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QUESTION: How was it going back to the
characters again, and what sort of thoughts did you have when you heard
that there was going to be another movie?
BO:
As a working actor, I was all “Yeah Sure” as I wanted
more work and I had faith that Kevin had something that was going to be
good.
JA:
I did not want to do it, as I thought it was an odd
move. The original “Clerks” was such a special film that after “Jersey
Girl” and the cartoon series it seemed like going to a different world.
QUESTION:
How much did working on the 10th
Anniversary DVD for “Clerks” get the ball rolling for the sequel?
BO:
When doing the DVD we had such a good time especially
with the missing funeral scene, we were reminded of the great fun we had
doing the original. Kevin got to work on it, an had a script in 30-40
days.
JA:
Kevin really had to talk me off the ledge a few times,
over many dinners as I had some cold feet especially during the push
time when the film was held up in studio changes as it held up a project
I was working on that should come out this year on DVD.
QUESTION:
With the Miramax/Weinstein Split how did that affect
the filming and scheduling of “Clerks II”?
BO:
It was delayed about a year and a half as we also had
Kevin’s film “Catch and Release” to deal with as he has a part in that
and we had to work around the schedule.
JA:
During this time, I really started to have doubts but
Kevin kept at it and kept me in the project as I really started to
rethink things.
QUESTION:
With the cancellation of the “Clerks” television
series and rumors of a “Clerks” sitcom there must really have been some
odd things happening. Can you tell the readers some of the things that
were going on?
BO:
They were looking at doing a series with Jim Brewer
and without Kevin. Kevin flipped and did what he could since the studio
had the rights to keep Jay and Silent Bob out of the series. Next thing
I know, Kevin is supposed to be Executive Producer. I ran into him later
at the studio and he said that he was not going to do it.
JA:
They actually wanted me to audition for the role of
Dante and do this TV segment where we come in to audition for the parts
as part of the show. It was a very bad script and the finished product
was like “Saved by the Bell”. They had Dante working in an Ice Cream
shop.
QUESTION:
Will fans see more of the animated versions of the characters?
JA:
I think the live action is over but you never know what the future
will hold. We had such a great time doing the DVD it was hard to believe
we were getting paid for it as well.
BO:
A new DVD is in the works and I look forward to it as we had some
great guests during the animated series such as Michael McKeon.
QUESTION:
What are some of the differences in Kevin now as a director compared
to how he was with the first film?
JA:
More awake. He slept through the big fight scene in the first film
only telling us to make sure to hit with the loaf of bread.
BO:
He was working in the store while shooting the film so he had to film
between shifts. There were days were he was so exhausted that he went to
nap in the video store.
When you have a budget of 5 million which is what they spend on
catering for some films, it is nice to have the energy. We were able to
have more time on the scenes and do read throughs, as well as Kevin
being more open to suggestions.
QUESTION:
You both really had the characters down as the mannerisms, walks and
ticks are dead on from the first film. How was it slipping back into the
characters again?
BO:
after the animated show and everything we really have a handle on
them as we have a great bookend to the View Askew series. I would say
that 85% of the final film was scripted and the other 15% improvised.
JA:
It was very emotional stuff as that was the real key to the film. Yes
there is the comedy and the day in the life stuff, but the real emotions
of the film will catch people off guard.
QUESTION:
There have been some rumblings that the film might get an NC-17
rating, how much editing was done to the film and what was cut?
BO:
The film did get an R Rating with no cuts required which was a
surprise as Kevin said this was NC-17 stuff. The two early screeners in
Burbank and New York had about 5-6 minutes cut between them, but it was
almost Karmic how it all worked out. They did trim the second half of
the go cart scene.
JA:
Which I hated as I had seven pages of dialogue in the scene that was
cut. I know I am shilling for the DVD but that scene alone will be worth
the price of it when it is released. Randal has this long series on his
ideas on ways that Dante could impregnate his mom and all the bizarre
theories behind it.
BO:
I am sure there will be an extended DVD as there was a segment with
Wanda Sykes and Earthquake that was 11 minutes of riffing on them. Kevin
had said just look busy in the background and then he turned the camera
on us and got what we were coming up with.
QUESTION:
How much are you like your on screen characters?
BO:
I have the indecisive nature and the desire to be nice and please
people like Dante.
JA:
I am eye to eye with Randal.
QUESTION:
What do you have coming up?
BO:
I have a screenplay that I am working on and if I get some good
people around me, I would like to direct. I also have this film called
“Groupies” that I hope comes out soon. It is about a Power Rangers like
show that is cancelled after a cliff hanger and years later radical fans
kidnap the cast to get them to resolve the cliffhanger.
JA:
I have “Now You Know” coming which should be on DVD around the time
“Clerks II comes out” (Note Jeff wrote, directed, and stars in the
film)
When a final question was asked on how many relatives does Dante have
as they appear in all the films. Brian joked that there are tons as his
last name is “Hicks” so there is likely some inbreeding. Jeff mentioned
his character is named Graves which explains where the rest of his kin
are.
"Clerks" is currently available on DVD.
"Clerks II" opens nationwide on July 21, 2006.
Special thanks to Gareth at
Skewed & Reviewed
for permission for this interview. |
