Kevin Smith Shows How Supergirl Flies

Filmmaker and geek icon Kevin Smith has been hanging out on the set of Supergirl for the last week or so, working his magic with the cast and crew in an episode titled “Supergirl Lives.”

That, of course, is a wink and a nod to Superman Lives!, the unproduced, Kevin Smith-written script that was meant to be turned into a feature film starring Nic Cage, Chris Rock, and Cameron Diaz back at a time when those names would have made sense on a marquee together.

The reference, incidentally, likely originated with writer Eric Carrasco, who has been working in the Super-family since Smallville and who has also worked on comics and TV projects including Sleepy Hollow. You can read a conversation with Carrasco about his comic book series Sleepy Hollow: Providence here.

Smith took to the internet to share some of the tricks behind how a girl can fly, and was joined by — among others — Carrasco, series star Melissa Benoist, and Benoist’s stunt double Atlin Mitchell, who also serves as one of two stunt coordinators on the series.

In the video (embedded below via Smith’s Facebook account), Benoist is strapped into her harness, with a green screen operator steering her and a crew of people hoisting her up, moving her around, and blowing artificial windat her to keep her hair and cape convincingly flapping as Benoist apparently flies into, and then shields herself from, some kind of explosion.

The first time around, with Smith and company watching, Benoist appears to break and start to laugh.After a few more takes, she’s got it down.

Smith, for his part, offers up a nearly non-stop commentary, with praise and calls for applause, which are not at all unusual from the filmmaker. When ComicBook.com was on set to watch him film a scene last Thursday, the atmosphere was upbeat, filled with laughter and music — unlike any other set we’ve visited.

“I cannot say enough amazing things about Kevin Smith,” Benoist told reporters during the aforementioned set visit. “I”ve been a fan of his for ages, so I was really anticipating working with him and so excited about it, and he just exceeded all of my expectations.” She added that he’s “truly intuitive” about superhero fiction and that his feedback is invaluable.

Supergirl airs at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.