When Clerks Was Just An In Convenience 

"Quick story" Famous last words...

This is brilliant. The long lost story of the road to Clerks. Man, that alone would make a cool film!

After decades (I'm around Kevin's age), I FINALLY watched Clerks on Amazon for the first time! I don't know why it took me so long. Great movie Kevin!

I love hearing stories about filmmakers making their first movie and how they got there, because it makes me want to make my own even more. I recently finished my fourth short film and that just motivates me more to start writing a feature film. Thanks Kevin, hopefully I can make “my own Clerks” someday.

"In Convenience" ~ The Kevin Smith Story...from New Jersey to Holywood...in the most unconventional way. :)

"Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic" -Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore

“Over-wordy douchebag” 🤣😂 What I wouldn’t give to read that journal.

Obligatory: "I wasn't even supposed to be here today..."

Just watched Clerks today. I know im waaay late. Loved it. Its the first true original film i feel like ive ever watched. Well done Kevin. Your story is inspiring

What a great way to spend December 31st.

Thanks for your Christmas wishes Kevin Smith. You are one genuine guy! And thats why you have fans! God bless your heart

I juggle three journals each year, I have been trying to make a movie since 2008, the independent cinema in my country is non existence as much as I try to Kickstart a movement, creative people focused on making advertisements because there is low risk and high profit, I always look up to you Kevin, you have friends and family that support you, my family and friends are not interested but I always try and I will never give up on my Filmmaking dream thank you for being inspiration, You, Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, Tom DiCillo, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, Steven Soderbergh and Francis Ford Coppola

Damnit, Kevin! Stop putting yourself down! We all love you! Why else would we BE here!?

Kevin "misanthropic" Smith. OMG I haven't laughed that hard in forever!!🤣🤣🤣

Thank you for sharing Kevin,that was a very early BTS !

Mr Smith, once again - you have reduced me to tears; what a wonderful story and advice. "Youth is wasted on the Young," Seize the Day!!! May the good Lord continue to watch over you and your loved ones. THANKS.

Hey Kevin, I live about 2 miles from the stop, in thousand oaks place. I graduated one year after you, from North. I drove past when you were filming the fire scene for Clerks 2 at 5:30 in morning on my way to work, and was like what the heck is going on there, why is it all lite up with flood lights. lol. Middletown guy done right.

This was wonderful! Thank you for sharing!

Thank you sir. I've been working on writing a tv show and it's kinda been harsh... this made me want to keep going. Again thank you Kevin.

Kevin should direct Kim's Convience.... have some clerks characters come back and do a shift in the shop..... then bring some DeGrassi students shop lifting the shop.

Kevin - You've been such an inspiration in my life from the first moment I saw Clerks when I was 13 years old and fell in love your with films. I've watched every movie you've made, followed the tv shows, gone to every live show and Q&A within reasonable distance, and almost have the pleasure of meeting you a few times (something still on my bucket list) although the closest I got was shaking your hand as you walked off stage at the Tampa Improv. I've followed so much of your advice over the years, the most important one guiding me (paraphrased) "If you can make a living doing what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. And if you can find a way to do it with your friends, you have it all figured out." Well, sir, I have it all figured out. I've gone after every dream I've had and have succeeded, and continue to look up to you as proof that we can make anything we want in our lives happen if we want it badly enough. And not to take life too seriously. Thank you for sharing this! It serves as even more motivation to start the New Year doing what I love, with people I love, and making sure I never lose sight of that! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family ❤

Kevin Smith reading a paragraph. Actually paragraph 2mins. Kevin Smith reading it=Half hour+ Has to explain every other word. Half hour later still never get past second sentence. I love you Kevin! But sometimes it’s a bit much. Harley did it best on Comic Book Men at your bday intro. “well I was born in New Jersey and.... an hour later still never answered question.” Love ya!

We fucking love you too, Kev!

If I were you I would scan that book so its digital and saved forever. Love your work and honesty.

Thanks for spending part of your New Year’s Eve with us Kev

"In Convenience" was a good title, too. I just thinks Clerks works better and is less of a mouth-full. It is wonderful when specific dates STICK in your mind so hard only to find out later that you were wrong. Incidentally 7/1/91 is the day I went to Boot Camp and I have always told myself that I bought the Metallica (Black Album) when it came out WHILE I was in boot camp two weeks later and have always said it was July 15. Thanks to Wikipedia, I now know it was August 12th...

If I become a famous writer, you better smoke a blunt with me man. You've always been so down to earth, and this is making me want to actually work on my story.

One of my favorite videos on RU-vid. You are one of my biggest inspirations Kevin Smith!

