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NOTICE
Question Answer
with director Kevin Smith
Since writing, directing and producing the 1994 cult classic Clerks, Kevin Smith has become one of the biggest names in comedic filmmaking. Smith's newest film, Zach and Miri Make a Porno, hit theaters last Friday. Joyplay recently had the opportunity to chat with Smith as part of his conference call with other student journalists around the country.
Among Kevin Smith's directing credits are 1999's "Dogma" and 2001's "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back."
Contributed photo
Q. You've had a lot of difficulties with the marketing for Zach and Miri Make a Porno. What's the big deal with the word "porno?"
A. I knew when we titled the movie Zach and Miri Make a Porno that it was going to turn some people off. I assumed that the people who would be turned off by that title were never going to see the movie in the first place, so I didn't think it would be a big deal. But suddenly cities have been popping up that won't allow us to put a billboard up. Like Philadelphia wouldn't allow us to put up any billboard that had the word "porno" on it. I was flabbergasted, because I felt like we had used the cutest word possible to describe that industry. I understand people who wouldn't be into pornography, but you can't object to the term. How else are we supposed to describe it?
Q. Do you think this movie will change views of pornography?
A. I think most people will take this movie for what it is. I don't think they'll look at it like."Hey, man, suddenly this is changing everything I've ever felt about the porn industry." I'm not looking to convert people. I'm just looking to entertain them with this one story. There are a bunch of people out there that find it offensive, and I get that. And there are a bunch of people—mostly dudes—who see it as an essential part of their day. I don't think the movie will affect that.
Q. How did growing up in New Jersey affect your filmmaking?
A. I think the area in New Jersey where I grew up affected the dialogue I write, where it's kind of candid dialogue with a lot of vulgarity, because that's just my circle of friends. I imagine if I grew up anywhere else it wouldn't be that much different, although having the friends I have has certainly influenced me as a filmmaker as far as the stories I like to tell.
But you grow up in New Jersey and you're kind of always growing up in the shadow of New York, and you're the butt of a lot of jokes. There's still that necessity to prove yourself to people, so I think we tend to try harder. Growing up in Jersey is like growing up fat. You just tend to try harder.
Q. You've always been known as a talented writer, but how do you feel your directing skills and the look of your movies have improved over the years?
A. Only recently has that stuff started to improve because I've started putting some thought into it. I'm not a born filmmaker, where it's in my genes. I don't live, breath and eat film. But I do like to write. When I made Clerks, it was more about writing the script and directing actors. I never really thought of the look of the film. And then when
the reviews for the movie came in, people would write wonderful things about it, but invariably every review would say, "Well, it looks like shit, but man is it fun." So I kind of took that, idiotically, as a pass to never try to improve my visual game, because I'm like, "As long as people are laughing, nobody gives a shit what it looks like." It was only on *Clerks 2* that I really started trying. I think that movie is the first one that I look at and go, "Oh, that is actually a visually interesting film."
Q. What are you doing now that Zach and Miri is finished?
A. Hopefully in the spring I'm going to do a flick called Red State. It's a little political horror movie. I'm looking forward to it because I don't really feel like a filmmaker most days. I just feel like a guy who directs the stuff that he happens to write. With Red State, I get to switch genres altogether. There
are no laughs in the movie whatsoever. I feel like if I can pull this one off, I might feel more like a filmmaker; if not, I'll just be like, "Okay, I get it. I'm a dick-and-fart joke guy, and I should just do that for the rest of my life."
Q. What advice would you give young filmmakers trying to break into the business?
A. I'd just say everybody should tell the exact story they want to tell, never mind the influence of people telling you how to change it or make it more marketable. At the end of the day, you've got to live with that movie for the rest of your life. That's your flick. If you start subverting what you set out to do, then it stops being yours. Stick with your voice, because nobody else has your voice, so nobody else can do what it is that you want to do.
—Sean Rosner
THIS WEEKEND: Teapouro Tea Shop
Open since May, the tea shop Teapourou is one of the latest additions to downtown's string of homey small businesses. Located in the former Fields Gallery space at 712 Massachusetts St.,Teapourou offers a friendly, inviting environment for both first-time tea drinkers and tea aficionados alike. The rustic brick interior melds effortlessly with the shop's deep orange walls, while bonsai trees, ceramic pots and assorted plants add an organic touch.
The massive, 120 loose-leaf tea selection is divided into three areas around the shop. Sencha green
teas, black, herbal, white and even rooibos teas (red-leaf teas from Africa) are kept in tightly sealed jars, each with a palm-sized display jar for customers to capture the scent and feel the texture of the tea leaves before committing to a cup. Each tea at Teapouro is personally handpicked, and has undergone multiple tastings by the Teapouro managers. They continue to add more teas based on what customers request, so if you don't see your tea, just ask.
If you don't have a clue what to try, the knowledgeable baristas are ready to aid you in your
search, and you'll walk away feeling a little more keen on the tea scene. The prices are reasonable for everything offered, including bubble tea, coffee, espresso and assorted pastries. The tea itself comes in servings of one- two- or four-cup pots. Grab a few friends, split a four-cup pot, and take a seat on the floor cushions near the front of the shop.
In a town stocked full of specialty cafes, it's comforting to know there's a place among them for tea lovers.
—Derek Zarda
Photo by Derek Zarda
Photo by Derek Zarda Teapouro, 712 Massachusetts St. offers 120 varieties of tea. Customers can smell samples of each tea before choosing which one they want to order.
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November 6,2008