The Creative Clash: Kevin Smith and Ben Affleck on Chasing Amy
Kevin Smith, the director and screenwriter of Chasing Amy, recently shared his experiences and challenges working with Ben Affleck on the film. Released in 1997, Chasing Amy is Smith’s third cinematic venture, where Affleck portrays Holden McNeil, a comic book artist who falls for a lesbian named Alyssa Jones, played by Joey Lauren Adams.
Affleck’s Ad-Libbing Tendencies
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly (EW), Smith revealed that Affleck had a penchant for ad-libbing throughout the production of Chasing Amy. As the screenwriter, Smith was particular about sticking to the script and advised Affleck to refrain from improvising. He humorously suggested that Affleck should save his creative ideas for his own scripts. Ironically, Affleck took this advice to heart and eventually won an Oscar for co-writing Good Will Hunting. Smith’s commentary on this can be summed up in his own words:
“Ben Affleck loves to ad-lib and he ad-libbed like crazy on [Chasing Amy]. I said, ‘Look dude, I can’t stand it. You’re always ad-libbing. Like, don’t do it, don’t make up dialogue. Just do the script as written. If you really want to make up stuff and say things, save all that stuff, put it in your own script one day. And he did, and he won an Oscar.”
The Poster Disagreement
Another point of contention between Smith and Affleck was the movie’s promotional poster. The poster featured a black-and-white image of Adams’ character, Alyssa Jones, which Affleck disliked, feeling that his character, the film’s protagonist, was being overshadowed. Smith explained to Affleck that the focus was on Alyssa because the film’s title, Chasing Amy, referred to a story recounted by Silent Bob, a character portrayed by Smith, later in the movie. Ironically, Affleck’s next major poster appearance was for Good Will Hunting, also released in 1997.
The Importance of Smith’s Script
Smith’s Unique Writing Style
Smith’s distinctive writing style, marked by his trademark dirty humor and heartfelt dramatic moments, has been a significant attraction in his films. Chasing Amy, following Clerks (1994) and Mallrats (1995), allowed Smith to delve deeper into drama, showcasing his versatility as a filmmaker. This focus on drama distinguished Chasing Amy as one of Smith’s standout films.
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Our Perspective on Smith’s Script Fidelity
Success in Both Smith’s and Affleck’s Writing Careers
Preserving Smith’s script for Chasing Amy was crucial in maintaining the consistency of his View Askewniverse, which began with his first two films. This decision contributed to the film’s success and longevity as a highlight of Smith’s career. Affleck, too, has revisited his role as Holden McNeil in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001) and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019).
Beyond Good Will Hunting, Affleck has established himself as a successful writer and director, co-writing and directing films such as Gone Baby Gone (2007) and The Town (2010). Although Affleck wasn’t featured on the original poster of Chasing Amy, the DVD and Blu-ray covers include him alongside Adams, Smith, Jason Lee, and Jason Mewes.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Chasing Amy
- Comedy
- Drama
- Romance
Chasing Amy is a romantic comedy-drama film by writer-director Kevin Smith. Following the viewpoint of comic artist Holden McNeil (Ben Affleck), the movie focuses on his hopeless romantic attachment to a fellow comic artist who happens to be a lesbian - and his best friend's attempts at voicing his disapproval. The film explores the complex layers of love and what forms it takes.
