BPS 181: Clerks, Sundance and Making $500 Million+ at the Box-Office with Scott Mosier

You guys are in for a major treat. I'm always talking about those
"lottery ticket" filmmaker stories that we all dream of happening
to us one day. Well, today's guest's story is one of the
mythological stories that come to life.

We have a 90’s independent film icon, Scott Mosier. Scott is an
indie film producer, editor, writer, director, actor, and podcaster
of Smodcast, which he co-hosts with his long-term filmmaking
partner, Kevin Smith.

From Vancouver Film School to Hollywood, Scott's trajectory has
been inspiring for many in the industry. He produced some of the
best 90s classics like Clerks 1 & 2, Jersey Girl, the Oscar
Winning Good Will Hunting, Dogma, and many, many more.

Scott acted in, edited the movie, original sound, and contributed
to Clerk’s budget. After the massive hit, they followed up with the
embattled Mallrats. The film was not well received and did no money
at the box office. Kevin and Scott were essentially discarded and
called a one-hit-wonder. For most filmmakers that would be all she
wrote but not for Kevin and Scott.

They decided to go back to their roots and make another low-budget
indie and prove to Hollywood that they were here to stay. Their
next film was the brilliant romantic comedy-drama, Chasing Amy.
The tells the unfortunate twist of a male comic artist who
falls in love with a lesbian woman, to the displeasure of his best
friend.

After self-financing, the majority of their initial projects
(Mosier & Smith), 2001, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was
Mosier’s first big-budget ($20 million) production.

Based on real-life stoners Jay and Silent Bob, so when they get no
profit from a big-screen adaptation they set out to wreck the
movie.

If that wasn't enough Scott also co-executive produced the Oscar
Award-Winning Good Will Hunting in his spare time.

Wanting a change Scott decided to branch out and start directing
himself. His 2018 directorial debut was a stand-out project! A box
office hit, grossing about $512 million globally and the
highest-grossing holiday film of all time. Dr. Seuss: The Grinch
became the third screen adaptation of the 1957 Dr. Seuss book, How
the Grinch Stole Christmas.

I had a ball talking shop with Scott. We discussed the genesis of
the independent film movement as we know it today, dealing with
studios, what was it like being in the Clerks hurricane, and much
more.

Enjoy my conversation with Scott Mosier.

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