On QVC UK Nic Buruci (dynamic forces) mentioned he was good friends with Joe Quesada during one of his comic collectoble hours. He said Quesada would be appearing in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (or Jay and Silent Bob's Last Adventure as he thought it was called). Nic said Joe played a Pizza Delivery Man who gave Eliza Dushku a "special delivery". Hinting, like the other stories, it all very rude.

February 20, 2001

SNOOTCHIE BOOTCHIE NEWS
On Location: 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back'

The term "movie set" is just a little bit of a misnomer. "Movie sets" would be a lot more accurate.

Sure, the bulk of Kevin Smith's "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" is happening on a studio in appropriately named Studio City, California, but it ain't like that's the only place the magic happens. Sets all around L.A. have come into play, including a hotel, a movie theater, and even a school in nearby Canoga Park. As production (L.A. production, at least -- the crew will wrap things up in Red Bank, New Jersey) has passed the halfway point, most of the remaining scenes will be at the main studio, including some featuring....

Mark Hamill. That's a-right. The beloved thespian made famous by the timeless flick "Corvette Summer" and his ongoing role as the voice of the Joker in the "Batman Adventures" cartoons will be taking part.

And a certain comic-booky celeb has made an appearance, too. Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada just padded his résumé with a "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" appearance. "It was fun -- a real blast," Quesada says. "I've got a cool part, a couple lines, and it's a very romantic scene."

Well, Quesada says it's romantic. Kevin Smith says something similar...but still different. "He turned in what could be termed a very 'hard' performance," Smith says. "You're going to see Joe Q as only [his wife] Nanci Q has seen him before."

And Smith is pretty sure he's found an acting diamond in the rough. "People remember the first time they really got to see Nicholson ply his trade on the big screen in the Roger Corman, non-musical version of 'Little Shop of Horrors,'" Smith says. "Joe's appearance in 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back' will be as mythical and memorable as that. As the Marvel head honcho, many people have said Joe's the luckiest man alive, because he's paid to be the lunatic that runs the asylum. But when the movie comes out, the fanboys will proclaim Joe the luckiest man alive for an entirely different, and far more valid reason."

Quesada is under strict orders from Smith not to disclose just what his role is. But any sordid rumors to the contrary, he did remain clothed. In fact, he was fitted for a special and specific costume.

But even though he liked Joe's performance, Kev will be angling elsewhere for the future. "I've now cast two high-profile and talented Marvel muckity-mucks in View Askew flicks -- Joe in 'Strike Back' and Stan Lee in 'Mallrats,'" Smith says. "Next up, I'll be casting from the DC talent pool."

So now that he's had his one shot at the big time, does Quesada think he'll be getting groupies? "In addition to the ones I already have?" he laughs. "Hey, a guy with my charisma on screen for the first time -- you never know."

Take my word for it -- Mrs. Quesada need not worry.

February 14, 2001

Filming on the fourth and final instalment of Kevin Smith’s New Jersey series, Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, is well underway now, and we spoke to the film’s stunt-coordinator Gary Jensen about what’s in store.

“We have a big comedy scene where they’re spoofing a lot of movies,” Jensen told Empire Online. “Jay and Silent Bob go to Hollywood and we’re spoofing E.T., we’re spoofing Star Wars, and a whole bunch of others.” With a mammoth cast including turns from Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, David Duchovny, Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth and er… Judd Nelson, the film is shaping up to be the most ambitious project of the series and will be dishing out a heavy dose of satire to a number of iconic screen moments.

[SPOILER] “We’re doing a big lightsaber fight, it’s kinda fun. Jay and Silent Bob versus Mark Hamill. [END SPOILER] It’s very funny.”

February 13, 2001

February 13, 2001

‘JAY and SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK’ – On-Set Production Report

WEEK THREE – "And now with color pictures!"

January 29th through February 2nd 2001.

"Dodging Bu-wets and Racing The Sun" – Monday, Day 10

It’s late afternoon when I arrive on set. Outside a cold, bitter wind blows. It’s only 3:30pm, but due to a mountain range in front of us, light is becoming limited as the sun begins to dip down from behind. There are a few things happening now, mainly some stunts; one in which has Jay, Silent Bob and Suzanne making a run for cover to a nearby sewer hole, all the while dodging some simulated gunfire aimed at them. The "simulated gunfire" are actually small projectiles fired from air guns by professionals to give off threatening ricochet sparks on film.

Production is forced to wrap early as the mountain robs us of about an hour’s worth of light, and we head back to the lot for dailies to watch more El Rey footage, and get a surprise visit from Paul Dini, of "Batman Beyond" and "Jingle Belle" fame. Jay and I shoot the breeze with him for a while until the cold air proves just a tad too unbearable and we all call it a night.

"STAGE CHECKS, SEWERS AND SANDRA" – Tuesday, Day 11

As I arrive on lot to peek Monday’s dailies, beforehand we go and check out the sets that are going to be used for tomorrow morning’s shoot. But there’s a problem. It seems that the sewer the production team re-created indoors does not size match the one found and used on yesterday’s outdoor shoot. Turns out that the one built is just a tad too big, and needs to be made smaller according to Kev. But it’s not as easy as you’d think, as the production team must now race against the clock to fix it by tomorrow morning, which means "Rat" and his team must pull an allnighter.

There’s also a bit of excitement in the air as some of the guys out of the production office are a buzz about a Sandra Bullock sighting next door. Seems that she’s moving her production offices next to the View Askew offices for her next movie, which is also set to shoot in the soundstage next to one that "J&SBSB" is filming in (I know the tag in the last report was a bit misleading, my bad).

"YOU WOULDN’T LIKE HIM WHEN HE’S ANGRY" – Wednesday, Day 12

Silent Bob that is. For the first time, you’ll get to see all of Silent Bob’s pent up aggression and rage explode on screen for the very first time, as I did in dailies. It’s good stuff.

The interior sewer got fixed and matched up fine to what was done outdoors that you wouldn’t even be able to tell the difference. Kudos to "Rat" and his team for pulling it off and making it happen. What’s fun about watching dailies with Kev and company is that it’s similar to what it would be like sitting in a commentary session for say ‘CLERKS’ or ‘MALLRATS’ or pretty much any View Askew DVD. Verbal remarks are thrown out and about adding to the hilarity onscreen. An experience in itself I tell you.

"JAY AND THE BLUE SCREEN" – Thursday, Day 13

This is the very first time in the history of any View Askew film, that blue screen is being used. And up first is Jay, followed by Tango. The scene is giving a bit of a nod to about "50 or so Looney Tunes cartoons" as Kev puts it.

Jen stops by on set to show Kev the outfit which she’ll be wearing for her role in the film next week. The outfit that her, Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter and Shannon Elizabeth wear can only be seen to be believed. My feeble words cannot do them justice, but trust me they look amazing.

When Jay finishes, Kev steps aside and Scott pretty much fills in directing duties of what he’d like Tango to do, which will later involve some CGI effects. By third take, Scott gets the perfect take that makes him more than delighted.

