Archive for May, 1999

Story On Dogma, DVD, More…

May 5th, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by John Couture

  • The nifty home video website My Video Store ran a nice piece on Dogma as well as the Clerks DVD controversy (which kindly included a few links back to us), and we thought you may want to check it out. You need to be a member to access the “Video Guru” section where the story is, but membership was free and only took a second. Here’s a tidbit from the story:
MGM is not the only studio weighing the all-important moral question. The aforementioned Disney seems to have its hands full of controversy 90% of the time and right now the hot potato is in the form of Kevin Smith. On the heels of the Dogma fiasco, Disney announced that it was reneging on its announcement of Clerks on DVD. The DVD version, which is rumored to contain the same materials that were previously released on laser disc, was denounced supposedly for audio commentary that discusses, in detail, a particular sexual reference made in the movie. A grass-roots campaign spearheaded by Kevin Smith supporters in conjunction with NewsAskew.com, a veritable Internet shrine updated daily with anything and everything related to Kevin Smith and his films (nay, his universe), led an e-mail assault on Disney and it appears that they were successful. A Disney response to the mailings says that Disney is “99% sure” that they will release Clerks this summer.

I also know that Dogma RC is a slight bit behind…Surprisngly since the big Dogma press onslaught a few weeks back, things have totally gotten quiet. The site WILL be updated more regularly as release approaches and Cannes news rolls in. ‘Til next time…

Dogma Promo Material: THE ANSWER!

May 3rd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Mike, Jonathan Kleefeld, Harrison Long, Jason Markstrom, Tom Mitchell, Neil Marks, & Marianne

  • Wow – Who knew that so many of you knew your music THIS well? It turns out that the Dogma “symbol” we found yesterday was nothing more than an old piece of promotional material for a band of that same name – It was actually a giveaway along with a 3 track CD (called “Feeding The Future Sampler”) in a issue of Wizard a few years back. You can access the band’s homepage for proof. We have no idea why it got associated with Alanis other than someone else perhaps also mistaking it for Dogma-related advertising. Thanks to all of you who wrote in to clear things up.

Commentary…

May 3rd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Brad & Chris

  • Happy Monday. Last night was that magical, long-awaited night…Star Wars toys are now on the shelves! Many of you wrote in about your toy-buying experiences, most of you spending close to 200 bucks — So it sounds like stores at least had enough to satisfy those of you that took the midnight run to your local toy shop! Kevin, Bryan, & Walt were even spotted at the Eatontown Toys ‘R’ Us in Jersey itching for their chance to get a crack at some of the stuff – Was it for personal or Stash use? Stop by the store today, we’re sure one of the guys will be there to yell ya about it.

Aside from that exciting event, not too much going on. TONS of you wrote with comments and answers on the mysterious Dogma symbol (which turned out to be nothing, see below) and that’s pretty much the extent of stuff so far…

View Askew NewsBites™

May 2nd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Jen, J. Ellis, Discobuc & Aimee

  • Kev’s appearance at the CNCBE has been confirmed! The website’s http://www.hobbystar.com now got all the details for ya.
  • A Hollywood satire site suggests that Jay and Silent Bob will be staring in a traveling company of ‘the odd couple’…That’d be amusing, huh? Before you get excited though, folks, keep in mind this is just a JOKE, mind you!

Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith (aka Jay and Silent Bob) : Could they soon be chasing… Tony?

To The Theatre, Cocksmokers!

What’s that? You’re an indie film fanatic and you can’t wait for Dogma, Kevin Smith’s next movie to be released?

Just wait — Jay and Silent Bob may be coming to your town, live on stage! Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith (aka Jay and Silent Bob): Could they soon be chasing… Tony? Filmmaker Smith brought the popular dope-dealing characters to life in his first three films, Clerks, Mallrats and Chasing Amy.

Now Smith (who plays Silent Bob) and longtime buddy/costar Jason Mewes (Jay) have announced that they will take the lead roles this summer in a national touring production of Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple.

It’s a casting coup made in heaven, as Smith takes the role of sloppy Oscar Madison and Mewes plays finicky Felix Unger.

“We’ve been taking a lot of heat over Dogma,” Smith said, referring to his upcoming religious satire that has already been stirring up controversy months before its release. “Frankly, we needed a break. We wanted to work on something nice for a change.”

The blockbuster cast will also include Tom Bosley as Murray, Tim Conway as Roy, Tom Poston as Vinnie and Jim J. Bullock as Speed.

Although Neil Simon may seem a little tame for Jay and Silent Bob’s cult following, Mewes insists that this is where their true comedy roots lie. “You ever read Neil Simon, man?” said Mewes as he rolled a fatty blunt. “Plaza Suite? Barefoot in the Park? Man, tha’s some funny fuckin’ shit.”

Agreed, Jay — though we at the FB! believe his Brighton Beach trilogy is also the fucking bomb.

