TV Tattler: Celebrity Interviews
Kevin Smith Gets His Geek on For TV
'Clerks' Creator Dishes About Directing 'Reaper,' 'Heroes' -- and 'Battlestar Galactica'
|
|
Related Links |
Aug. 24 -- 'Clerks' director Kevin Smith recently made a huge splash at Comic Con announcing that he'd be helming the first episode of the forthcoming 'Heroes: Origins', a spin-off of the hugely successful series that will introduce new characters with powers. He's also stepped behind the camera to shoot the pilot for one of the coolest new shows of the fall, the funny and supernatural series, 'Reaper.'
To complete the sci-fi trifecta, the sometimes Silent Bob spilled to AOL TV's Angel Cohn that he was also directing an episode of the final season of 'Battlestar Galactica.' The 37-year-old Smith happily talked about all his upcoming projects, what's next for his film career and what it's like landing such cool new gigs. [Editor's Note: After this interview was originally published, Smith and the 'Galactica' producers had a scheduling conflict keeping him from directing an episode.]
'Reaper' was one of my favorite fall shows. It's really funny!
It is oddly familiar, yet very new. There have, of course, been shows with a supernatural element to them, but this one was kind of different. There is another show on CW called 'Supernatural' which is not all that far-flung from what 'Reaper' is, but it takes a turn and handles it with humor. 'Supernatural' is an earnest treatment of the subject matter and ours is not so earnest.
I like that your stars are kind of geeky and unconventional. It makes them more real.
Totally. That's who is mostly out there. Reality is really filled with more Sock and Sam's than pretty boys.
What was it about this pilot that attracted you?
Apparently I get sent scripts all the time which I never see because I told my agent early on that I wasn't interested in directing someone else's script because I don't think I have the talent to do that. I kind of have the talent to pull of my stuff ... at best. I read it and it was immediately in my wheelhouse. I get this in a big, bad way. It is very close to 'Dogma' and I think that's why they thought of me in the first place. But I was way attracted to it because it was written by two chicks. You rarely see that. It's not like women haven't written on genre shows in the past, but rarely, if ever, are they the creators. I think this might be the first. It's historic. Two chicks created a show like this? I've got to be involved.
Will we see you doing more TV?
I know that I'm going to go up and direct an episode of 'Battlestar Galactica,' which I'm kind of stoked about. It's cool, but it is scary because it is like, "What the f---? I can't bring anything to that show." That show is genius and they have a very distinctive visual style. But you are safe as a kitten. If you go in there and say, "I'm going to shoot everything in one big master shot," they'll go, "No you're not, because that is not what we do on 'Battlestar Galactica.'" I guess it is more about performance-oriented stuff, but at the same time that cast is top notch. How do you f----- direct Mary McDonnell?
Kevin Smith Pics
I'm bummed that she didn't get an Emmy nod.
That whole cast is so spectacular and the fact that they haven't been singled out is just bizarre. At the same time they finally got some writing nods, which was good.
This is the final season of 'Battlestar,' so it is extra cool that you get to direct one.
It's cool as someone who is a big fan and a supporter of the show to get up there and do one before they are all done. When I was up there shooting 'Reaper,' we shot on the same lot as ['Galactica'] and even though they weren't in production, our production designer was a production designer on 'Battlestar Galactica' so the dude was able to get me on the sets and show me everything. I walked around the Galactica [ship] and whatnot. But now to go back in a different capacity is more nerve-wracking. it is more fun to just walk around and be like, "Holy shit, that's the colonial viper." Then it is to be like," Alright, how are we going to shoot this colonial viper scene?"
Did they tell you anything about your episode?
Not yet. That was the first thing I asked, "Hey man, can I get a script?" and they are like, "It's not ready yet." I'm just hoping to be able to see some stuff in advance. If they'll show me every episode up until that point that would be incredibly helpful for my episode, but more incredibly helpful for me as a fan.
You are also directing this little show called 'Heroes' ...
It is this little show nobody has heard of and it needs some attention. You want to talk about pressure! It is nerve-wracking. You don't want to be the guy that f---- up 'Heroes.'
