Marco Castaneda is a graduate student at the California State University, Los Angeles. He is currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Television, Film, and Theatre, and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2023. He has a strong passion for creating stories as well as reading them. Marco believes that art helps people to give a unique perspective of our lives and the lives of others. He is also currently a substitute teacher for K-12th grade and hopes to teach students how to use their creativity through all aspects and subjects of their lives and not to be afraid of using their talents.
Sep 26, 2022
Table of Contents
Photo: ‘Clerks III’
His Debut Film and the ‘Clerks Saga’
Kevin Smith has always been a filmmaker who utilizes crude humor in his films. It is very recognizable that he will always have blunt characters who will speak their minds vulgarly about sex and will always mention a Steven Spielbergmovie or make Star Wars references. From time to time, a character can smoke way too much marijuana and would argue about the current situation that they got themselves in. Most of them even had the occasional appearances of both stoner characters Jay and Silent Bob. It all began with ‘Clerks,’ which came out in 1994, released by Miramax Films.
The first film concentrated on the protagonist Dante Hicks, who was supposed to have his day off from working in Quick Stop, a convenience store in Leonardo, New Jersey. However, he was assigned by his boss to work because an employee failed to show up. During the day, he encounters rude and odd customers, including two quirky drug dealers (Jay and Silent Bob). The clerk also earns occasional visits from his caring girlfriend Veronica, and encounters his ex-girlfriend, Kaitlin. Randall Graves (played by Jeff Anderson) who works in a video store, which is next to the Quick Stop also comes by to check in on our clerk.
In the 2000s, there was a ‘Clerks: The Animated Series.’ However, the show was canceled after releasing six episodes after failing to acquire a big enough fan base. However, it did well on DVD sales and became a cult favorite by the Smith fans.
In 2006, the second film ‘Clerks II’ was released by the Weinstein Company. Since the Quick Stop was accidentally burned by Randall, this one deals with the two fresh main characters unhappily working in a burger restaurant called Mooby’s. Over one day, Dante realizes how much he loves his best friend and coworker Becky (played by Rosario Dawson) more than his own fiancée (played by Kevin Smith’s wife Jennifer Schwalbach). It also focuses on how Dante and Randall were able to accept changes in their lives as well as get their beloved Quick Stop back.
There are things that make ‘Clerks III’ fascinating. Much like what had happened to the director Kevin Smith in real life, Dante experiences a nearly-fatal heart attack. As a result, he looks back at his life, realizing that he had wasted his youth merely talking about movies and working in retail with his best friend, all without creating any sort of new conversation. It makes Randall want to do something important in his life by making a film about his daily life working in Quick Stop.
Every Kevin Smith fan will appreciate, the choice of witnessing recreations of making the first ‘Clerks’ film. . The characters end up having extensive dialogues which feature references to pop culture, relationship concepts, and their strong dislikes of their current occupation. There you will also see the return of Jay and Silent Bob as comic relief.. The ‘Jay and Silent Reboot’ has also been a reflection of how Kevin Smith has been hated by film critics. However, he continues to have a career since he has a huge fan base. People resonate with his films whether they have worked retail or not. Regardless of how mainstream or independent the director can be, he has always been an auteur director who will direct what he knows.
The writer/director has been fond of comic books, marijuana, sexuality, and existential disputes from characters who have a strong perspective on their situations and will only act upon them when they get worse. As soon as the audiences see Randall, they are immediately reminded of Kevin Smith’s passion for making ‘Clerks.’ The movie is a reminder that even people who have worked in dead-end jobs are also passionate dreamers and they too can have hidden ambitions inside them.
Kevin Smith may not be a critically-acclaimed comedic director as Mel Brooks or Woody Allen. However, cinephiles should realize that he is not trying to be. He might have gotten inspired to do movies because he watched Richard Linklater’s ‘Slacker,’ but his movies actually differ from Linklater’s debut and his other works. The only thing they have in common is the extensive dialogue that comes from the characters. Kevin Smith just happens to create a multiverse that connects his characters from his other past movies. ‘Clerks III’ is not to be missed.
Written and Directed by Kevin Smith
Produced by Liz Destro Jordan Monsanto
Starring: Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, Trevor Fehrman, Austin Zajur, Jason Mewes, Rosario Dawson, and Kevin Smith.
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Marco Castaneda is a graduate student at the California State University, Los Angeles. He is currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Television, Film, and Theatre, and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2023. He has a strong passion for creating stories as well as reading them. Marco believes that art helps people to give a unique perspective of our lives and the lives of others. He is also currently a substitute teacher for K-12th grade and hopes to teach students how to use their creativity through all aspects and subjects of their lives and not to be afraid of using their talents.
Marco Castaneda is a graduate student at the California State University, Los Angeles. He is currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Television, Film, and Theatre, and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2023. He has a strong passion for creating stories as well as reading them. Marco believes that art helps people to give a unique perspective of our lives and the lives of others. He is also currently a substitute teacher for K-12th grade and hopes to teach students how to use their creativity through all aspects and subjects of their lives and not to be afraid of using their talents.
Marco Castaneda is a graduate student at the California State University, Los Angeles. He is currently pursuing his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Television, Film, and Theatre, and expects to graduate in the Spring of 2023. He has a strong passion for creating stories as well as reading them. Marco believes that art helps people to give a unique perspective of our lives and the lives of others. He is also currently a substitute teacher for K-12th grade and hopes to teach students how to use their creativity through all aspects and subjects of their lives and not to be afraid of using their talents.
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