Marilyn Ghigliotti, best known for playing Veronica Loughran in Kevin Smith’s debut indie-hit ‘Clerks’ in 1994, became View Askew royalty for her performance in it. Impressing Kevin Smith with her ability to cry while doing a monologue in her audition, she quickly landed the role. Like Kevin, she’s a native of the state of New Jersey as well. After the film was in the can with a very modest budget of $27,575, it went on to earn critical acclaim in the festival circuit and grossed over $3 million during its theater run. She’s returning to the View Askewniverse with other alumni of Smith’s in the upcoming film ‘Shooting Clerks’, a biopic about Kevin Smith’s journey of getting Clerks made and to the big screen. In celebrating the films 25th anniversary next year, and her upcoming role as Ali Thomlyn in ‘Shooting Clerks’ (as well as an associate producer credit on the film), we got the chance to catch up with Marilyn and talk to her about her experience on the cult hit that launched a career.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- With the Clerks 25th anniversary just around the corner, do you feel a sense of nostalgia looking back on that film and the fact it’s still being spoken about this many years later?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- I always have a sense of nostalgia when I think and look back on Clerks because it was a great time when it felt like it was all happening and falling into place. And having such a great time working on my first film project. Also doing it with someone that I knew. Speaking of Brian, since we had worked on stage together.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- Back when you were filming in Jersey with Kevin, did you have the sense at the time that you were making something special that would stand the test of time?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- I always say that it’s impossible for any movie to know what will happen with films. Obviously, when we’re working on a film project, we’ll be a little bias as to how we feel about it. Many times when looking for the next project to submit to, I’ll see breakdowns where the listing will say we have a great project with an amazing script and crew. I’ve realized, I need to take a look at that script first because I’ve seen some of those amazing scripts and well, sometimes, there weren’t so amazing. lol

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- When the role became available during casting, was there something that attracted you to that character when reading the script or did Kevin see that in you and assign you to play the part? How was the process?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- Well I actually attended a casting call, but no one knew what the roles to be cast would be. After auditioning with a monologue is when Kevin then called me to come by the convenience store so that he can talk to me and pick up the script and then decide if I would want to do the role or not due to the topic of conversations that I would be saying in the film. I wasn’t offended or scared in any way by the dialog. I was laughing as I read the script and was more than happy to take on the role of Veronica.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- When watching Shooting Clerks, the indie biopic detailing the journey Kevin took to getting Clerks made, do you feel like Chris and the other crew accurately portrayed the time and period of the making of the film the way you remembered it so many years earlier?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- I actually have not seen Shooting Clerks yet. I wasn’t available to go to the screening that was done in New Jersey where Kevin and some of the other cast got to see it. So I can’t really speak on that. Some that have seen it and talked to me about say that a few liberties were taken, but again, I can’t say. All I can say is that Chris and I had spoken a few times via Skype when he was in the process of creating the script to have as much accuracy as possible.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- With many major cast members of clerks doing cameos for the film, was there a sense of homecoming seeing so many old familiar faces again?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- Again, haven’t seen the film, so can only go by the fact of knowing all the cameos that were put in and having a sense of warmth in knowing that they really tried to capture a feeling of family for us and the fans. Even being fans themselves.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- I gotta ask, Brian O’Halloran’s Dante was a major component of what made Clerks so funny and endearing in equal measures, as well as you being his most prominent castmate aside from Jeff Anderson; Do you two still keep in contact and have any relationship still?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- Brian and I actually had done theater together prior to filming Clerks. So we already had a pretty good friendship that has not waned at all. We keep in touch and really enjoy when we get to go to conventions together. And would love to hopefully get to work with him again.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- Can you tell us any crazy stories from the set of the Quickstop and the indie filmmaking done on Clerks? This was a very low budget passion project for Smith and I imagine being on set was something of a unique experience.