"COROLLA, STEWART AND HANGING OUT A BIT MORE WITH THE ‘RAT’" – Friday, Day 14

Adam Corolla of ‘LoveLine’ and "The Man Show’ fame, shoots and wraps his role early in the morning, which just leaves Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show" left to film his cameo alongside Will Ferrell. These two had some real funny chemistry going on between them, which sent the cast and crew into moments of hilarity, as when these guys are rolling, it makes it hard for us to contain our laughter without ruining the take. Will has to fly back out to New York for three weeks to resume SNL, but will be back in March to finish his part.

But that’s ok, because next week (as Kev calls it) is "Chick Week" and production moves to a week’s worth of night shoots with the girls (oh, this job is getting tougher and tougher).

After Jon Stewart wraps I decide to forgo dailies for a change and hook up with "Rat" at his office, next door, to take him up on his previous offer. There, it’s like heaven for any View Askew fan. All those cool Mooby posters, the Brodie shirt, designs and logos… all of it, is done here. This is ground zero. There are Mooby menus, cups, posters, production designs and blueprints, tons of specially designed and dressed props. Man, there is so much stuff in here that I want! "Rat’s" chief graphic designer, Scott Purcell, shows me around the place and gives me an insight of just what he does in designing things and decision making with Kevin. All fascinating stuff. It’s cool to see and read the fine print on a pack of Nails, or reading the inside gags bits on the Mooby menu that would otherwise would fly by onscreen so fast you wouldn’t catch, seeing rejected material that Miramax deemed a little too offensive. Sweet stuff to see indeed!

Scott Purcell goes on to explain that working with Kevin more, makes his job easier, as since beginning with ‘AMY’ he’s gotten to know what Kev pretty much wants more or less to see in his universe; and stuff like with Mooby, a lot of those gags and designs are re-used and re-incorporated back into this flick.

"ATTENTION VIEW ASKEW FANS!"

Ok, I’ve been giving this a bit of thought, so I figured we’d try something new. Let’s make this fan experience, say… a little more "interactive". Since I’m on set everyday, I’ve gotten to know some people and things quite well, that finding interesting questions that haven’t been asked to death is becoming more and more a challenge. Hell, to be honest with you all, I have more casual, friendly conversations with these folks, than say that of asking "press-like" questions. It feels a bit uncomfortable for me asking questions that, at this point, I pretty much know most of the answers to now myself.

So here’s were you all come in.

Here’s your chance to have your question possibly answered by you’re favorite View Askew actor or character, and I’ll choose a handful of about 10-20 really good ones. Now by "good ones" I mean those related to the individual, their craft or character they inhabit in the View Askewniverse. No, I will not ask Ben about Gwyneth, nor will I address any gossip or rumors towards an individual. This is about their work, experiences, and feelings of being a part of this series that Kevin has created. Be respectful. I will also not field questions relating to any spoiler material about "JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK", remember this is still a spoiler-free column.

So drop me a line fanboys, and fangirls, think up a really good, preferably View Askew related question, drop your internet/e-mail name, and who knows, your question just may find an answer up here in future "JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK" columns to come!

Also, keep in mind that no interview is guaranteed, as this all depends on the cast and crew’s availability and/or participation. But for now, let’s focus our questions to the cast and crew still left at hand. These include: Kevin, Jennifer Smith, Scott Mosier, Jason Mewes, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jason Lee, Will Ferrell, Shannon Elizabeth, Eliza Dushku, Ali Larter, Jeff Anderson, Bryan Johnson, and Seann William Scott.

Remember, the film, and this column is for you - the fans. So let’s get some great, insightful and original thought provoking questions going on here and drop me a line.

NEXT WEEK:

It’s girls’ night out, but some of us boys are invited too. And let’s not forget about the huge pyro-stunt sequence that yet marks another first for a View Askew film, and I’ll take you for a ride on Kevin’s Ark.

Until next week, here’s another quotable musing from the Mewes himself…

"I want to fuck because my dick is in fact un-boned." – Jay

Such a potty mouth on that boy!

-Mysterio

February 8, 2001

'JAY and SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK’ – On-Set Production Report

WEEK TWO

SPECIAL GIANT-SIZED EDITION!

Whether you liked week one’s report or not (and you know who you are), you ain’t seen or read nothing yet! This week was by far the absolute best yet.

We gotta a lot to get to, so let’s get to it!

Monday, January 22nd through Thursday, January 25th 2001.

"IT’S GONNA BE A WET WEEK…" – Monday, Day 4

Or so they say, but lucky for us, its not today. We’re not out of the woods just yet though, as whether folks are telling us that rain will indeed hit sometime during the middle to late week.

My day gets off to a late start - so late in fact, that I arrive on set after 4pm. We’re shooting outdoors today, which means once the sun is down, we’re done and down for the day.

4:28 pm - As I arrive at base camp, I park my car to find the lot sparse with cars. I gage my watch with the sun to find less than an hour of daylight before we can shoot no more. But some days like today have wrapped early so I have fears that I have indeed missed everything and will soon turn back around and leave disappointed, with nothing to talk about. I ain’t gonna let that happen folks! I mean, today was Day 1 with Shannon Elizabeth and Will Ferrell after all!

I soon recognize one of the shuttle vans pulling into the lot, dropping one person off. This is looking bad. I approach the driver named Don, and ask him if they’ve wrapped. He informs me that they haven’t and are about 10-15 minutes up the road. "Let’s go!" I say and jump in.

So we’re off to where they’re shooting, and as we head uphill, I notice a cavalry of motorcycle cops riding down just passing us, followed by two more shuttle vans. I see Kev and Scott and others of the crew packed inside riding just behind the cops. Directly in front of them is Will Ferrell driving a camera rigged car. This looks bad. Neither one of us are sure if they’ll be riding back up or just head down to their cars and leave, but Don thinks they’ll come back up, so he takes me to where the trailers and such are set up.

We get there and the place is dead. Nothing happening. I find the 1st AD, Heather whom I met earlier in the week and ask her what’s happening. She informs me this should be the final shot and that they’re shooting a driving scene, which runs about 2 _ miles, so it’ll be awhile until they get back. Well I guess I’ll just sit out here and wait. And wait I do.

5:17 pm – As the sun begins to disappear, and a chill hits the air, I notice the vans coming back up, but no sign of Kev and company. Heather informs me that they’re down the hill a short ways, so I begin walking down towards them.

Halfway up another van ambles just past me, and stops. The doors open and Kevin calls out for me to hop inside from the passenger window. We drive back up from were I just left, and Kev, Mosier and I soon bail out. We then meet up with Will Ferrell and Kev introduces me to Will. The meet is brief but Ferrell seems to be a likable enough guy, who clearly enjoyed his first day.

The three of us walked back to Mosier’s SUV and they offer to drive me back down to my car, to where I’ll meet them back on the lot a bit later to watch Friday’s footage with Day Two of Biggs & Van Der Beek, and more of Deitrich Bader.

