Posted by Pennywise The Dancing Clown at tsandke.tfs.varian.com on March 19, 1998 at 07:15:08:
I just got finished reading the script (I'm sorry man, I just couldn't help myself any longer). This thing fucking blew me away (and I consider myself agnostic!). You present theological ideas that seem so natural, and yet you and I both know you're going to piss off a lot of your fellow Catholics with them. The reason is simple: people hate change, no matter how natural that change may be. The fact that the Virgin Mary probably had sex after Christ was born, and probably had more children, seems completely realistic. And yet nowhere in the scriptures does this subject come up.
The fact that you've brought this little idea up (even though I'm sure to some extent everyone has wondered about it) is really going to send the religious fanatics who believe the Bible is the end-all be-all of existence into a fury. Like Last Temptation of Christ (another film made by a Catholic, who is still hated by some of his own religion becuase of it) you bring the IDEA of religion into sharp focus. And while you don't rewrite the scripture, you ask a lot of questions that a lot of people just don't want answered.
What if God were a woman. What if Christ were black? Who's to say there isn't a Thirteenth Apostle? These are all completely tangable questions, but I think perhaps the most important question you ask with this film is, WHAT FUCKING DIFFERENCE WOULD IT MAKE IF ALL OF THESE THINGS WERE TRUE? God is still God. Christ is still the son of God. The Apostle is still the follower of Christ.
Are people ready for this fairly heavy dose of theological reality (brought to you by that slacker who made Clerks and Mallrats no less!)? For some unfortunately, the answer is no. As is the case with all of your films, there is no gray area. One either loves a Kevin Smith film or they hate it.
Is this film going to tank? Definately not. Let me tell you why. The answer is contraversy my friend. I don't think even you realize the can of worms you're opening up with this flick. I anticipate picketers outside of movie theaters showing Dogma. I see massive news coverage of the events that take place as a result of the contraversy. In short, I see free publicity. People are going to wonder what the big deal about this movie is. They're going to want to see it for themselves. That, that the Word of Mouth Factor (something that has played a large part in the monumental success of both Titanic and Good Will Hunting) will make Dogma a successful venture on your part (at least financialy). The contraversy will make you a household name (and you can take me to the bank on that one my friend). You will truely come to your own as a filmmaker (something I thought you had already done with Chasing Amy).
Whether you admit it or not, you are a natural filmmaker. You just keep growing with every flick you make, and that in and of itself is a true complament to your character. Keep up the good work, and I for one will keep seeing your flicks.
And now a few questions:
1) Who did you originaly write the part of Azrial for? I think you mentioned it on a past post, but I forgot.
2) I see a lot of strong influences from such works as Matt Wagner's Mage and maybe Neil Gaiman's Good Omens in Dogma. Is this the case? If not, then what were some of your main influences in constructing this extremely complex script?
3) There seems to be a huge influx of "Avenging Angel" flicks hitting the market nowadays (i.e. The Profacy, Michial,the upcoming City of Angels and Meet Mr. Black). Since you wrote Dogma a long time ago (before Clerks I believe,) have you ever viewed any of these films and thought "Shit, they're stealing my idea!"?
4) At the end of Dogma, the existance of angels and God him(her)self is pretty much shoved into Jay and Silient Bob's faces. What affect will this have on them as characters in future films (please don't say this is the last Jay and Silient Bob flick man!!!!)?
Once again Kevin, I want to thank you for making movies that make us laugh as hard as they make us think. One day I anticipate giving you a hardy handshake and thanking you in person.
Pennywise the Dancing Clown