Holy shi.... 🙃🙃This is Amazing. Happy New Year everybody 🥳🥳

Kevin, you couldn’t have wished a better Christmas wish on anybody. Seriously, especially kids and younger adults out there. Take heed of what he is wishing upon you, because you don’t want to be an older adult with regrets that you didn’t try something when you were younger. It makes people bitter and angry. Save all the money you can when you’re young and give yourself that opportunity to be able to take a chance at your dreams. Kevin, a happy holidays to you and please consider me for one of your next movies. That is something I’ve always wanted to do and experience. I’ve been an actor/Comedian/musician/entertainer pretty much all my life. I would love to have an IMDb page, to leave something of a Legacy behind. So I don’t feel like it all was for nothing in the end. Everybody out there be safe tonight and don’t take any unnecessary risks you don’t have to. After this year, hopefully we will be able to celebrate like we’ve never celebrated before, next.

That’s such an awesome bit of history! So cool, happy new year.

Thank You Kevin Smith for sharing this and for your Constant Inspiration !! Hope all is well with you and yours. Cheers , JEFF BISCAMP 😎👍🌴☀️🤘

Thanks for being Living Smith. 😘

Kev, you are what America is about my friend, If there was a hall of fame for us Avg Joe’s out here who look to you as the Jedi Master, Your it Broski 🤙🏼

Kevin you, made me smile

I recently watched a video about an elderly hoarder whose son had been missing for over 20 years and she had no idea that his body was under a pile of random garbage in her house. This is almost as sad.

I finally was able to get the new Amazon exclusive Kevin Smith funko pop, and it holds a special place in my collection. Need to get a Silent Bob now.

Thanks, Kevin. I’m in the 5th year of development on my first novel, which was also supposed to have been a screenplay. You’re right, no one comes to save us. No one invests in the Bible Belt. No one cares about anyone else. Growing up in Indiana and watching your films, I’d still call myself a Kevin Smith sort of guy. I still respect your early cinematic universe approach as a writer. Nevertheless, it doesn’t change that when my novel is published, my dreams still will not have come true. I’m decades-off, and no longer in well enough health to assume I’ll make it that far. Sometimes, no matter how much a person dreams, it will simply never come true. I worked endless years of blue collar manual labor and got nowhere because freaks in positions of power insist we’re snuffed out instead of ever reaching the heights they did by being born affluent. So, the American Dream is dead. Thanks for your contribution, pal.

Thank you Kev. This video bout brought me to tears man. Thank you so very much for the view askew universe and your insight on your life.

Thanks for an awesome X-Mas surprise! I'm looking forward to all your future works!

You are finding all sorts of treasures cleaning out your office! Happy New Year!

"Hopefully some kid in the year 2034 can pop in Clerks and still kind of identify with it. Even if he's not in possession of a flannel shirt and a backwards baseball cap, that he can still be like, "I feel that way. I am that dude who is filled with ennui." Too smart to do this job but too lazy to do any other job. That'd be good. That'd be alright." - Kevin Smith It's not 2034 yet but in 2021, I am that kid. Thank you Kevin for everything you've created for us to be inspired by.

I love your movies and your writing. You are my favorite director/ writer. The view askewniverse is my favorite movie series. Keep doing what you're doing Mr smith. You're the man

All I want is Clerks 3. That’s it.

Fantastic kev...thanks for sharing...I want to be Michael cane surrounded by muppets...lol

I speak for many witches that magick is very real, Kev. ;)

I LOVE THIS SHIT! I love seeing first drafts of shit, and seeing how much they got changed and how different they are and shit, that shit rocks my world.

Kevin, please stop disparaging your movies! I think I can speak for most of your fans when I say your movies have changed our lives. You have entertained us, enlightened us, helped us grow up, made us laugh, made us think, and showed us even a schlub from Jersey can make it big! As a fan since the day I first saw Clerks until today, I say thank you for your talent and thank you for sharing it with us all!

THE SACRED TEXTS! Thank you so much for posting this. This brought me to tears because I have composition journals like that as well and i'm working very hard to create my own independent films. Inspired by you, sir. You. The Bob. fucking thank you for existing and providing me with the notion that I, too, can create, inspire, and not just meet but transcend the expectations of my childhood. Keep being the hero you are Kevin Smith. Much love.

Inspiring. 🙏🏼 Happy New Year Kevin Smith and comment section. 🙏🏼❤️🌹🙏🏼

We differ on our political views Kev, but I have been a fan of your films since Clerks(I’m old AF like you) came out. You had some flops(Cop out...👀) but mainly great(Red State...👏🏻) films. You even had a Smithverse before verse’s were cool! Haha. I was truly sad when you had the heart attack and I am so happy that you not only pulled thru, but you came back better than ever! I am glad you held on to one vice afterwards, as a world without some green is pretty...fuckin boring...it’s true. In any case I thought this was so cool that you shared something so personal as your original notebook! It’s another reason why I dig you brother, you’re still one of us, one of the nerds that loves to share in our passion for film, comics and just great stories. I wish you well in the new year man, looking forward to seeing your next projects and stories over the next 30 years! P.S. Tell Jay his last batch was weak and he owes me an Oz...😝

Thanks for sharing. Good stuff.