Jay joins us at dailies, and afterwards we talk outside about hanging out this weekend and doing an interview of sorts.

"MONKEY TROUBLE and THE ARRIVAL OF WALT AND STEVE-DAVE" – Tuesday, Day 5

Today we’re shooting on location at Vasquez Rocks Park up in the Santa Clarita area. It is in fact the same location that was featured in previous episodes of ‘Star Trek’ as well as the location of Bedrock for Amblin’s ‘The Flintstones’.

It’s famous for their unique rock formation, which is prominently used as a backdrop for a scene involving Jay, Silent Bob, and Tango the orangutan as ‘Suzanne’. Will Ferrell and Judd Nelson are also on hand, and a diner set stands nearby. We also shoot another short chase sequence involving our heroes. If you haven’t already, go and check out some exclusive photos of this scene, as well as some stuff from Week 1 over at NEWSASKEW.COM. They’re fairly non-spoilerish.

Next up is the day’s final martini shot, which just involves Jay & Silent Bob holding each of Suzanne’s hands in front of the diner, atop its steps.

Now this all sounds like it should be simple, and it would be if Tango weren’t more in the mood to play than act at the moment. Tango’s direction is just to stand there, but with a guard railing directly in front of him, he’d rather climb on it or swing through rather than just stand in front.

Back on the lot again, we settle in for dailies and just as we do does the door open and lo and behold in walk Walt Flanagan and Bryan Johnson, View Askew’s very own super fans, Walt & Steve-Dave respectively.

Kev greets them, where they inform him that they’ve just got into town to do their cameos for Thursday. Apparently, they drove in from Jersey as Walt does not like to fly.

They hang in and watch dailies with us, and then we all huddle in to the editing room where Kev shows us footage from week one which he and Scott edited over the weekend.

I meet briefly with Walt and Bryan before we all go our separate ways: me home for some much needed rest, as they go off to The Golden Apple on Melrose to pick up Tuesday’s new comic releases.

"PARTLY CLOUDY, 82% CHANCE OF RAIN" – Wednesday, Day 6

Better make that 100% chance.

Same location, different day. Except for today is the day that nature choose to frown upon us with cloud cover, intermittent rain and even hail! Lucky though, today is interior stuff inside the diner rather than outside, but unpleasant to work in nonetheless.

Back at dailies, Bryan, Walt and Malcolm are trying to figure out what to do that evening for fun. But out here, anything after 9pm, outside of dinner and/or a bar on a weeknight are slim. Besides, Walt’s not much for bars, so Malcolm suggests either CityWalk or bowling. Bowling?!?!

"Yeah, you certainly can’t do that back in Jersey!" I say.

I’m out, because tomorrow’s the big day at the El Rey, which I’m on all day. Walt and Bryan don’t have call time until 4 or 5pm so they’re good to go.

We all exit to leave. Kev, executive producer Jon Gordon, and myself pile in one cart, while Jay, Walt, Bry and Malcolm jump in another, with Jay behind the wheel.

As Kev begins to pull away to the right, Jay quickly zooms past us, laughing manically as he speeds ahead. Crazy somabitch.

Kev drives me back to my car, we talk a bit about tomorrow’s shoot were in informs me, much to his disappointment that Ethan Suplee is unable to do his cameo because he (like Duchovney) is still tied up shooting ‘Evolution’ for Ivan Reitman. Bummer. So he’s off to go home and re-write to compensate for the change I assume.

"BIG DAY AT THE ‘EL REY’. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED" – Thursday, Day 7.

No way I’m gonna miss his day! This day promises to hold vast amounts of fun and surprises that I’m planning on holding out here ‘til the cold and bitter end!

Call time for crew and some of the cast is scheduled for 11am. I arrive on scene somewhat fashionably late at 11:25. As I get shuttled in from crew parking a mere 6-7 blocks away (Hey - I gotta save up my energy!), I’m dropped off at the trailers just around the corner from the El Rey.

There I see some of the extras huddled outside together, as well as an autograph seeker or two. Five minutes later I find Mewes expressing disappointment that more hot looking girls didn’t come out and represent. I heartedly agree. The female ratio was slight compared to the guys. As we talk a bit more some guy approaches Jay for an autograph. "Do you have a pen?" Jay asks. "Uh… ummm… no." the seeker says. People, when asking for autographs it’s wise to have a pen handy. I obliged him, and handed Jay my pen so the guy could get his signature. He grabbed his autograph and quickly ran off. "Your welcome brother!"

Twenty minutes later Malcolm runs up to me asking if I have my car here. "Yeah, it’s in the lot." I tell him. "Can you do me a huge favor?" Malcolm asks me, and soon, next thing I know is we’re off to the valley to grab something he needs back at the house.

I arrive back on set about an hour later, and go inside the El Rey where I find some of the cast and crew setting up. I catch Kev and Jay rehearsing some dance moves with Morris Day, that apparently was a last minute thing Kev wanted to try and do.

Outside, I run into Robert ‘Ratface’ Holtzman, production designer for the film, and express to him the coolness and cleverness of the outside posters and marquee. He urges me to stop by his office sometime and he’ll be more than happy to show me some more things he’s working on. Cool.

Back inside I’m quick to find that Walt and Bryan have showed up. Walt stands by himself for a while taking this scene all in. Once the scene quiets down, I stroll up alongside him, and we soon begin talking a bit about the character of Brodie Bruce in ‘MALLRATS’ (as played by Jason Lee), and how the character was a creation that Kev made based on him, which not so surprisingly leads into talks of comics.

MYSTERIO: So Walt, let’s talk about the character of Brodie. How much of that character’s traits are actually based on you, as opposed to just an exaggeration of your persona?

WALT FLANAGAN: Well, there are those little nuances like bagging and boarding my comics & me always carrying around a Dixie cup, but other than that…

MYSTERIO: So you’re not quite as verbose in person from that of the character, which would then be more of an exaggeration?

WALT: Yeah.

MYSTERIO: But you do have a mass comic book collection don’t you?

WALT: Yeah, I do.

MYSTERIO: Do you have them stored the same as Brodie did in his basement, all boxed up and such?

WALT: Yeah, it’s pretty much like that.

MYSTERIO: Do you keep everything categorized so that you can locate a pull a certain issue rather quickly?

WALT: Yeah, pretty much. Except often with newer stuff I tend to fall behind on so it just ends up in a pile until I find the time to sit down and organize them.

MYSTERIO: OK, how many comics do you imagine you have in your collection?

WALT: Oh, I don’t know. If I’d have to say, maybe in the tens of thousands since I started collecting in 1975, although I’ve never gone back into the Silver Age or ever felt the need to go back and collect the whole series of say, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’.

MYSTERIO: OK, let’s say you we’re hard-pressed for cash. What’s the most valuable comic you feel you have in your collection to date?

