Posted by turtle at user-2ive8rn.dialup.mindspring.com on October 16, 1999 at 14:50:56:
In Reply to: Schedule for filming posted by Cool Hand Luke on October 16, 1999 at 14:14:29:
Yes, Kevin did make some short films before Clerks. None of them are publicly available though. As far as more recent short films? No, unless you count the commercials and the MTV spots.
And I think the reason people are so impressed with Clerks is twofold. First of all it IS damn impressive for a completely unknown filmmaker to produce a film that gets picked up in the mainstream movie theaters (especially one made for so little money). I think the movie certainly deserves some measure of credit simply for accomplishing that. The second reason I think people have elevated Clerks to cult status is that it is a unique movie in many ways. Especially the dialogue. Most Hollywood films have next to no real dialogue and the idea of having characters have a long, vigorous debate is pretty much nonexistant (even if it is only about the contract workers on the Death Star, or the possibility of sucking one's own dick, heh). Basically the movie was something different, and people appreciated it.
That doesn't mean I don't think chasing Amy wasn't 100 times more artistically valuable than Clerks. But everyone has to start somewhere, and I think Clerks was an impressive beginning to a career.
-turtle
who likens Clerks to the pickle on the plate at a good, homey restaraunt: it's the tangy, crispy treat you nibble on before you get to the real meal. It's great for what it is, but you wouldn't want to make a whole dinner out of it.