In a rush of meta-cynicism, writer/director Christopher Downie is already on post-production for his upcoming movie Shooting Clerks: a cynical, sarcastic black and white comedy that recreates
scenes from the cynical and sarcastic cult hit Clerks, as well as peppers in the true life tales of the 1994 comedy’s writer/director Kevin Smith.

Here’s the trailer for the new movie:

Several of the original cast members make appearances in Shooting Clerks, including the original film’s stars Brian O’Halloran (Dogma), Marilyn Ghiliotti (Alien Armageddon), Jason Mewes (Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back), and even Kevin Smith himself (actor/director: Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Zack and Miri Make a Porno).

On their 2014 Indiegogo campaign, Downie and producer Brett Murray explained what the project meant to them, quoting:

Our dream project has always been to shoot a feature film biopic detailing the struggles a young Kevin Smith encountered while trying to figure out his place in the world.

Although the Indiegogo campaign only raised 9% of their anticipated goal, Downie and Murray’s brainchild managed to catch the attention of some private investors, who – with the help of a second, successful campaign – ultimately donated a budget which allowed the filming of Shooting Clerks to start.

Smith and Mewes on the set of ‘Clerks’

Downie was first exposed at age 13 to Smith’s cult hit Dogma, which snowballed through the years into a filmmaking career centered around Smith’s life, including short films like Babble-On Begins (2012), The Twelve Steps of Jason Mewes: Get Greedo (2013), and Emo Kev (2013). Downie and Murray soon met in college, sparking a partnership in independent filmmaking with their company Auld Reekie Media and cranking out movies in honor of their indie hero since.  

On his personal Youtube channel, Kevin Smith endorsed Shooting Clerks with enthusiasm, saying:

I think it’s a very creative project, and I also wanna see what I would look like portrayed by a young actor thinner than I was when I made the actual movie…give generously, because you’re gonna want to see this movie.

Smith, whom Murray describes as instantly supportive “since the very start of [their] journey,” also executively produced Downie and Murray’s indie tributes. Currently Smith, who was initially planning to retire after filming Clerks 3, released his most recent movie Tusk, and is beginning pre-production for the comedy/horror Moose Jaws and, eventually, Mallrats 2.

Shooting Clerks will be released in Canada on September 10th, 2015, around the Toronto International Film Festival.