WALT: I’d have to say my giant-sized ‘X-MEN’ #1.

MYSTERIO: How much do you think you could get for it?

WALT: If I was lucky enough, and had the right buyer, hmmm… maybe six to seven thousand.

MYSTERIO: Kevin’s got his own comic book store in Jersey that you often work at. Have you ever thought of opening your own comic book store?

WALT: No, not really.

MYSTERIO: How do you feel about Kevin ending the whole View Askewniverse?

WALT: Never say never. Who knows, if this thing makes enough money…

MYSTERIO: Besides, I guess Walt and Steve-Dave will live on in the comics.

WALT: Yeah, that’s right.

MYSTERIO: How weird will it be to see yourself portrayed in comic book form with the ‘Walt and Steve-Dave’ 1-shot comic that Kev’s planning to do?

WALT: Yeah, that will definitely be weird.

MYSTERIO: I’m sure you’ll be bagging and boarding that one for its collectable value in the future.

WALT: Yeah, I’ll probably get a few. Ya know I’ll keep a few all boarded up and sealed, and one reading copy to show around and such.

Soon after chatting with Walt I find Bryan Johnson and talk with him about sitting down and offering up his thoughts on the final film, the character of Steve-Dave and also the recently acquired feature film, ‘VULGAR’ which marks his debut as both writer and director, (which is also produced by Smith), scheduled for release sometime this summer. We arrange to try doing it this weekend, as today time is short and I know Johnson’s in town for just a short while.

I then bump into a hardly recognizable Shannon Elizabeth, (who was just named ShoWest Star of Tomorrow) and talk with her briefly about getting together later and talking about the film and such during one of her other less grueling days of shooting. She seems receptive to the idea, so hopefully we’ll get a chance to do a quick sit down, down the road.

As I play catch up back inside I find Kev’s wife, Jen standing by watching Kev and Jay dancing alongside Morris Day. "He’s really enjoying this, isn’t he?" I tell her. "You have no idea." She says. She goes on in detail about Kev’s love for music from the 80’s and how he, Jay and Malcolm will take trips together and sing 80’s love ballads in the car. "You mean like Chicago and Air Supply tunes?" "Oh definitely Air Supply!" Jen says much to her dismay. But the smile on Kev’s face right now says it all. He’s beaming, living out a fanboy’s dream come true - not just having Morris Day and the Time in your movie, but also having the chance of performing alongside them and capturing it all on film.

At about 2:10 we’re ready to begin to roll. Extras are moved in place, the usual suspects sit behind the playback monitors, DP Jamie Anderson double checks the framing and coverage of the ‘A’ and ‘B’ cameras. Kev jumps up onto the stage before the crowd of extras and thanks them for showing up, promising they’re in for a real good time and this should be some fun.

Hmmm… what’s Ali Larter doing here? Whatever, she looks quite fetching even sans the whipped cream outfit she wore in "Varsity Blues."

2:15 – Morris Day and The Time are announced to the crowd and take their places onstage.

"CUE UP SOME ‘JUNGLE LOVE’ BABY!"

Having never seen Morris Day and The Time perform, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but these guys rocked the house! The dance moves and chemistry between Day and his percussionist, Jerome was amazing. The choreography that these two did, with much fancy footwork, was a thrill to see. And take after take they exuded so much life and energy as if they were performing to the crowd for the very first time, every time.

But once Jay and Silent Bob took the stage alongside their musical heroes, the crowd of extras roared with delight. Seeing Jay and Silent Bob dancing in sync with Day and Jerome was just too cool for these words. And to those who were there and saw, once Kev got onstage, the acting stopped. That wasn’t acting folks! He was clearly stuck in the moment and having an absolute ball.

As I watched some of Jay and Silent Bob getting their infectious grooves on, I was briefly distracted when in, from behind me, walks in none other than Joey Lauren Adams, looking amazing. She walked in quietly talking and laughing with Jen as they stood watching Kev do a rolling rehearsal. A look of glee soon fell across Joey’s face as she stood by herself and watched Kev dancing and having a good time. She soon finds Walt and Bryan and says, "Isn’t that the best?" remarking about Kev’s "moves".

Once Kev finishes, he goes to check the playback on the monitor. After taking a look, Jen brings Joey up to Kev, and both seem truly happy to see one another again, and Kev took the stage again for another take.

No sooner did I see Joey did I see ‘CLERKS’ very own Dante Hicks, Brian O’Halloran walking around the place, and just as quick, walked in Brodie Bruce/Banky Edwards himself, Jason Lee.

Kev soon found Lee and quickly motioned him to come up onstage in front of the fans. Lee without hesitation obliged and took the stage, standing there arms raised high above his head, commanding a stage presence not unlike the way that his ‘ALMOST FAMOUS’ character, Jeff Bebe would. The crowd went insane at this point and soon Lee and Kev exited offstage and out the backdoor, where I was soon found left standing next to Brian O’Halloran.

I introduce myself to him which much to my surprise he says, "Oh, you’re the one who wrote that column. Nice job." (It amazes me how many people are reading this thing, most actually even liking it!) "Thanks" I say and soon we begin to talk about the ‘CLERKS’ days where he explains how different it was back then to what it is now. Back then everyone had day jobs, and after hours would go work nights filming ‘CLERKS’ and catering was limited to what The Quick Stop had on hand.

We then discuss the successful ride that ‘CLERKS’ found in Sundance. "That was a complete surprise. I mean Jeff (Anderson) and I were up there and the shows were selling out to the point that people were actually scalping tickets! And Jeff would say, "Man, I’m surprised people actually bought tickets."

We then talk about "MALLRATS" to where Brian tells me, "On ‘CLERKS’ at the end of the day, we’d take our own clothes back home with us, which with ‘RATS" I quickly found wasn’t the case. On ‘RATS’ we had union people for the first time, and so after my first day wrapped, a wardrobe person came up to me and said "Oh, I’ll take that from you." I was like, "No, that’s OK, I got it." "No sir you don’t understand, you have to give it to me, you can’t take it with you." Brian was dumbfounded by the fact he wasn’t allowed to carry home his own wardrobe.

We then discuss the disappointment of the ‘CLERKS: TAS’ series that ended abruptly after only two episodes on ABC last summer. He tells me that that time was a dream come true for him, as he would grow up mimicking along to cartoon characters and doing voices. Plus it was good, and easy work that he enjoyed doing immensely. But hopes are still high as Brian is set to again lend his voice to the character of Dante for the animated ‘CLERKS’ feature film which Brian says will garner a hard ‘R’-rating, pushing the comedic edge as the ‘SOUTH PARK’ feature film did. And although characters from the View Askewniverse will no longer carry over into live-action projects, they will carry over into such projects as the comic books, and feature animated film.

"TOO MANY FOLKS TO INTERVIEW, AND TOO LITTLE TIME TO DO ‘EM ALL IN."

