Austin, Texas (CNN) -- Podcasting saved Kevin Smith's career. 

So said the filmmaker (and you can throw a few slashes after that title these days) at the South by Southwest festival here on Monday during a panel called, appropriately, "The Business of Kevin Smith." 

"I had no idea, but that would become the f---ing center of everything I'm doing now," said Smith, who broke into moves after making 1994's indie hit "Clerks" for roughly $25,000. 

"The ultimate freedom that allowed me to walk away from the 'heroin' [money] of the movie business -- what gave me the strength to walk away -- was [expletive] podcasting." 

Smith said he was working on "Zach and Miri Make a Porno," which he wrote and directed, when he realized the passion that led him to make movies like "Dogma" and "Chasing Amy" was gone. 

"For a while I became a filmmaker and for a while a professional director," he said. "But I really felt like I'm an artist." 

Smith said he decided to take advantage of his access to celebrities and gift of gab to launch a new project. And he deployed a technique he said has always served him well: do what you love and what you're good at, then figure out how to make money doing it. 

And that led to "SModcast," a weekly podcast that he and friend/co-producer Scott Mosier launched in 2007 and do to this day. 

It was free. But as its online audience grew, the opportunities to make money arose. 
What was the event called?
Where was Kevin Smith speaking?
What was it called?
What's his podcast called?
How often is it published?
Who else is on it?
When did it start?
Does he make money on it?
How?
What did he make use of to start it?
Anything else?
Is this what let him get away from the movie industry?
What does he think of himself as?
What did his first movie cost?
What was it called?
When was it made?
What did he write and direct?
Where did this festival take place?
South by Southwest
So said the filmmaker (and you can throw a few slashes after that title these days) at the South by Southwest festival here on Monday during a panel called, appropriately, "The Business of Kevin Smith." 
On a panel
So said the filmmaker (and you can throw a few slashes after that title these days) at the South by Southwest festival here on Monday during a panel called, appropriately, "The Business of Kevin Smith." 
"The Business of Kevin Smith."
So said the filmmaker (and you can throw a few slashes after that title these days) at the South by Southwest festival here on Monday during a panel called, appropriately, "The Business of Kevin Smith." 
SModcast
And that led to "SModcast," a weekly podcast that he and friend/co-producer Scott Mosier launched in 2007 and do to this day. 
Weekly
nd that led to "SModcast," a weekly podcast that he and friend/co-producer Scott Mosier launched in 2007 and do to this day. 
Scott Mosier
And that led to "SModcast," a weekly podcast that he and friend/co-producer Scott Mosier launched in 2007 and do to this day. 
2007
And that led to "SModcast," a weekly podcast that he and friend/co-producer Scott Mosier launched in 2007 and do to this day
Yes
And that led to "SModcast," a weekly podcast that he and friend/co-producer Scott Mosier launched in 2007 and do to this day. 

It was free. But as its online audience grew, the opportunities to make money arose.
Opportunities to make money arose.
It was free. But as its online audience grew, the opportunities to make money arose.
Access to celebrities
Smith said he decided to take advantage of his access to celebrities and gift of gab to launch a new project.
His gift of gab
Smith said he decided to take advantage of his access to celebrities and gift of gab to launch a new project.
Yes
"The ultimate freedom that allowed me to walk away from the 'heroin' [money] of the movie business -- what gave me the strength to walk away -- was [expletive] podcasting." 
An artist
"For a while I became a filmmaker and for a while a professional director," he said. "But I really felt like I'm an artist." 
$25,000
"I had no idea, but that would become the f---ing center of everything I'm doing now," said Smith, who broke into moves after making 1994's indie hit "Clerks" for roughly $25,000
Clerks
"I had no idea, but that would become the f---ing center of everything I'm doing now," said Smith, who broke into moves after making 1994's indie hit "Clerks" for roughly $25,000. 
1994
making 1994's indie hit "Clerks" for roughly $25,000. 

Zach and Miri Make a Porno
Smith said he was working on "Zach and Miri Make a Porno," which he wrote and directed,
Texas
Austin, Texas (CNN) -- Podcasting saved Kevin Smith's career. 