  • Kevin was quoted in an L.A. Times article that asked filmmakers about the Star Wars influence:
The “Star Wars” movies taught me the importance of creating one’s own universe or mythology. The big influence [of “Star Wars”] on the films I’ve done is how closely related the characters I’ve written are to the characters from my other films. Just like in the “Star Wars” movies, everyone in our flicks knows each other. And with our latest film, “Dogma,” the Lucas influence is probably the most noticeable in the complete fantasy world we created, which is inhabited by angels and demons rather than Jedi knights and Death Stars. And putting aside professional influence, I got married at Skywalker Ranch, for cryin’ out loud. Talk about the Force.

We’ve also got that new poll for ya today — Thanks to Trevor Dowdy for this one. It’s a good, tough question!

Commentary…

May 2nd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Brad & Chris

  • Hey folks…Phew. Finally a calm day. Just to fill ya in, I was indeed laid off on Thursday as expected — So, the good news is that I’ll be around more to update and such, but the bad news is, of course, I’m now unemployed! Luckily, I’ve got some time due to the severance package and all, which is good, but I’ll now certainly have plenty of time to intensify the job search. I’m going to update my job page with some more info in a day or two (The page now loads in Netscape, too – Sorry about that!). But enough about me, let’s talk about Askew:

Skywalker Sound Shot…

May 2nd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Ming Chen


(Seated left to right : Phil Benson, Shannon Mills, Sharry Schwartz, Kev, Gary Rizzo, Scott, Tom Myers)

  • This just in from Gary Rizzo, one of the re-recording mixers on ‘Dogma’ over at Skywalker Sound. This photo was taken just before Kevin left Thursday Night. We like their choice in fonts. 🙂

Dogma Promo Material?

May 2nd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Andy Lopusnak

  • Here’s an odd one…We were sent this scan from something that appeared on a promotion page for Alanis. We mirrored the image and, sure enough, look what it says! This is the first material we’ve seen public for the film, and have no idea what it means or if it’s official. Intriguing though! Also, many of you are wondering if she’s doing a song for the film — Kevin had said that it may lessen the impact of her being in the film, making it look like she was cast just to nab an original song, which is just not the case at all. So, we wouldn’t rule out an original Alanis tune, but it’s certainly not a definite.

Wondercon Pics…

May 2nd, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by HipChick

  • The picture cavalcade continues with these original shots from WonderCon! Just a few similar shots of Kev and Scott on the panel, but if you wanted to see what it looked like…Here ya go.

View Askew NewsBites™

May 1st, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Delia Wong & Wookiemonster

  • In the May 10th issue of People Weekly, Ben Affleck‘s listed as one of the 50 Most Beatiful People. Kev’s comments were used in the little blurb they printed:
BEN AFFLECK
Actor
With rumpled allure and a wicked sense of humor (“He’s one of the few people who can make me blush,” says his Forces of Nature costar Sandra Bullock), Ben Affleck is, in Armageddon producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s words, “a unique combination of all-American kid and sexy bad boy.” he’s also way casual about appearances. While others gush over everything from his smile (It’s mischievous,” says Chasing Amy’s Joey Lauren Adams) to the Native American tattoo on his shoulder (“So beautiful,” says Forces costar Meredith Scott Lynn), Affelck himself “will walk past a reflective surface, take a glance and move on,” says Kevin Smith, who directed him in 1997’s Chasing Amy and the forthcoming, controversial Dogma.

But the Cambridge, Mass.-bred Affleck did fine-tune his act by the time he began work on last summer’s megahit Armageddon. For the role of space hero, the film’s producers had him slim down, pump up the pecs on his 6’2″ frame and get his teeth capped. recalls Smith: “When I saw him in the dailies for [1997’s] Going All the Way, I said, ‘Oh my God, youare a movie star!’ He was just cut and built, and he had matinee-idol looks.” The effect apparently isn’t lost on the 26-year old actor, who has remained unattached since his January breakup with Gwyneeth Paltrow. Though Affleck vowed to return to his burgers-and-beer regimen after filming…well some promises are better not kept. “That dude’s Diet Coke all the way,” says Smith.

  • In the recent edition of Startime, a supplement to the Fort Worth StarTelegram that talks about entertainment in the metroplex, there is a article on George Carlin. It talks about him stopping by for his comedy tour and at the end of the article it says ” His most recent HBO special, You Are All Diseased,was well recieved and his next big film appearance will be with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in the Kevin Smith movie Dogma, due out this summer.” Nice to see that Dogma news is spreading along with Carlin’s excellent public appearances.

Commentary…

May 1st, 1999 @ 12:00 am | No Comments » | Scooped by Brad & Chris

  • Many of you have been wondering where we’ve been, no doubt. Well, let’s just say it’s been a very hectic couple of days. I’ll explain more in a day or two. In the meantime, we’ve got a TON of news today…Lots of great stuff, too. Oh, and expect a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT regarding the one millionth hit in a few days.