Soon Randal Graves himself, Jeff Anderson enters and Kev quickly greets him and gives him a big, welcoming hug. My god, at this moment I felt like I was clearly in the center of this whole View Askewniverse, a who’s who if you will, that as Scott Mosier puts it, "it’s kind of like a high school reunion of sorts with everyone gathered here together. But the bad thing is that I really won’t have any time to spend with any of them because it’s a pretty tight day, and most everyone is in and out after they shoot their scenes."

As I walk outside to the front of the El Rey, a striking female who asks if Jeff Anderson is inside approaches me. I walk her inside, and ask around, but it seems that he’s left for his trailer so he can get into makeup and wardrobe.

I ask her how she knows Jeff, and she informs me that she’s a friend of his. I inform her as to where the trailers are, but decide to walk her down myself as I’m headed that way anyways (yeah, right!). As craft service begins setting up dinner, Anderson soon finds us. I tell Jeff that as a ‘finders fee’ of sorts, I’d like to do a brief interview with him if he has some time to spare. He tells me sure, and to find him in a little while and we’ll do it.

And as Anderson and his friend walk off, Joey soon passes by me. I officially shake hands and introduce myself to her, and suggest that if she has a few quick minutes we gab a bit about the film.

To which she says "Yeah, sure. I should have some time in about five minutes. Will you be out here?" she asks. "Yeah, yeah I will." I say. "Ok, just give me a few minutes and I’ll come out and find you," she says as she disappears, behind the stack parked of trailers.

Right now I’m thinking nothing more than, "SWEEEEEET!" I’ve gotta get some interviews with these folks, especially 1-dayers like Joey. It’s all in the scheduling at point, but right now, this is looking good, real good.

Just as dinner is being served, Joey does indeed come out and find me. "Hi. You ready?" she asks. "Absolutely." I say without hesitation. But I’m a lying through my teeth here, as honestly I had no intentions that I’d even actually get to see any of these people, less speak to them. So I have zero questions or topics prepped beforehand, but I couldn’t pass up the opportunity, so I figure I’ll just try and fudge my way through it.

She leads me back up into her trailer, and sits me down on the couch, as she perches herself beside me on the armrest. It’s then I decide to fess up and tell her that I really have no formal questions prepared and that I’d figure we’d just converse for a while, let the tape run and see where it leads. Much to my surprise she says, "Alright."

Let me first say, up this close, Joey looks absolutely amazing. Her warm smile and golden blonde hair compliments her piercing bluish-grey eyes. It takes me a moment before that little voice inside my head tells me "Ok, jackass. She brought you this far, now say something already!"

So here goes nothing!

MYSTERIO: So it looks like you’re about to film your last turn as Alyssa Jones, in the big finale sequence that we’re just about to shoot tonight.

JOEY: Uh-huh.

MYSTERIO: I’ve been talking with other members of the cast tonight, and it seems that although this film will indeed do away with the characters in live-action form, that they will indeed live on in animated form, such as with…

JOEY: …the comics.

MYSTERIO: Right, or animated in film or television.

JOEY: Right, right.

MYSTERIO: So this nearing the end, which character in the View Askewniverse, are you the most proud of having played. I think I have a pretty good idea…

JOEY (playfully sarcastic): Oh, yeah "MALLATS"?

Joey giggles a bit at my obvious leading question.

MYSTERIO: Hey, you’d be surprised at how many people are such HUGE fans of "MALLRATS" that they just might pick Gwen Turner out of that question.

JOEY: Maybe, but like for me, Alyssa was such a great character to play.

MYSTERIO: Now how was it that you actually came to play Alyssa? I mean it’s fairly common knowledge that you and Kevin met on "Mallrats" and began dating afterwards. Now comes the time when Kevin decides to write "CHASING AMY". Did his decision to write "CHASING AMY" stem from the personal relationship you both had with each another during that period?

JOEY: I think so, I mean it kind of all gets blurred we even had talks of "DOGMA" when were shooting "AMY"…

MYSTERIO: …on playing the role of Bethany.

JOEY: Yeah, yeah.

MYSTERIO: Which having read I believe it was his 3rd draft at the time, the character of Bethany seemed to have been clearly written for you.

JOEY: Right. I think after our dating, I don’t know, Kevin knows I’m sure, Kevin doesn’t forget anything he’s like an elephant. I think that he re-wrote or changed the Bethany character after having worked with me on "Mallrats". We didn’t date until months after "MALLRATS", it’s while he was editing "MALLRATS" and we decided to hang out as friends and it just sort of came about like that.

MYSTERIO: Speaking of hanging out, I’ve been here at ground zero from day 1 and intend to be at least through the final day of LA shooting, but from talking with most of the cast and crew, Kevin really is quick to bond and set a great vibe with his crew right away. And the cast and crew really seem to love working with him.

JOEY: He’s real easy-going, he really is. I mean we had so much fun on "MALLRATS". I think too, with Kevin he’s just so down to earth, so he has people who are down to earth as well. When Kevin would ask me to dance for him, I’d dance around with a rose…

MYSTERIO: Ah, would that be the buffalo two step?

JOEY: Yeah, I was just goofy or whatever. So if you’re comfortable and like down to earth, you’re gonna love Kevin and being around him and such. And he’s so funny; I mean he is so funny. And he’s funnier the more you get to know him, because he’s really good at bringing stuff back. You know like once he’s met your mom then he can do an impression of your mom. Like we’ll be at Bed Bath & Beyond and he would do an impression of my mom and it would be like, "where did you pull that out from?" He was like the funest guy to go to Bed Bath and Beyond with. So anyways, with "CHASING AMY" the cast was originally going to be…

MYSTERIO: Cast with Drew Barrymore?

JOEY: Well no, before that even. After "MALLRATS" he wanted to do another big movie, more commercial, studio… like a sort of John Hughes-type thing where the girl was a lesbian. And there was going to be like a high school girl playing the lesbian and then I was going to be the older girl that she was having an affair with. And I think like Jason Lee was going to be a teacher. And then he changed it when we started dated, and decided to make it more of an independent movie.

MYSTERIO: Which turned out to be, it seems, a very personal movie.

JOEY: Uh-huh.

MYSTERIO: Even more so to both you and Kevin, than anyone else I’d imagine.

JOEY: Right, right.

MYSTERIO: But the feelings that the characters go through in the movie, I think anyone can relate to.

JOEY: Yeah, well the thing is it’s just honest. I’ve had people who are just so homophobic and narrow minded, and watch the movie, and it still affects them. It’s that common thread in all of us. Whether it’s your girlfriend being with one guy or… like I realize there’s no right answer. Because if you say "three", they’re going to be like "Why? Why did you have to sleep with three?" You know what I mean? "You mean I was this close to being the first." And if it’s like fifteen then it’s like way too many. You know what I mean? There’s not a right answer here.

MYSTERIO: It’s seems there’s a point where you cross a certain boundary where people are going to begin to label you in a way based on a number.

