only one
that wants to see it. Then, it's festivals, festivals,
festivals. And only then, can you be an overnight success."




Q:

Hey Michael Moore, Glad to see you here in the big apple ....
saw you on tv the other nite - some cable talk show - rerun -
Really liked your opinions on a range of issues - whats next?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I'm taking some time off to tour with the Ice Capades.
I'll be skating to a special dance number entitled, "Spike, Mike, Sla
Mike, Slackers and Dykes." TAnya HArding will be joining me
in that routine.




Q:

Kevin, I think wer're all curious, what will Chasing Amy be about?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

About ninety minutes long, if Harvey Weinstein gets
his say. And something in there about a guy who falls
in love with a lesbian.




Q:

anne from boston> Good evening gents. Do you find it hard to find funding for
your independent projects?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "I have a first look deal with Miramax, so the
funding for low budget 'Grainy Pictures' comes from
Disney."




Q:

Michael, are you thinking of making another movie similar to the style of Roger and Me that about any opther companies or issues that get to you or piss you off? Lynne, Alaska

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:


i'm writing another fiction film right now. The glove didn't fit.




Q:

To Mr.Moore,
I was crushed to find out that TVNATION
was cancelled. I was a big fan of Roger and ME, and
eventually of your show. Any plans for another
series?

Hannah

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

How long is eventually? TV NATION or something similar will be back
on the air this year, either on Fox, HBO or the Food Channel.




Q:

John, how did you come to be involved in the film business?

Derek Miner
University of Central Florida

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "I answered an ad in the NY Times six months after
getting out of NYU film school, when I realized I wouldn't
be making my own films." Read more about it in John's tome
'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes'.




Q:

Kevin, are you disappointed at the performance of "Mallrats" and does
that mean we won't get a really special laserdisc edition with all the
extras?

Derek Miner
University of Central Florida

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

See, what people don't understand is that we were trying
to undergross 'Clerks' with 'Mallrats'. That was the
plan. I swear. About the laserdisc - I'm trying to
get MCA Video to let us fatten up the 39.95 disc. You
can help - flood their e-mail or whatever with requests,
and I promise, those corporate cowards will cater to you.




Q:

John, How did the quality of this year's Sundance compare with previous years
Scott Petersen Chicago, IL

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "The snow was more powdery, some of the key films
showed a lot more emotion, but there were some great ones
that went way out on a limb - like the best ones always do.
But ask me about it when I'm in Chicago - specifically
Barnes and Noble Evanston, near the Northwestern campus,
on February 13th."




Q:

Michael,
Before I moved to L.A. my friend prepared
me for the experience by likening Hollywood to
to Flint. He said that it was a company town, and
that if you weren't into the "industry" you
were lost... What's your take on that analogy.
I thought it was right on...

H.F. from LA


Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I like L.A. If you were from Flint, you would too.




Q:

A question for all three, if possible... If there was one film each
of you wish you were involved in, would it be?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "Michael will probably want to kill me, but I'd say
Metropolitan."

Kevin - "All three 'Batman' flicks. Just for a little
taste of the merchandising. Or something arty like
'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (Just kidding)."

Mike -- "John is lying in a pool of blood and the building is surrounded
I would have like to have been involved in Roger & Me
but every time the crew would go to shoot a
scene, they would forget to wake me up. My favorite films o
1995: Lamerica, Les Miserables, Priest, Clueless.




Q:

Kevin, my name is Jeff Renzi, I have a Clerks web page (http://www.conxtion.com/admin/Jeff_Renzi/Movies/Clerks/Clerks.html) and I get loads of mail asking about the film. My favorite: Was there another ending of clerks where dante is blown away in a robbery?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Jeff, thanks for the homepage. If I ever learn to negotiate
the Web, I'm going to find it. As for the ending - yes, Dante
got shot. It's at the end of the 'Clerks' laserdisc, and
you can read all about how and why it got cut in 'Spike,
Mike, Slackers, and Dykes', John Pierson's new book that
details anything and everything indie (film) from the last
ten years. Do I sound like a pitchman? That's because I am.
I'm a booster.




Q:

Kevin, I am a big fan of the kind of "continuity" you have said you
will be bringing to your films. Other than the hints in your book
version of "Mallrats," any comments on what we may see in "Chasing Amy"?
(P.S. The chapter in Tricia's book on Randall was worth the price of
the book alone!)

Derek Miner
University of Central Florida

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

'Amy' will be a big departure from both 'Clerks' and 'Rats',
in as much as it deals with more serious topics. Is it
still funny? Yes. What does it have in common with the
other two? Jay, Silent Bob, and Alyssa Jones - sister of
Tricia (the book writer from 'Rats) and Heather (the chick
that left with the Trainer in 'Clerks').




Q:

Kevin, do you make an effort to continue learning about films and making films? Or do you basically learn through trial and error?
ladyred

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Ladyred, anything and everything I learned about film
and the rest of that media stuff, I learned in John Pierson's
book - 'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes'. Beyond that -
just what 'errors' are you referring to?




