Kevin Smith knows a thing or two about super heroes. Therefore, it’s a little ironic that in tonight’s new episode of The Flash, which was directed by Smith, the show’s actual super hero is nowhere to be found.
We doubt that’ll prove to be much of a problem for the director of geek classics like Clerks, Chasing Amy and Mallrats and writer of comics like GREEN ARROW, BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE and BATMAN ’66 MEETS THE GREEN HORNET. Especially since Smith is a self-professed fan of the show. In fact, by all accounts, Smith has turned in one of the best episodes of the season.
We recently spoke to Flash actor Tom Cavanagh (Harrison Wells) and Executive Producer Andrew Kreisberg about what it was like to work on the episode with Smith. Here’s what they had to say.
Tom Cavanagh
To watch somebody who’s accomplished so much come on set with such humility—I think it’s rare.
The first time Grant showed up in the suit, it was incredible to watch Kevin. He was, “I just can’t believe this is in front of me, let alone my directing it! Guys, isn’t this amazing?”
After lunch, he’d have a speech like, “Guys, I know it’s lame that I’m saying this in front of 45 grown men and women, but I think it’s amazing that we get to do what we love.”
Our script supervisor is incredibly knowledgeable and is very good at stuff that needs to be done and that you might be missing. Kevin gave her credit for directing the episode—that she was the person who was really directing the episode. And it didn’t seem false. It seemed like he felt like someone needed to get credit. He’d single different individuals out. His demeanor on set was unlike most. You rarely get that experience.
Jesse Martin said that he felt completely reinvigorated just being around that man for eight shooting days. I think all of us felt that way. It’s rare that you see that gratitude. Kevin Smith proceeds from gratitude. I’ve always said that a set is the kind of place that outs you as a person. You can be a certain way, but after seventeen hour days for four months, your true personality will come out. This is how Kevin is. He’s a good human being. He’s incredible to work with.
Andrew Kreisberg
Jason Mewes guest stars, and there’s one scene in that is like literally a scene out of a Kevin Smith movie. But Kevin, he’s such a fan of this show in a way that humbles me beyond my wildest expectations. To sit in a room with him and talk to him, and think about how often I quote him and his movies. He was who I wanted to be when I was in college. To sit down and have him speak about this show so lovingly, intelligently and deeply. He didn’t approach this like, “Here’s my chance to put my stamp on it. Here’s my chance to ‘Clerksify’ it.”
He just didn’t want to mess it up because he’s such a fan. So there was a reverence and awe in how he approached everything. Usually there’s a lot that goes on in editing, and this was an episode that we basically watched and gave a few notes because the whole thing came out so great.
“The Runaway Dinosaur,” directed by Kevin Smith, airs on The Flash tonight at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. CST) on The CW.