JOEY: YEAH! And even if you’ve been with just one, then they’re just even more pissed. Because it’s just one…

MYSTERIO: …and it’s like "well what was it that made that person so special that you chose to be intimate with, and now what standard do I have to live up too?"

JOEY: RIGHT!

MYSTERIO: So was the role of Alyssa Jones actually written with you in mind? I would almost have to think so.

JOEY: I think so. Because we were hanging out and stuff when he decided to make it "CHASING AMY" and not that high school movie.

MYSTERIO: How difficult was this movie to do, specifically at that moment and time to not only date Kevin, but in working with him as well. I would think that would add a lot of pressure.

JOEY: Well the pressure, I think, stemmed from the fact that they (Miramax) wanted Drew Barrymore and Jon Stewart, I think.

MYSTERIO: Maybe David Schwimmer?

JOEY: David Schwimmer maybe, but I think Jon Stewart.

MYSTERIO: Hmmm… I was always led to believe it was Schwimmer, not Stewart. I’ll have to check into that one.

JOEY: From that I felt more pressure. But then I felt completely comfortable with like being with, and doing it with Kevin. It’s the way he directs. He can make anyone good. You know what I mean?

MYSTERIO: Absolutely. Lighting and cinematography can make anyone look good on camera, but to give an actor such dialogue and character, there’s something to be said for substance over style.

JOEY: Exactly.

MYSTERIO: Kevin’s a writer’s filmmaker. He’s like a David Mamet or Woody Allen where you have to be able to appreciate the spoken word and characters more so than where the camera is. In fact, when Kevin wanted you to play Alyssa and handed you the script for "CHASING AMY" for the first time, what was you initial reaction to it?

JOEY: I was floored. It was scripted so good. I cried… I thought it was beautiful, and so well done. But it was more special because I was so close to Kevin, but if I’d gotten that script in the mail from my agency, I would have been overwhelmed. But yet you just don’t get those in the mail, you know what I mean?

MYSTERIO: Even today you don’t find scripts like that too often.

JOEY: I’ve yet to have one like that since. They’re just not out there; they’re just really not.

MYSTERIO: So when you get something like that, you just pretty much have to take it and treat it as a gift, like with "AMY". But as with any film, people seem take what they want from it, which sometimes comes from a personal experience, whether it’s about one’s own questions of faith as with "DOGMA", or just being in love as in "AMY". But "AMY" doesn’t seem to fit a particular theme of just falling in love and suffering through a relationship with a lesbian. It’s just flat out about the love, friendship, honesty…

JOEY: It’s all of that. I think it’s definitely the one where he really wore his heart on his sleeve.

MYSTERIO: Which brings us back to this, the last film of the Jersey saga. How do you fell about Kevin’s decision to end the films here, with these characters, at this very point in time?

JOEY: I’m so excited to see him lose this trilogy and go on to write more real type of stories.

MYSTERIO: Yeah, I think he definitely still has a lot of untapped potential lying in him.

JOEY: It’s all in there. But just because he gets comfortable with the jokes, and funny stuff, he still has an awful lot left to say about real people in several ways.

MYSTERIO: So Joey, after the success, and accolades you received from "CHASING AMY", when the script for "DOGMA" came your way, what was it that prevented you from playing the role of Bethany?

JOEY: I think originally it was with Miramax first, either they didn’t want me, or wanted a bigger name, or they wanted Bethany to be an older character, whatever… I don’t know. When that didn’t happen, Kevin was like "will you play Serendipity"? Um, but we had been broken up and it was just too difficult. It would have been way too hard to go and try and do that.

MYSTERIO: That’s understandable. I’m mean it’s certainly not because you didn’t like the script.

JOEY: NO! I LOVED THE SCRIPT! I had the honor of having him like read it to me word for word. I was just blown away; it was so good. It’s an intellectual journey of religion but it’s not an extremely spiritual movie. It’s clever, and its intellectual and its smart, but is it spiritual and soulful? I think "CHASING AMY" is much more spiritual and fulfilling and heartfelt.

MYSTERIO: In wrapping things up with this last film, when did you decide to come on board?

JOEY: I ran into Kevin in Toronto at the film festival, I hadn’t seen him in a while, and then I met his wife, Jen and then saw Scott (Mosier), like the whole gang I hadn’t seen in years. I had been thinking a lot about Kevin and I was actually thinking about writing him a letter and um, I was like no, it’ll happen. I will run into him… its gonna happen. And I just felt like it was about to, and it was like there he was. And it was just that. I don’t think either one of us had no… no hard feelings, like I knew we would because our breakup wasn’t like bitter or awful… it was more hurtful than anything. It was just something like when you really do love someone and it just doesn’t work. You just want different things and it’s so hard… I mean you miss that. God I love things about Kevin, like just the laughing, and the little things, I mean he’s so all about the little things. And now he’s married and has a baby and his wife’s wonderful…

MYSTERIO: Yeah, she is. I sort of got that impression when I noticed you walking inside the theatre with her, and saw Kevin. It was clear at that point that there were no hard feelings whatsoever by the interaction amongst the three of you.

JOEY: And why should there be. I mean Kevin and I we’re always friends first. But I don’t think at the time they were sure ‘JAY AND SILENT BOB’ was going and we exchanged e-mails and we just started e-mailing each other. And I guess when they figured out "yes it was going," he e-mailed me and asked, "would you come back as Alyssa?"

MYSTERIO: You know that’s the one thing, from the time I’ve been tracking the project, to now, the one thing that fans really hoped to see, was they you’d come back and reprise your role as ‘Alyssa’ in this movie. But there was always that doubt that you’d ever return due to your history and breakup with Kevin and speculation that the breakup may have been ugly enough that you’d never want to work with him again.

JOEY: That was never the case, no. I always wanted to work with him again, but you know, "DOGMA" was right after we broke up and it was too soon, why put yourself through that. Yeah I would’ve loved to have been in the movie but is that like worth our friendship? No. Like if I’d have done that movie I don’t know that we would’ve been able to maintain a friendship or be friends now. Because you’re just so raw with emotion and I know it would have come to these huge fights, and it would’ve been ugly, and no, it wasn’t worth it to me. I’d have rather maintained a friendship with Kevin.

MYSTERIO: Friendship is what’s more valuable in the long run.

JOEY: Yeah, yeah.

MYSTERIO: And now if he gave you the script for "DOGMA", you’d have done it now?

JOEY: Oh yeah, absolutely. I mean we’ve talked about this, more work together.

MYSTERIO: So beyond this, he definitely has you in mind to come back and play another character outside Alyssa Jones?

JOEY: I think so, yeah.

MYSTERIO: That would be great.

JOEY: It would be and I love working with Kevin.

MYSTERIO: That seems to be the mutual vibe around here with the cast and crew. Now you were one of the last View Askew alumni to actually have been confirmed, and I can tell you that you were one of the majors that the fans were hoping would come back and look, here you are, talking to me. How’s it feel to be back?

JOEY: I wish I had more in it, honestly.

