by David G. Knappe

This is bound to be surreal. Just imagine this lineup of unlikely castmembers: Chris Rock, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson all hanging with Jay and Silent Bob. That’s the scene likely to be created on the set of the new Kevin Smith film, DOGMA. “Yep, Jay and Bob are expanded in DOGMA”, announced Smith, who is pleased by audience reactions when the drug-dealing duo from his debut film CLERKS, pop up in his films.

Packed to capacity, film fans from the Mile Square gathered at the Elks Lodge in Hoboken, NJ, last week with Kevin Smith, writer/director of CLERKS and MALLRATS, in town to screen his latest film CHASING AMY. Smith fielded questions after the screening.

Religion, which has evolved as a common theme in Smith’s films, is explored further in DOGMA, which displays the difference between faith, spirituality and organized religion. “But we’re doing it as dark road comedy”, quipped the director. “At one point, we even got a call from an ad agency saying that Six Flags Great Adventure was interested in having animated versions of Jay and Bob to replace Bugs Bunny in the commercials. I thought, man, how cool! And then I thought… wait a minute. We can’t do that. These guys are drug dealers!!”

Smith revealed that he has also been tapped to write the screenplay for the new Chevy Chase “Fletch” installment. “It’s great for me, because growing up, Chevy Chase always cracked me up. I was also a huge fan of the Fletch books by Gregory McDonald. These books are where I picked up my ear for dialogue. So it’s kind of full circle for me. Plus I get to make a shit-load of money.”

When asked about his technique for working with the big name actors set to star in his new film, Smith replied, “I’ve got to rehearse with them for at least three weeks straight. I know Spielberg likes to just get in and shoot. That’s insane for me. But do you think I’m going to tell him he’s wrong?”