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I finally got a chance to watch Clerks II over the weekend. I had wanted to see it since it came out in theaters but, alas, the internet called and I didn’t make it. Being a Kevin Smith fan I really enjoyed the movie but I do think you need to see Clerks to really appreciate part deux. There are some running jokes, the characters are as crazy as ever (not sure where Jay’s Silence of the Lambs impression came from but it was pretty weird and amusing!) and there are some of the usual cameos.

What I really loved about the film (well, its not really something about the film per see) and something that is on topic for this blog is Smith’s use of social media to promote the film. Smith did two big things with the new platform:

1. Said he would list the first 10,000 friends on the Clerks II MySpace page in the credits of the film.
2. Created a podcast of his audio commentary that you could place on your device and take into the theater with you.

The MySpace idea was sure to generate a lot of traffic and buzz for the film. It’s pretty straightforward and there is not much to talk about there. The podcast is also straightforward when you think about it. It gets people into the theater twice: once to see the movie and once to see the movie with commentary! Smith’s fan base is one that likes commentary (read: wannabe film makers – myself included) so that was a smart move. I wonder if any other films have taken his lead yet? I haven’t heard of any. Have you?

That said, check out Clerks II if you get a chance. If you haven’t seen Clerks make sure to check it out first if possible as Clerks II will be a much more enjoyable experience. Snoogans!