MYSTERIO: But I think I speak for all the fans when I say, "It’s just good to have you back." And this is so much a film for the fans that I bet you can’t wait to see it with them, because that’s where the entire payoff to all this hard work lies… in the audiences’ laughter.

JOEY: It’ll be interesting to see people who have never seen any of his movies up to this point. How are they going to respond? Will it be too referential?

MYSTERIO: That’s always been a concern of his, as he definitely wants to appease his fans, but also open the door a little wider this time welcoming newcomers as well. I think that’s why this one is such a broad comedy, and much bigger in scope than anything he’s done before and clearly more raunchier than "MALLRATS".

JOEY: It is. It’s more raunchier than "MALLRATS".

After about a half-hour, Joey realizes she has to jet off to hair and makeup. I exit her trailer and head back outside to the El Rey where we shoot some footage showcasing all you hard working, 350 extras who showed up.

Once we finish shooting inside, we move outside to begin shooting the cameos with O’Halloran, Anderson, Adams, Ewell, Humphries, Johnson, Flanagan, Lee and more with Elizabeth, Ferrell, Jay and Kev.

I go back to the trailers and catch Jen as she interviews Morris Day and Jerome for the documentary in a building I suggest that may have good lighting. Inside I find O’Halloran and Anderson sitting together. We watch Jen do the interview, and afterwards I offer a quick "hello" and congratulations before Morris heads out. He’s very polite and obviously had a blast.

As I walk back to the theatre with O’Halloran and Anderson. Kev sees and waves me over. "What’s up?" I ask. "Hey I don’t want to be the one to tell you how you should run your column or anything…"

"Uh-oh." I’m thinking.

"I think you should write and put something on the site about this… tonight." Kev says.

"Huh?" There’s no way I’m leaving halfway through the shoot to rush to throw something up. Besides it would throw the continuity of the columns out of sequence.

"I’m just afraid that someone’s gonna talk about all this, and I think you should be the one to scoop it." He tells me.

"Well sure, you stage a big, spoiler revealing scene with 350 outside people as extras, sure someone’s gonna talk. I expected this. But Kev, remember I’m on the other side of the fence here from the extras - hell I’m here in the passenger seat alongside you, not them. But I’m not gonna miss a beat here. I’m here to stay." I say.

"Well as long as you’re cool with it then, I just wanted to make sure." He goes on to explain.

"Not to worry, even if it’s something that Harry gets and doesn’t put up, someone else will. It’s the nature of the game." But I definitely appreciated the thought and trust he has placed in me. It does add a bit of pressure, but also feels good having Kev’s support behind me on this.

Shortly thereafter, I decide to check in with Knowles to which he informs me he just got his first report in ten minutes ago. He reads it off to me, which again does not pose any threat to my "spoiler-free" piece. I hang up and tell Kev that Harry’s already got one. "Is he going to put it up or make any mention to your column in his intro to it?" He asks. "I dunno." I tell him. "You have Harry’s number?" he asks me. "Yeah, in my cell." "Give him a call will ya. I’d like to talk to him." Kev says. So I call Harry back, and say, "listen here big red, I got someone who’s requesting your ear." I toss my cell to Kev, and he talks with Harry for a couple of minutes about what stuff I’m privy to that he thinks should be mentioned to any other reports filed in. I stroll off to talk with some folks as Kev and Harry finish up, and Kev soon hands me back my phone.

But back mulling around on the sidewalk, I find Jeff Anderson now wearing a Quick Stop T-Shirt, costumed in Randal gear. I apologize for missing him earlier as I was with Joey, and we agree to do the interview later, outside of all these lights and cameras, at another date over lunch or something since we’re both local to one another. He jots down his number and then asks me if I have any gum, which unfortunately I do not. "Man, I need some gum." He asks catering if they have any, nada. "Man, I need some gum. I can’t do Randal unless I’m chewing on some gum." Anderson tells me. This could indeed become a problem. "C’mon people who has some gum?!?!? The man needs some damn gum here!

"I guess back in the ‘CLERKS’ days at the Quick Stop, this wouldn’t be a problem?" I say. We look for anyone who’s chewing and find a person or two, but come up empty handed. No gum. Jeff goes off to seek some gum as I go and meet "Trish the Dish" herself, Renee Humphries whom I offer belated props to for beating out Jennifer Love Hewitt for the role. She thanks me, and talks with Kev as Anderson finds me again.

"Guess what I found?" he says in true Randal form, and whips out a pack of gum, pulls out a stick and hands it to me. "Nice work my friend, where’d ya get it?" I ask as I pop the stick of Extra gum in my mouth. "Yeah it was funny, I went over to that catering truck and asked him if he had any gum. He hands me a pack of Big Red and I ask him, ‘Do you have any EXTRA?’ ‘You mean you want more?’ Asks the catering guy. ‘No, you know… EXTRA - THE BRAND?!?! Because if I have my choice, EXTRA’s my brand." Anderson adds. "Yeah, that guy must’ve thought I was some extra or grip asking for a lot of gum or something." Anderson pondered to me.

Jeff gets his call with Brian, and they’re first up to do their cameos. Once they finish and wrap for the night Brian heads back to his hotel and back to Jersey the following day. Suddenly Jeff’s approached by a fan who wears a tag with the name "Wonder Bunny" on it. Apparently she was telling us she wanted to come up and be an extra but got caught up doing a game show earlier in the day and missed it. Jeff signs her ‘CLERKS/CHASING AMY’ book, and Jeff heads out as I’m left standing beside, "Wonder Bunny". As I go back behind the monitors, she hangs back with her friend off the sidewalk in the biting cold hoping to catch Kev and have him sign. Jeff heads home to his girlfriend and I move back up behind the monitors as Walt and Bryan go up next for their Walt and Steve-Dave cameos.

Back with Kev, we watch playback, and Jason Lee soon arrives and pulls up a chair right beside me. His wife Carmen has also dropped by to watch for a bit before she decides to head back home. I mention to Jason I’m doing some coverage for the film for AICN… "Oh yeah, I’ve heard of that site." Jason tells me.

"Really? Cool. So anyways I was wondering since you do have a few days other than tonight if we could get together and do a little one on one for the fans on the site?" He’s seems cool with the idea and we agree to do it a bit down the road, when it’s a bit less hectic. It’s then that were interrupted by the film’s script supervisor, who asks Jason about the other project he’s still working on.

"It’s called ‘VANILLA SKY’, Cameron Crowe’s next film." Lee tells her.

"What’s it about?" she asks. My ears perk and I turn to get Jason’s response like "Yes, Jason, what is IT all about? Do tell."

"Ah, I can’t tell you." He says.

I shoot Lee a look and smile and say, "Good work keeping it under wraps."

"So is it funny, scary, dramatic…?" as she continues theorizing. Lee pauses and thinks for a moment. He then leans in a bit towards her and tells her, "Its all of that."

