Some thoughts I forgot to mention or didn’t realize until later…

What you saw was what we screened in Toronto and New York. It’s virtually the final, but not quite. The credits are different in the release version (including the dreaded ‘Jay and Silent Bob will return in….’), as well as some of the music (Beastie Boys are out, unfortunately) and some minor dialogue cleanup. Other than that, it’s the same flick.

The sound in theatre one sounded muddled. Vincent made some inquiries, and it turns out that – while they did install a new stereo set-up in the theatre, the lens that reads the optical sound track was still the old lens. Hence, muddled sound – in stereo!. I apologize for that.

We did raise over ten grand for Diabetes (the exact name of the organization that gets the check escapes me right now; rest assured, it’s not m bank account, though – this is legit). After the minor expenses (like renting the theatre), we’ll be able to present the foundation with a ten thousand dollar check. Not too shabby. Thanks again for your generosity.

Isn’t the kid’s hat just adorable? If only they made them in adult sizes.

Thanks to Brad and Chris and especially Ming for coming out, as well as getting the word out there about the screening. All three gents are an integral part of what we do here at View Askew, and I can’t thank them enough (and a special heads-up to Ming for the cool mention in the last Entertainment Weekly, about the ‘Dogma’ website; that makes two EW pieces for the Mingster).

That’s about it for now. It was great seeing you all – you’re why I do whatever I do, so getting together with you and sharing our latest is always a pleasure.

Next event: Vulgarthon 2, featuring ‘Vulgar’ and ‘Big Helium Dog’. Comingsometime in 2000.

Kevin Smith muses on faith, Catholics and his intent to pop up at the Three Rivers Film Festival. BY STEPHEN H. SEGAL

“All that’s vile comes from you,” reads one piece of hate mail posted on Smith’s website. “You teach hatred and prejudice. You insult Christians, especially Catholics. How Satanic!.. Hitler didn’t die, you’re still doing his hatreds and works. Are you aware you’re un-American? … May God judge your terrible acts.”

That article claims that is from a post on Kevin’s web page.. (the WWWBoard??). Anyway, In Pittsburgh has a really nice 1 and a half pager on Kevin Smith. The first part mainly deals with the Catholic League, and their president William Donohue. It’s quick to point out that Donohue hasn’t seen the film though…. Here is what makes me laugh though, this could have been printed elsewhere here, but if not.. enjoy:

“I’ve got a message for Hollywood: Just think of the Catholics as a big bunch of Indians. Would you portray Indians like this?”

Donohue said that in New York.. Smith’s reply:

“That’s what blows my mind… their insistence on Catholics as a minority. Catholics have pretty much run the world for the last 2,000 years. I don’t think a Catholic has been really persecuted since the last apostle died. If I were a real minority. I’d be shocked and appalled by Donohue’s comments. You’re a minority? You’re a man, you’re white!”

The article continues with more of the whole controversy. Then goes into Daredevil.

“Working with that character, (Daredevil), gave me an opportunity to explore some of those themes, (the infant in the storylines who just might be the second coming of Christ, or the anti-Christ)….I pretty much worked out my own religious issues a while ago.”

Now for the part that everyone who will be at the Three Rivers Film Festival all care about…

Now that he’s through with Daredevil and Dogma is in the home stretch – the often overextended Smith and his View Askew Productions team are enjoying a bit of breathing room. “It’s kind of nice.”, he says, “for the first time in five years we don’t have a next project lined up.” Of course that doesn’t include the trip to Pittsburgh for the Dogma screening at the Three Rivers Film Festival. “We made a lot of friends out there.”, he says. “If we ever do a shoot that’s not Jersey-centric, I’d definitely go back to Pittsburgh.”

It then shifts gears and talks about the Clerks cartoon. How he brought back the old cast of the movie, and how here are gonna be some guest vocals done by Gwyneth Paltrow, James Woods, and Mario Joyner. The article talks about the ABC deal, and closes with mention of Smith and his wife and baby… and ends with this:

“I want to raise my daughter to believe that church is good – but God is better.”