Posted by Darth Dobbin2 at 208-58-250-234.s488.tnt1.nwhv.ct.dialup.rcn.com on February 06, 2000 at 19:31:26:
In Reply to: A real do-nothing Saturday posted by Repost from Kevin on February 06, 2000 at 17:25:31:
: Thoughts?
Hey, since you closed with ": Thoughts?" I'm going to give you mine, for whatever they may be worth. Whether or not you sequel-ize any given flick is really something that is up to you & the winds of marketing; Personally, with the exceptions of the Godfather, Jaws, and Star Wars, no part II that I could think of has ever been a "keeper"... But the thing I wanted to jaw at you about is this:
: 3) I'm getting close to shutting down the View Askewniverse permanently, in favor or making more diverse, less Jay-and-Bob type flicks, so this would be one of the last of the bunch
Say it ain't so, Kev. Before you cast me as a mindless *"fanboy," give the devil his due & hear me out.
When someone-ANYONE, creates something from whole cloth, and puts it out in front of the world, and the reaction is- "HEY! We like that!" Dude, that is a rare and fragile beast indeed. I understand you are a talented writer with a whole bunch of stories in him, and I further understand that many of them have little to do with an enigmatic coat-guy & his stoner life-mate, BUT... They are your bread & butter. Your golden goose.
Berke Breathed "retired" Bloom County, to pursue other avenues. He wound up trying REALLY hard to catch lightning twice in a bottle with OUTLAND, and the fickle public would have none of it. Same guy, same talent. The phone just stopped ringing.
I don't mean to sound so grim- You are, right now, at the apex of your career; or if not the apex, you are on the rapid upswing towards it... Be careful about hasty decisions. Having a "universe," however loosely fitting, is one of the things that sets you off from others. Being a funny & insightful motherfucker is another, but don't devalue one thing because of the other. Having the "thread" of Jay & SB weave its way through your stories, in their various tones, is a gimmick, sure. But dude, it is a gimmick people DIG. And people are some fickle bastards. (And never you mind the small stuff & the Percival Pop Continuity Cops asking about if people who know both Banky and Brodie are confused. That's dumb-ass minutia; the thing is that you have a "tapestry" of stories, all connected with the improbable thread of the bumbling duo. That's key.
The weird thing is,there is this voice in the minds of people who build things- the one that says," It's time to retire the instruments of my success," in accordance to some imagined rule-set of integrity, or in deference to a supposed "new direction," when History shows again and again that that route followed often leads to less success. There is a reason why the fable of the "golden goose" is told through the ages.. When you have the goose in hand, it *seems*, after so many eggs, that the right & proper thing to do is kill the thing, if only to provide closure. Think again, though, 'cuz, DUDE! There are more eggs in that sumbitch, and they are golden.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was sick as a muthafucker of Sherlock Holmes. Hated the dude. Detested the public that cried out for more of his exploits. So he gave the character a toss off the falls with his arch-nemesis, and thought he was done with him. Tried his hand at other things, and the public, or at least HIS public, would have none of it. Lucky for him, the public was receptive & thankful when he brought Sherlock back. Listen to the sage words of Stan Lee.. When you are made wealthy & happy by a receptive public, start off your issues with BECAUSE YOU DEMANDED IT!
I won't go into the reasons why Jay & Silent Bob hit some archetypal Abbot & Costello/Laurel & Hardy/ C3P0 & R2D2 nerve. It is enough that they do. That's a rare and lucky thing, when something you do "sticks to the wall." While it is stuck, my friend, take advantage of it. Use it. Don't be so quick to rip it off the wall before it is ready to fall. I know you don’t have any Eddie Murphian plans to start a singing career or such, but you don’t have to rob from Peter to pay Paul in terms of projects and “universes..” Which is to say…(finally)
... that you have found a good & profitable "niche." There is NO REASON that you must "disband" this niche in order to do other work. Look at the comics- they have imprints for this genre, or that genre, while never "putting to rest" the initial thing that gave them the opportunity to try new stuff. Keep the Askewniverse around, if only as insurance. Do other shit- write other movies for other people to direct, produce shit, sing while the sun shines... But don't forget or devalue what got you there, and don't sell its lasting power short, even though you may be so "close to it" that it has bred some contempt. You've still got lands left to conquer, Young Alexander. Don't give up the taxes & revenues of the ones you've already claimed.
Darth Dobbin
PS-(I *never* shut up...)
Also, while I’ve got your ear, let me gainsay others who use sports figures as analogy (Gretzky, etc.) for "retiring as legends" are comparing apples & oranges. Sports-people’s bodies rapidly lose their magic-- You are a writer. In your early 30s/Late 20s. You've got DECADES to do this shit, and grow fabulously wealthy, and accrue all kindsa accolades yet to come.
" a Fitting End of an Era” you will hear from others from others.. That is poison in your ear. Your "era" is just starting to gain mainstream success. Working up a respectable head of steam. Hardly a time to end it. The same voices that say, "End it, Kev. It's fitting for the *legend.*" are people who NEVER got near the top of the metaphorical mountain. That's a loser's outlook. You are only overexposed to the glibbering freaks (like me) on this board- the rest of the world is only dimly aware of you yet. Keep on keepin’ on, and they’ll think you as cool as we all do.
Fuck the legend, grab the coins. Dollars to figurative donuts, those same fans who tell you to "end it" will go to see ANY MOVIE with Jay & SB 12 times in the theater, and pre-order the DVD, and discuss it ad naseum for as long as there are messageboards... Even if you are making said films 12 years from now. Search your feelings- You know it to be true. (jedi wink.)
Last word- When Lady Good-Fortune asks you to dance, don't leave the dance-floor till she is through with you. Boogie like a bastard. Do the funky chicken. Do the Mashed-Potato. Limbo like an asshole. Don't go sit down after pulling a cool move, cuz when you want to get up & dance some more, she'll be doing the Lambada with somebody else.
Thass all. You da man.
Nuff Said. Excelsior.