Vulgarthon 2000 proves dogma to Kevin Smith fans
Red Bank film event sells out on Web site
in two hours
RED BANK — Some mainstream film critics have labeled independent filmmaker Kevin Smith’s movies as "vulgar," as well as "controversial," and some other things.
Smith, a Red Bank-based filmmaker, has written and directed Clerks, Mall Rats, Chasing Amy and Dogma, and is a force behind other small, independent projects such as the recently released Vulgar.
So, while a number of critics and movie viewers may not get Smith’s filmed vision of suburban slackers and their angst and ennui — often punctuated by obscenities and scatological humor — it seems quite appropriate that he should host and sponsor Vulgarthon 2000.
At the Clearview Cinema, 36 White St., on Monday more than 430 people paid $55 a ticket for the chance to view four films at a little publicized special viewing.
Vulgarthon 2000 consisted of Smith’s own Dogma and the films Better Place, Drawing Flies and Big Helium Dogs.
These films, with the exception of Dogma, are all low-budget independent productions made outside the conventional studio establishment.
"They’re here to see Kevin, of course, but it’s also about the films," contended Malcolm Ingram, the director of Drawing Flies.
Ingram, a 32-year-old filmmaker from Vancouver, Canada, produced his 1996 film for $40,000, and it has since been shown at various film festivals around the country. It also is scheduled to be released on DVD in the spring by IndieDVD, Portland, Maine.
Ingram credits Smith with inspiring an entire generation of budding auteurs with his iconoclastic, independent, but largely financially successful, productions.
"Filmmakers like Kevin have shown filmmaking can be accessible," Ingram said.
According to Smith, Vulgarthon was slated to screen Vulgar, a recently released and controversial film that Smith produced but did not write or direct. But that film was being shown at the Toronto Film Festival and was unavailable, he said.
Instead, Smith said he would be showing four unaired episodes of the animated series Clerks, based on his film.
Last summer, ABC unceremoniously canceled the series after airing only two of the six episodes.
Smith said the tickets were sold through his Web site with no fanfare and sold out in less than two hours.
"We would have sold out quicker if we had more phone lines," he said.
The more-than-12-hour event also was scheduled to include a question-and-answer period with Smith and some of the other filmmakers, as well as breaks between the viewings to allow audience members to grab a cigarette and a container of coffee or perhaps something to eat.
Some of those attending traveled from as far away as England and France, Smith said.
Ernesto Galaites, 23, said he came from his home in Montreal because he said Smith’s films "speak to me."
Galaites described himself as a movie fan in general but a Smith fan in particular, citing Smith’s ability to write screenplays.
"It’s the writing, man. You got to have some kind of screenplay going on," said Jason Kuras, 25, who traveled from Boston for the event. "The age range I can relate to."
Susan Hamman drove more than 600 miles from her home in Willard, Ohio, with her son, Cody, 16.
"I like him [Smith]," Hamman said. "But Cody’s the real fan."
"The characters are kinda like people you know," Cody said.
James Doherty drove his daughter, Suzanne McFaddan, 37, and grandson, Patrick, 15, 169 miles from their home in Harrison, Pa.
Doherty was not attending the event and would have to kill more than 12 hours waiting for his family members so he could drive them home.
He seemed somewhat bemused by it all. "They paid $55 and took the day off," he said, shaking his head and smiling. "That’s a lot of money."
"Yeah," agreed Smith’s wife, Jennifer. "But it’s a beautiful day for a Vulgarthon."