**Kevin Smith** (1970) is an American film director, screenwriter, actor, and producer, known for his distinctive style and sharp dialogue. His career took off with the low-budget independent film *Clerks* (1994), a black-and-white work rich in everyday conversations and pop culture references.

Smith then developed the "View Askewniverse," an interconnected cinematic universe featuring recurring characters, particularly the iconic duo Jay and Silent Bob (played by Smith himself). Key films in this universe include *Chasing Amy* (1997), *Dogma* (1999), and *Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back* (2001).

His style is characterized by dialogue-heavy screenplays, crude humor, and reflections on themes such as religion, relationships, and popular culture, often set in New Jersey.