As Bryan as Steve-Dave does his scene, Lee playfully antagonizes Bryan Johnson, as they must’ve had a great time working together on ‘RATS’.

I see our little "Wonder Bunny" has moved in a little closer now, and soon approaches Walt and Bryan to sign her book.

Next up are Joey and Renee, playing Alyssa and Trish. They manage well together, and wrap in a mere five takes compared to Walt and Bryan’s fourteen.

Once they wrapped, Joey comes back and sits next to me. She soon let’s out a saddened, "Awww…", as she realizes now that that will be the last time she will play that character which she obviously still holds close to her heart. I look over to her and say, "You wish you had a bigger part with Alyssa in this, don’t you?" "Yeah…" Joey says.

With that, both Renee and Joey say goodbye to Kev and everyone as they leave, as Lee and Dwight Ewell ("Hooper X") step up before the cameras. They do some hilarious dialogue together, which is intensified by yet another cameo by Mosier.

It’s now inching towards the midnight hour, and we’re trying to stay warm with hot potato soup and hot dogs.

As I come back, I notice "Wonder Bunny" getting Lee’s autograph. She comes back over to me expressing her nervousness in doing so. She shows me her book, which now contains signatures from Jay, Jeff, Jason, Joey, and Walt and Bryan. "Not too bad." I say, especially with getting the ever, elusive Lee. But she still is hoping to get Kevin to sign her book before it gets much later. I assure her if she holds out long enough, she may just get her wish. She just has to find a moment when Kev isn’t preoccupied.

As they finish, Jay and Kev come in to add the final olive to the martini, and finish the day out at about 1:10am.

Tired, we all head back to our cars and call it a day as the crew stays behind to tear down, load up and move out all the equipment.

"AND THE FUN DOESN’T END THERE…" – Friday, Day 8

We shoot back outside in some godforsaken place that MapQuest is even unable to find. Since I failed to get a location map the day prior, all I’m left with is an address. Mind you its dark, and the usual crew directional signs are no where to be found. So I look for any signs of crew trucks parked about.

Nothing numbered to indicate addresses or such, and the 2-way dirt roads are narrow. Eureka! I see some lights up ahead, and… yes! There are trucks. Must be the place.

I park off the road, and proceed into a woodsy-looking cabin of sorts that is housing some built set pieces inside.

It’s inside here that I find we’re shooting with Will Ferrell again. Half-hour after I get there, we break for dinner where we’re shuttled on a 15 minute ride further into darkness to where tents house tables and chairs and food for cast and crew.

Half-hour later, Will, Mosier, and myself pile inside the van and ride back where, inside tales of on-set horrors from previous film experiences are told.

Scott then goes on to inform me of how, before every shoot, Kev takes him to church with him. A good luck ritual of sorts, that seems to be paying off so far.

Back inside I get a closer look around the sets and notice several photos hanging on three different wall panels, with headers such as "Missing Children" listed above. I ask Scott if these are indeed the pictures sent in from folks during the "Your Mug In Our Movie" contest thingee held on the View Askew board a while back ago. He tells me that they are, so if you were one of the folks who did, they are indeed are sticking by their word and putting those pictures up.

Again, we attempt to shoot alternative "TV-safe" versions, which is harder than it seems on this film that’s for sure.

Later I see production designer, "Rat" and exec-producer Jon Gordon arrive on set in costume to do small cameos in the film alongside Ferrell.

Now getting to Ferrell, this is the day that really convinced me that Will’s an adlibbing genius.

"Adlibbing? I thought Kevin didn’t really allow for that?" you ask. Well neither did I, but I was definitely on hand to see it happen and am I glad I did.

You see for certain bits Kev may feel comfortable enough with a person that he will let them play around a bit with the tail end of a line or two, to "fill in the gaps" that may seem missing from the script.

Ferrell decides to just run with it, and do different variations of the line, trying to make them as funny as possible. He did these on four or five different occasions, all gems (hopefully Kev will stick ‘em on the DVD). One got to Kev so bad, that he almost blew a take from not being able to contain his laughter.

Honestly, I have NEVER seen Kev bust up laughing so hard, leaning downwards, puffing his cheeks a bit to try and hold it in. Once Ferrell was done Kev came up laughing hysterically, tears forming around his eyes, his face beet red.

He calls Will over to watch his playbacks with him. Again, we all laugh loud and hard. Kev then turns to Will and says, "I think that may be the funniest stuff I’ve ever put on film." I’d almost have to agree having been there.

We wrap around 11:06pm and Will, Kev and I climb in Scott’s SUV. We continue to sing the praises and laugh of Will’s adlibbing skills, as we travel up the road to base camp. At this time, everything’s pitch black, woodsy, dirty, and to make matters worse, visibility is nil, as a think fog has quickly rolled in making it hard to remember and difficult to tell which road we took coming in to get back to camp.

We question a bit at a crossroad. "Do we keep going straight or make a left here?" We struggle to make out any signs. Will says, "No we make a left here, then go up a bit." Kev is quick to agree, which I think he would with Will at anything he said at this point having made him laugh so hard. Lucky for us, Will was indeed right, and Scott drops the three of us off and we all head home, as dailies are scheduled for tomorrow at noon.

I have a hard time managing my way out, and dangerously low on gas doesn’t make matters any better as I end up taking the looong way out before finally finding the Ventura freeway and a gas station.

"ROLL THEM DAILIES BOYS!" – Saturday, Day 9

We do dailies today because we got out so late from wrapping last night. But these are the dailies we shot from Thursday’s El Rey shoot and we’re all curious to see how they turned out.

Beautifully. They looked gorgeous, especially the interior stuff. Coverage with the extras was good and plentiful, and whoa, Jay smooches Shannon Elizabeth! No wonder he’s here on a Saturday, lying in front of the screen, next to me, basking in all his leading man glory.

Afterwards, Jay shoots a bit of hoops on the lot, as "Rat" goes over some production blueprints with Kev.

Jay comes back over and tells a story inciting the word "nooch" for the first time outside character.

As Jay goes off, I mention to Kev that I’d like to sit in sometime with him and Scott and get some of their thoughts while editing. "Sure, but it’s boring as hell." He says.

Depends on whom you ask.

NEXT WEEK:

Silent Bob gets mad, minor on-set misfires, the first blue-screen effect ever filmed with Jay for a VA film, checking in with the Production Dept., and Adam Corolla, Jon Stewart and… Sandra Bullock?

Oh, and just for no particular reason, except for the pure, inane fun of it, Jason Mewes will be throwing me out a favorite new random phrase of his that will be placed at the end of each weekly column.

Here’s this week’s catch phrase of the day:

MEWES’ MUSINGS OF THE WEEK:

"I’m a pimp by blood." – Jason Mewes

-Mysterio

February 2, 2001

"Just thought you'd all appreciate a look at what we've been up to for the last three weeks. These pics are courtesy of our D.P., Jamie Anderson. They're relatively spoiler-free, but if you really don't want to know anything about the flick, avoid these images like the plague."