You're an inspiration, man. Last year, despite C-19, I completed my first feature film starring Donna Wilkes and Linnea Quigley (who I flew here to New Zealand). Despite immense financial pressure and unimaginable stress/anxiety, somehow it all came together, and the film will be released internationally in the coming months. Long story short, yes, it is possible. Thanks, man. Snootchies.

You Sir are a real inspiration to us all. Weather we are the guy who picks up the trash each week or the guy who picks through trash before the guy who picks it up arrives.

« Live your life like Bill Murray in the last ten minutes of Scrooged » - Kevin Smith Thanks for the great advice Kev! 😁❤️

Hope your family had a merry Christmas and happy New Year Kevin

Good to see you as always, Buddy!

Kevin I met you at a laker game and then years later at your joint release event my friends and I told you how much you inspire Us in our journey to becoming story tellers and film makers, and we thank you for always being this beam of light in the industry can’t wait to give you partial credit to all I’ll accomplish in this lifetime. see you in the future Brotha much love !

Happy New Year!

Definitely a Kevin Smith person.

Happy new year Kevin!!

That'd be sick if Kevin made this into a book for people to read.With side notes of today's perspective from him.

Very cool 😎, thanks for sharing this to us Kev.

Kevin THANK YOU! To the best 2021 we can make! Love when you tell your story! That's what I enjoy the most out of everything that you do. I'm so glad you never stopped and you keep all of us going. Thank you again.

Thank you for sharing this! You didn't need to but you did for us! Kevin is the greatest.

looking good for 50 buddy :)

I just realized I share a birthday with Kevin Smith.

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and yours.

One of the best movies ever made. The allegory of Dante's Inferno, the rib-breaking humor, the overall 90s nostalgia in general

Kevin smith for president!

Love from the Eden Prairie mall. I'm there now. Very different from the Mallrats days. No more Fashionable Male or Buy Me Toys. Haha Happy New Year!

My wish: I want to work with Kevin Smith. I would even PA for you. There. I put it in wring. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Wait... I’m not even suppose to visit this video today!!

kevin smith. on a train. that's what i just wrote down.

Love this dude, happy holidays homie.

thanks kevin you have helped this year !

I wish this was a smodcast, it would be hilarious with Scott being their

Thank you bro... you inspire me. Love you work. Happy holidays

I loved this video... I needed it... More than you will ever know

Hey Kev, it's supremely difficult to get through to you ( I completely understand why) but, If I ever had the opportunity, I'd really like to thank you in person. I think it's important to say "thanks". I mean, it's been a LOT of years! You made me laugh back in the early 90's and more importantly, created a "Cool House" where I and my three friends lived in 1994, because we had a VHS copy of Clerks. The truth of it is, It's years later and I'm all the way over in England BUT, I still feel I owe you and your family, at least a Dinner? Anyway, to cut things short, when you do the "I managed to do it and you can too" posts, it's fills my heart with pure fucken' joy !!!

You're the man, Lunchbox!

Happiest of New Years, Kev! 2021 awaits! 🖖♾🎉🥳🎊

You are a constant inspiration for our work. Thank you for sharing Kevin! Hope one day to meet and share with you our works! We call it "The Best of the WeirdSpace West"! Wouldn't be there without that fool kid from jersey making the stories he wanted to.

If I ever made a movie it would be a drama/comedy based on my high school years. It would be about something personal to me.

Score one for us packrats for saving that notebook.

You're the reason I have the career I have today, Kevin. I owe you so much that I could never possibly repay. Have a great New Years!

What a great insight to the youth/younger days of Kevin Smith.

So you publish this notebook, just like it is. New York Time Best Seller.

Really great stuff here. Clerks is your best movie and hearing your original thoughts is an artifact that is no longer lost.

clerks was always in convenance...

Wow is this insightful! You and the View Askew, never let me down.To you and your family, to all the fans, Happy New Year!

you should have that stored properly so it can put in a museum one day. it will be right up there with early scribblings of fear and loathing in Las Vegas and Mein Kampf

Happy New year Merry Christmas stay safe through that Rona

I really appreciate this Kev. It's good to know that even that greats started out as regular rubes like the rest of us.

At some point, this must be in your memoirs! An excellent example of the evolution of creativity. Happy New Year, hope you get to hug your daughter soon! 🥳

Yer a wizard Kevin 🧙‍♂️

My husband and I have a habit of thinking up outlines for movies and never writing them down. Maybe 2021 is the year we starting writing them out and trying to sell them. I have no idea how to do that, but fuck it right?

What an awesome find.

It's hard to know what exactly to type... your video enlightened me and I also found it relatable; wanted to thank you for such an earnest video, hope others see the value in it too.

This came at the most perfect time possible for me. I was hit by a spark of inspiration for a movie two days ago and names and scenes just started flowing out of my head. I had absolutely no idea where to start though. Screenplays and all of that stuff is incredibly foreign to me so I need to start putting pen to paper and cobble it together.