While "Good Will Hunting" has turned Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, the film's screenwriters and stars, into Hollywood players, it's also done wonders for Elliott Smith, the suddenly Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter behind the film's song "Miss Misery." [700k QuickTime]
Smith recently sat down with Janeane Garofalo for an episode of MTV's "Indie Outing," and the two chatted about the song, the movie, and the fact that Smith plays all the instruments on his 1997 album, "either/or."
"Do you feel that you enjoy having all the control like that, or do you actually like sharing responsibility with other musicians?" Garofalo asked.
"I don't know," Smith replied. "I just do it myself because I like to play the different instruments. You know, you can't get better at things you never play."
Of course, the conversation quickly turned to Smith's contribution to the "Good Will Hunting" soundtrack, which earned the singer an invitation to Monday's Oscars.
"I'm assuming that happened, since you're from Portland and ('Good Will Hunting' director) Gus Van Sandt is from Portland, is that correct?" Garofalo asked. "So, you guys were buddies?"
"Yeah, I knew him from there," Smith said. "He'd come see me play and stuff."
"And he said, 'If I ever make a movie with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, you're the man we're going to go to for the music?"
"In so many words, yeah," Smith answered.
That invitation paved the way for Smith to perform at this year's Academy Awards Monday night.
Of course, Smith has more going on than just "Miss Misery." He recently finished recording his major label debut album, which should arrive this summer, and plans to tour next month.