Q:

Kevin, I just wanted to say that I loved Clerks and it's my favorite
movie! I was wondering have the careers of the actors in Clerks taken
off due to it's success?
dondo, Pennslyvainia

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Brian - who played Dante - was in 'Mallrats', as was Jason
'Jay' Mewes. Me and my producer Scott got the biggest career
boosts from the movie, to be honest with you, because it's
such an auteur driven field. Not like I'm an auteur or
anything, but they seemed to think so.




Q:

Kevin: As we would all like to know. how did you come up with the idea for Jay and Silent Bob?
--Ming Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

It started with the character of Jason Mewes, a friend of
mine from Highlands. He's like a sonic boom with dirt on
it. And it was always my feeling that - if I ever rose
to a position where I could exploit his natural talent -
I would. So based on that, when I thought about 'Jay', I
knew he'd need an antithesis - someone who did the opposite
of what he did: talk. Hence, Silent Bob.




Q:

Do you guys REALLY LIKE that book or something??? Man talk about something else!


-Bryan Ault, Rochester, N.Y.

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Bryan - maybe I've said a bit too much about John Pierson's
'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes'. But I can't tell you
what an informative piece of work it is. Really. But enough
about the book....
Except that it got this huge review in the NY Times that runs
this weekend. Check it out.




Q:

Michael, how does dealing with Fox compare with the corporations that you make fun of?
Scott Petersen Chicago, IL

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Same ol' same ol'...

Fox is very different from NBC. For more on this, check out "Spike, Mike
Slackers and Dykes" the sequel.




Q:

Kevin, why did you decide to cut the original ending of Clerks?

Chris, in Maryland, at the school there

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Because John Pierson - author of 'Spike, Mike, Slackers,
and Dykes' told me it'd be a good idea. Read all about it
in the chapter 'The Odd Couple', pg. 279. And read our
cool dialogues inbetween the chapters, where we dish on
Qunetin and Robert Rodriguez.




Q:

John, what's Terry Zwigoff up to these days?
Scott Chicago

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "He may make a doc about Woody Allen on a music tour
in Europe. Jean Doumanian called the other day to ask me
what the sales value of a doc like that would be in foreign
territories. So maybe they haven't decided to fork over
the money yet."




Q:

Kevin: Are you still planning to make Dogma? And if you are, could you be more specific about the plot?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Dogma is coming - that much I can promise you. ANd it'll
be big. Big, big, bigger than big, in terms of look and
scale. But that's not till July (when we start pre-production).
First, we have to knock out 'Chasing AMy' for the low, low
price of $250,000.00 - something you won't be able to read
about in 'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes', because it
hasn't happened yet. But if it has happened in the world of
indie film, it's in that book.
About the plot - Jay and Silent Bob join forces with a fallen
apostle, a muse, and the scion of Christ to save the world
from two renegade but harmless angels. I swear.




Q:

Kevin,

What was it like to work with Shannon Dougherty?

Jack from BYU

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Working with SHannen was a pure joy. SHe's really sweet.
Are you out there, SHannen? Did you read that?




Q:

Dave, Hartford - Kevin, which movie did you personally like better, Mallrats or Clerks?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I like Clerks and Mallrats, better than Clerks and Mallrats.




Q:

Dear Kevin,

If you had an unlimited budget, what movie would you make?

-M. Holota, Rochester, N.Y.

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I'd do Dogma for ten million. That's it. I don't ask for
much. But for half a mill more, I wouldn't mind re-making 'Lawrence
of Arabia' with a few more desert sequences.




Q:

Kavin how come Jay isn't with silent Bob in the movie poster of Clerks?

Chris
University of Maryland

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Such a good question. The good folks at Miramax didn't think
Jay had commercial appeal - They thought he'd scare America
more than entice them into the theatres. Good eye. And if
you look at the 'Rats' poster, Jay's there, but his name
isn't in the credit block. Vice versa for the 'Clerks'
poster.




Q:

Kevin: Are you aware of the large cult following you have on the Internet?

Ming
University of Michigan

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

No. Please tell me again.




Q:

Kevin, any interest in making an official Clerks Web Page? You could market Clerks merchandise and the book.
Also, do you have a public email address? People constantly want to get into contact with you.
Jeff Renzi

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I'd love it, but would it damage my cult icon rep? We don't
have an E-mail address as of yet, but you're welcome to fax
us at (908) 842 - 3772.




Q:

Kevin and John, do you still keep in contact with the Go Fishies?
Scott Petersen Chicago, IL

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "Guin (Turner) was just at the Barnes and Noble
signing in NYC two hours ago. Rose is reportedly 'circling
the book warily'."




Q:

Kevin, would you ever do a television show, like the "Turnaround" guys?
Scott Chicago

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I would never do a show like the 'Turnaround' guys; I'd make
mine funny.

