Iconic filmmaker, comic book writer and super nerd Kevin Smith got reflective in a recent interview and revealed one of the major driving forces behind his creativity and productivity.
When asked what he is afraid of, Smith told Total Film, "Irrelevancy, I guess? I used to be afraid of death then I almost died and realized death wasn’t that scary. It’s just like graduating high school. You have to move on at some point... says the guy who made Clerks fucking III." The original Clerks movie premiered in 1994; a black-and-white buddy comedy, the movie presents a day in the lives of two friends and store clerks, Dante Hicks and Randal Graves. Clerks went on to become a cult classic, and it was added to the National Film Registry in 2019. Clerks III premiered this September and sees Randal and Dante making a movie about their lives after the former survives a heart attack.
What Keeps Smith Working
"The fear of irrelevancy is something that’ll keep a motherfucker working," he continued. "I don’t want to be out of the conversation until I’m done with the conversation - and I don’t think I’ll ever be done with the conversation. I obviously like the sound of my own voice." Considering how firmly Smith has positioned himself within the pop-cultural zeitgeist, it seems unlikely that he'll disappear from the conversation anytime soon.
Throughout his filmmaking career, Smith has made a plethora of memorable movies, including the sex comedy Zack and Miri Make a Porno, the horror thriller Red State and the body horror comedy Tusk, and his work has earned him several prestigious awards in the film industry. He won the Filmmakers Trophy for Clerks at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994, the Best Screenplay category at the Independent Spirit Awards for Chasing Amy in 1997 and the Maverick Awards at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2006.
Smith's creative legacy extends beyond his impressive movie catalog. Notably, he has written runs and limited series for some of the most beloved superheroes, including Daredevil, Spider-Man, Green Arrow and Batman. He also has an impressive acting resume; beyond appearing in several of his own projects, he featured in movies like Live Free or Die Hard and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and television series like Degrassi: The Next Generation and Southland Tales. Smith has also shown off his voice-acting talents in animated projects like Superman: Doomsday and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract.
Source: Total Film