SOV went great. We shot two days so far (we’re a little more than halfway done with shooting) and everything went cool.

The first day featured Mike Linstroth, Nick Giovannetti, Kevin Crimmins, Keith Miller, JJ North, Bryan Johnson and Vincent Pereira.

For all you Steve-Dave fans, this presents Johnson in a whole new light. He gives a command cameo performance. And as for Vinnie, well, you won’t soon forgot Vinnie in SOV after seeing him. You thought The Cigarette Fairy was Vinnie’s weirdest character. No sir. New heights.

As for everyone else, they made the script ten times funnier than it is. Seriously, they were great in rehearsals, but once the camera rolled they really kicked into high gear.

And the second day…

Brian Quinn reprising his role as Vance. That in itself made my day. Lorene Scafaria back as Chastity. Another great performance. And JJ North making sweet love to Quinn in a sex scene that will disturb and arouse. I ask you, what love scene has incorporated both strobe lights AND Grape Nuts? Lots of Grape Nuts.

Finally, we introduced the title character. That’s a sight to behold.

I can’t wait for people to see BHD and SOV.

News Askew hopes to make the pilgrimmage into Jersey this weekend for live coverage, as SOV wraps shooting in its second and final weekend! More to come.

“Good Will Hunting” Q&A
“Good Will Hunting” Review
“The Rainmaker” Review
“Best of 1997”
“Saving Private Ryan” Feature
“Armageddon” Review

That should keep you folks busy for a while!

The movie progresses along nicely. All but one of the main characters are now in full effect. We’re at the hour and a half mark, and there’s about that much more to go as well.

The cutting duties have now about evened up between Scott and me, what with all the myriad writing assignments I’ve been catching up on (the Jay and Bob mini, Daredevil, etc.).

Our editing process works one of two ways:
1) I cut to my satisfaction.
2) Scott cuts, and I tweak what he’s done.

The latter never really takes all that much, as Mos is about the most incisive cat on the planet about the performances I dig. The former basically skips the tweaking process, as I’m doing the cutting.

The man did a brilliant job at cutting what we refer to as ‘the Fat Albert scene’. I think I would’ve been a little too close to that one to do it justice. After a shot thrown in here, a shot moved there, we’re left with what may possibly be View Askew’s finest hour on film. Can’t wait for ya’ll to see it – so much so, that I wish I could invite you into the editing room for a look (but the room’s too damn small, and Miramax would have my balls). I will say, however, that it might be a good idea for the curious to attend the San Diego ComiCon. Not saying why, mind you;it’s just a good idea…

Kev also hinted that the new and improved Stash/VA Offices will be open in September or October. Looks like another trip to Red Bank will be in order for us…

In other great (but ironic) news, I have something to report that I don’t know whether or not I have the authority to, but fuck it, because that’s what the board’s for, right?

We’re working on the ‘Mallrats’ Special Edition.

Now for the irony: it’s on DVD.

Looks like it’ll be released sometime after January (the advance on these things is 120 days from delivery of materials), and it’ll include the trailer, the video, and all that extra footage some of you have seen. We’re also working on getting some dear friends in for a little commentary action, and the box art is going the be the theatrical artwork (thank the Lord).

With Miramax and Criterion both involved in the DVD market, we expect to see Crtierion’s Amy disc moved onto DVD (they seem to be slowly catching up ALL their titles) and the Max’s Clerks SE will HOPEFULLY follow (though Miramax has been slipping bigtime with DVD and NOT including any of the extras on their discs…just the movie and a trailer). Time will tell. We’ll keep you posted on the latest.

Ben Affleck just arrived in Savannah, Ga., but he’s already finding out that the city is a hothouse of gossip. It’s favorite new bloom: the star’s love life.

The Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting” co-star is there shooting “Forces of Nature”, a romantic comedy in which he plays a guy who’s on his way to see his fiance when he gets sidetracked by Sandra Bullock. Savannah spies are spinning a similar story about Affleck and his girlfriend, Gwyneth Paltrow. The spies say that while the couple is apart, Affleck has acquainted himself with one of the local beauties. ‘Tis said that the woman regularly stops by Affleck’s house and that the duo has been using his back-yard pool — and not just for swimming.

Friends deny that Affleck’s interest in Paltrow is waning.

“Gwyneth just got back from Savannah on Monday,” said one Affleck buddy. “And she’s heading back down there next week. Their relationship is anything but cool.”

Ben’s a sane, smart guy…And we hafta admit…He’d be CRAZY to break up with Gwyneth! Darn these rumors…