As for 'Clerks' the sitcom - they did make one, and it
wasn't that good. So now we're in talks about doing
'Clerks - The Animated Series'. Seriously.




Q:

Kevin--

Silent Bob is my role model. Am I, therefore, modelling my life after
you?

Nate at Columbia

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

No. I am so unlike Silent Bob. I can only stand Jason for
a few minutes at a time. And I never, ever, ever, do drugs.
Okay, once. But that's it. ANd I don't deal. Unless I
make a movie that flops.

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:




Q:

Kevin: do you still maintain a relationship with the owners of the Quick Stop and did you ever stop and pay them back for letting you film there?

Ming, Ann Arbor, Michigan
http://www.us.itd.umich.edu/~mingchen/clerks/

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

I still know and love the Thapar's, and yes - I paid them
for the use of the store. And for all the food we ate and
never really 'officially' wrote down while shooting the
flick.




Q:

Kevin, if Jay and Silent Bob ever got into a fight, who would win?
Scott Chicago

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Scott - man,how much free time do you have?

If Jay and SIlent Bob fought, both would fall asleep before
the fight ended.

As for the note to my ex's mother. Nah. Well, maybe.




Q:

Kevin, We all know Dante was a hockey nut, but do you have any other
personal athletic interests?
dondo, Pa

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Man, hockey's my limit. Sometimes I'll walk downstairs
for a bgel and cocoa, but that's the extent of the pyhsical
activity.




Q:

Kevin, Rick Derris, Fact or Fiction?

Chris , in Mary-land-university of that is...

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Fiction. But don't we all have a Rick Derris in one form
or another in our lives.




Q:

Kevin and Mike, have either of you been on Letterman?
Scott Chicago

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Kevin - no.

Mike - yes, and it's fully detailed in John Pierson's
'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes.'




Q:

Kevin,

Can you get whoever distributes Clerks to lower the price of the VHS tape because i'd like to get a copy but it's too damn expensive!
Don't make me bootleg!
-Matt Giardina, Webster, N.Y.

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

The price of the tape should drop soon. My suggestion -
steal one from 'Blockbustr'.




Q:

Kevin-

How did you get the bands to do the soundtrack to "Clerks"? The Bad Religion song kicked ass!
Is there any particular reason why Girls Against Boys were on the soundtracks on both "Clerks" and "Mallrats"?

-Matt Holota Rochester, N.Y.

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Girls Against Boys was just a strange coincidence...
but then again, so were alot of the things Oliver Stone
pointed out in 'JFK'.




Q:

What was it like making the 'Can't even Tell' video with Soul Asylum?

Ming, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Funn. Dave and the boys were a good bunch of guys.




Q:

Any chance of seeing a book on 'Clerks' like the 'Mallrats' book, with
the script and other anecdotes?

Derek - UCF

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Hyperion/Miramax - who publish 'Spike, Mike, Slackers, and
Dykes' are going to release the screenplays to both 'Clerks'
and 'Chasing AMy' sometime in the next year, with text about
both flicks and cool pictures too.




Q:

Kevin and John, Besides the soundtrack for Clerks are there any other
forms of merchandising, like shirts,hats, etc? And is that book avalible
everywhere or in certain areas?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

John - "You can find 'Spike, Mike, etc' anywhere but the
Fiji islands. For 'Clerks' merchandise, call up and bug
Miramax, or wait for the View Askew Web site (our production
company) coming soon.




Q:

Is there really a Palson's Funeral Parlor, and have you personally had any casket tipping experiences?

Ming, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

No Palson's, but there is a Posten's. Have I ever tipped
a casket? No.




Q:

Kevin, Is it true that you originally wrote the part of Randel in Clerks
for yourself? If so why then did you play Silent Bob?
dondo Pottsville, Pa

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Silent Bob's lines were just easier to memorize.


Moderator:

Thanks for joining us tonight! This was great. And thanks for stopping by Michael!


Moderator:

Any last words guys?

Kevin Smith and John Pierson:

Kev's final message (well, not final forever - just for
tonight) - I'd like to send all my love out to my sweetie -
Joey Adams (she's a girl), and urge anyone who knows anything
about 'Clerks' anything on the Web to fax us at View Askew
(908) 842 - 3772. Bonus stuff for anyone that can tell us
something we don't know (and believe me, that's a lot).
AAnd we've made some jokes about it tonight, but in all
honesty, John Pierson's book is excellent, and well-worth
a read if you like 'Clerks' or other indie flicks like
'She's Gotta Have it', Richard Linklater's 'Slacker', Mike
Moore's 'Roger and Me', and a host of others. 'Spike, Mike
Slackers, and Dykes' is on sale everywhere. Buy it, and if
you hate it, I'll give you your money back...
Well, not really. But maybe I'll send you a poster or
something. Good night, and thanks for hanging out.


Moderator:

The Loci Auditorium is now closed.