Episode 5 - Kevin Smith
“I met Kevin Smith on a photo shoot when he was willing to speak publicly about his mental health struggles. It was a delicate shoot, as I wasn't sure how he'd feel coming out of it. He was somber but wonderful; vulnerable, hilarious, and utterly genuine. What struck me most about him was his honesty, and it changed the way I looked back on his work. I began to see it as something much deeper, heartfelt, and complicated.”
Kevin Smith is a film auteur with a unique knack for bringing empathy and compassion to his characters. He only makes the movies he wants to, the way he thinks best, and is willing to work outside the system in doing so.
Join actor/director/writer Kevin Smith in conversation with photographer/host Chloe Aftel about Smith’s creative process and the life hardships that show up in his work. They discuss the importance of bringing intention, empathy, and compassion to writing comedy to connect deeper with audiences and Smith's experience publicly coping with mental illness.
Highlights:
The shape of Smith’s career, how the film industry has changed, and the lasting impact he wishes for his work to leave;
Smith describes his process of writing and developing characters in his film, drawing inspiration from real people and situations, and the importance of listening and observing people to create believable and relatable characters;
How empathy is crucial to building relationships and creating a supportive environment for his family and collaborators, and the lessons Smith has learned from his father and how that shapes his filmmaking;
Smith’s creative influences and the impact of long-form comedy on his work, the importance of making audiences feel as well as laugh, navigating white male vulnerability in his work, and the importance of representing diverse experiences.
About:
Kevin Smith is a celebrated filmmaker, actor, and writer best known for his work in the independent film scene. He first came into prominence with his debut independent film Clerks (1994), which he wrote, directed, and financed, which quickly became a cult classic. Other films include Mallrats (1995), Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), and more, and his creative endeavors extend beyond filmmaking. He is also known for his work as a podcaster, comic book writer, and actor. See his new film, The 4:30 Movie, in theaters now!
Chloe Aftel has spent her career working in commercial photography, photojournalism, and film. She’s an established name in modern photography with work featured in The New York Times, Mother Jones, Playboy, Dazed & Confused, Vogue Germany, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone, Teen Vogue & more. Chloe has photographed victims of sexual violence, reported on Covid’s impact on the trans community, and gained access as the first reporter in the Covid wards of the West Coast’s hardest hit hospitals. She has covered underground abortion providers, the impact of gender pronouns on daily life, and clergy abuse. Her first book, “Outside and In Between,” is an award-winning anthology covering gender non-conforming people across America.
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