Dogma – a 1999 fantasy comedy film that was written and directed by Kevin Smith and sparked a furious response from the world – is apparently in the captivity of Harvey Weinstein, the notorious former film producer who found himself in the middle of numerous sexual assault allegations in 2017 and then, in 2020, was finally convicted of committing sex crimes.
In a recent interview, Smith talked about the film and why it’s not available to stream on digital platforms.
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The obscure and satirical premise centered on themes of Catholicism, which drew a warm reception from many, including the Catholic League, who deemed it blasphemous. Dogma featured notable names in the industry of contemporary times, such as Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, George Carlin, Chris Rock, and more. The film fared well in the hands of film critics, who favored its comedic and eccentric flair.
In the current scenario, it would be really difficult for the viewers to appreciate the premise of the film written by Smith. Its existence in the digital streaming sphere is non-existent. The only remnants of the film can be found on secondary websites in the form of an overpriced Blu-ray DVD. The reason behind this has been worked out by the famous podcaster, YouTuber and filmmaker.
Dogma and its connection to Harvey Weinstein
During an interview with The Wrap, Kevin Smith wondered why Dogma is a movie that lacks streaming presence. To this, the director of Clerks mentioned a name which, according to him, “no one wants to hear anymore” The story, as detailed by the writer, went like this: Even before production on the 1999 film began, Disney CEO Michael Eisner laid out several reasons why the film’s release would be too controversial and unfavorable. .
Here’s how Harvey Weinstein comes into the picture. The CEO of Disney had firmly affirmed this, telling the producer of “do not do Dogma.” While Weinstein initially agreed to this, he backtracked and continued with the film.
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Before production began, the script and premise were a cause of contention. This led Eisner to again force Weinstein, who was the head of Miramax, to sell Dogma. One thing led to another and Weinstein ended up buying the rights to the company run by Smith. The film therefore saw its release via Lionsgate. The film did well, racking up $44 million at the box office.
Everything was fine. A special edition DVD turned into an amazing Blu-ray. What else could Smith ask for?
Unfortunately, as the Defense director, “the rights have expired”.
The unsuccessful battle for the rights of dogma
For years, Kevin Smith felt neglected by Miramax and Harvey Weinstein. “I don’t think he realized he still owned that movie,” says the filmmaker. A few years later, something intriguing happened. Smith was contacted by the former producer and founder of Miramax. It was 2017, a week before the legal controversy that engulfed Weinstein in flames of denunciation and rebuke.
During this call, Weinstein had mentioned Dogma and what Smith wanted to do with it. Initially, the get out of the cop the director was thrilled to remember his effort after an entire decade. The then oblivious Smith, who was considering follow-up ideas to the 1999 film, hadn’t anticipated what would happen within the week.
The heinous actions committed by Weinstein have erupted into the world and to say people, including Kevin Smith, were appalled would be an understatement. The director testified to how he felt “guilty by association” as he was left completely in the dark despite knowing the infamous producer. In the end, what Smith understood was that:
“I’m candid, I don’t see all the angles. He wasn’t calling because he wanted to do anything with ‘Dogma’. He wanted to see if I was one of the people who had spoken to The New York Times. I didn’t, because I didn’t know any of that.
Following this, a few years later, the Defense director met a new Dogma DVD planning to make its way into the universe. This, however, meant Weinstein was trying to sell the rights to the 1999 film for a staggering $5 million in return. Moreover, the producer was trying to do such a thing by hinting at how Smith would be a part of the DVD release. All the interaction took place with the help of lawyers.
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Smith had instructed his attorneys that he wanted nothing to do with Dogma if Weinstein was still affiliated with it. The podcaster attempted to recover the rights, which he “to feel very dirty” for he was in no hurry to give money to the ill-known and dishonorable man. However, Smith felt protective about Dogmabecause it was his film, his creative effort to begin with.
Here’s a snippet of what Kevin Smith said about the situation in the interview:
“He is holding him hostage. My film about angels belongs to the devil himself. And if there’s only one way out, maybe we can redeem it.
While the cult classic director made an effort to redeem what was rightfully his, Weinstein merely showed the cold shoulder. The lawyers increased the offer. The producer refused, once again.
Smith clarified:
“Listen, I love ‘Dogma’ as much as the others but a) I don’t have $5 million and b) it’s not what the market supports anymore. We live in the age of streaming. The latest time I heard it was from another company, saying they wouldn’t resell my movie to me.
Such an outcome had left the director and screenwriter no other choice. His “movie about paradise” was officially “in limbo.”
The conclusion of the contentious issue
All Smith could say to wrap up the frustrating deal was how disheartening it is for a film that was a product of its self-expression to be held hostage by Harvey Weinstein — of all. However, the director also testified to how, despite being an unfortunate event, the questionable state of Dogma cannot be compared to the traumatic experiences that Weinstein’s victims had to face.
Finally, here’s what the eccentric YouTuber, author, director and visionary had to say:
“What sucks is he’s also sitting his big ass on my film. And the right thing to do would have been to sell him to me even if you didn’t want to sell him at the price I first Tell us what that price is and resell me my personal expression.
The Dogma The situation remains murky and controversial. While the director had to give up the 1999 film’s streaming future and possible series and sequel opportunities, it’s a simple blow to his filmography and career. . Fans of the filmmaker can rather rejoice in his latest projects.
Clerks III, directed by Kevin Smith, is out in theaters now.
Source: The Envelope