Marilyn Ghigliotti- Oh my gosh, you’re asking me to try to remember 25 years ago details. LOL. I have a hard time remember yesterday at times. I wasn’t there quite so many days either. My craziest, which aren’t really all that crazy are enjoying some bagels that didn’t belong to us and getting to use the store as craft services.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- How did your involvement with Shooting Clerks come about?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- Don’t recall exactly how it started, but I was contacted by Chris Downey and he wanted to get as much detail about my side of the story how I got involved in Clerks and we did that via Skype a few times, as questions that he would have would come up. And as the film progressed he wanted some of us to also have cameos in the film. At a certain point, Chris wanted Scott Schiaffo and myself to go to the UK and play Kevin’s parents. After looking at the cost of just flying us out and other particular issues, it was too cost prohibitive with the budget they had so it didn’t happen. After some time as they continued to shoot, it became apparent that they would need to hire a producer and B camera to shoot in the states where had I still lived in New Jersey, I probably could have still played the role of Kevin’s mom. But I lived in LA and trying to coordinate shoot dates with others schedule that didn’t happen, but while going to New Jersey for some personal business we were able to coordinate and get to shoot the Ali Thomlyn role of calling Kevin with the news of doing an article in the Village Voice.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- With the 25th anniversary next year for the indie classic, do you know if we can expect a theatrical run for screenings celebrating the film?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- I can only hope that there are many great events celebrating the 25th anniversary and that I’m asked and able to attend many. It’s crazy to think that it’s been 25 years, although some days I certainly feel like 25 years has gone by. 😉

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- When Clerks 2 released, was their ever any discussion of bringing your character back into the fold?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- It was never discussed with me, so I can’t really say if there was or wasn’t. Knowing some writers in my life and having heard how sometimes they don’t know where the writing will go and having a writer friend tell me once while he was writing a script, got very surprised at what transpired as it wasn’t his intention.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- With Shooting clerks seeking distribution currently, is there any time frame available for when we can expect a home video release or limited theatrical run?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- Although I am an associate producer on the film, that part of the process I am not privy to or have a hand in. But I can only hope soon. I do know there are plans that they would love to do, but as with anything it takes money, so much depends on distribution and someone willing to take on the expense of the promotion part.

Josh (VariantNEWSSOURCE)- Lastly, are there any projects you’re doing now you can tell us about and where can we follow you on social media to get all updates on projects or appearances you have?

Marilyn Ghigliotti- I actually do have quite a few projects in the can and coming up. This year I’ve acted in 2 short films, one called Laidover and another titled It’s Time and a role in a feature film with friend, writer/director Neil Johnson, in another of his Sci-Fy films. Earlier this year, after shooting Laidover in St. George Utah, I decided I needed to shoot a short film idea I’ve had for many years. I spent 2 weeks getting things prepared when I was approached by other filmmakers I know, to come on to a project of 7 short films they had. To act in 2 and also come on as a producer. I mentioned what I had just started doing and was asked to just add my script to theirs. So we’ve been in development and production since February. Had a crowdfunding campaign over the summer for 2 months, which didn’t do very well, but gave us barely enough to shoot a couple of those shorts, which we will be shooting the last weekend of November. And then after the holidays, we will revisit doing another, hopefully, successful crowdfunding campaign to shoot the rest of the shorts. Eventually, our goal is to sell all the shorts as a series to a streaming service

For anyone that would like to keep up with what I’m up to do and follow me, I can be found on Facebook – MarilynGhigliottifanpage, Twitter – ThatClerksGirl and Instagram – MarilynGhigliotti.

Check out the Indiegogo page for the film here

Check out ‘Shooting Clerks’ on tour in cinemas, film festivals, and comic cons in 2019 during the 25th Anniversary of Clerks with a projected VOD and Home Video Release later that year!

The Synopsis for ‘Shooting Clerks’:

“The true story of how convenience store clerk Kevin Smith made his grainy $27,000 film Clerks (1994) with maxed-out credit cards and the people who aided him in his indie crusade.”

– Josh O.