“Enjoying one of the lowest declines in the top ten, the Kevin Smith religious satire Dogma scored an estimated $3.5M and $4.9M over the long holiday frame. Off only 14%, the Lions Gate release stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and has grossed $21.5M to date putting it on course for a $30-35M final tally at its current pace. Dogma is already the highest-grossing film ever for both the director and the distributor.”

Atlantic Bound

It seemed a dream made in Talk heaven.

Independent film director Kevin Smith (”Clerks,” “Chasing Amy”) was going to write and direct a movie starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris Rock, Linda Fiorentino and Salma Hayek, and Tina Brown’s Talk/Miramax Books would publish Smith’s screenplay. The cover possibilities for Talk magazine, of course, seemed endless.

But then Talk’s partner, Miramax Films, decided to drop the controversial comedy project, “Dogma,” under pressure from parent company Disney and others afraid the religious spoof would be too offensive. Talk/Miramax Books pulled the screenplay from its catalogue, as well.

But Grove/Atlantic associate editor Amy Hundley had other ideas. Because Lion’s Gate Releasing had picked up the movie, she scrambled for an early screening and immediately signed on to release a “Dogma” book.

“It was very, very last-minute,” she said of the late-September deal, though she did manage to get an introduction out of Smith. Grove/Atlantic had six weeks to produce books to coincide with the film’s release.

“Dogma” was No. 7 at the box office this weekend and Grove/Atlantic is getting the book into stores just in time.

I’ve been incredibly busy lately and I’d thought I’d let folks in on what I’ve been upto lately.

Starting yesterday and going backwards. I just finished five days additional photography on “Reindeer Games” except it’s not going to be called that anymore as, apparently, test mice reacted ufavorably to that title and instead ate food from the dish marked “another title.” So it’s being changed, except no one has any better ideas. Perhaps one of you at home has some brilliant title up his/her sleeve that they might share. (This is why i love the internet) we can do an (unnofical) online title contest. You write in with suggestions and the winner gets…uh…to say they came up with the title. The themes at work in the movie are, Prison, Casinos, Betrayal, Decetion, Redemption, Games (manipulation, i guess) and uh..the snow. So fire away…I haven’t had any luck yet myself (though I did suggest “angels, shepards and all that cash…”)

Anyway, the re-shoots really helped and I’m very excited. The movie should be out around the end of January or beggining of February. Check itout.

I stayed up until five in the morning the other night trying to beat the deadline for an article I volunteered to write for “Premiere” magazine. It ended up being a fun piece, light and very self-deprecating, but the stress of having to turn something in by a deadline brought back pavlovian shakes and anxiety from high-school. Anway, the article is in and will run (I think) in the January issue (I’ll also be on the cover, I believe.)

We are heavily into post-production with “The Third Wheel.” The movie is very funny and showcases the talents of Luke Wilson and Denise Richards in a new light. Both are very adept at comedy and that discovery has been exciting. Most exciting however, has been the satisfaction of seeing Jay Lacopo’s enourmous talent emerge in the process of putting together the movie. He wrote it and stars in it and I hope this will be a launching pad for a tremendous career for him. Matt and I only have cameos in the movie (neccessary to secure the financing) but it is very much Jay, Luke and Denise’s movie and it’s one of which I am quite proud. We have a couple of days of additional photography (three, actually) in mid december and we should have a final cut by the end of Jan–for a release in the spring.

“Bounce” finished Principal Photography Nov. 8 and they have just begun the process of assembling the movie. I had a wonderful experience with Don Roos, who is both an incredible man and a very talented filmmaker. I sincerely believe that he helped me do my very best work in that movie and I look forward to its coming out–though it won’t be ’till next fall (despite studio rumblings to push for a summer release.)

I am very close to deciding what my next project will be. There are some really great projects out there and I should know within a couple weeks what next year will look like in terms of work. but as of yet, nothing has been settled on.

I saw “All the Pretty Horses” a couple of weeks ago. While it runs about three hours, I don’t think they should cut the movie at all. It is, in short, absolutely brilliant. In fact, I think it nothing short of THE BEST MOVIE I’VE EVER SEEN. It is, in my opinion, an American Classic. Mind you, it is one of my all time favorite books, but I think Billi Bob Thornton has managed to improve upon the text to create something truly transcendant and wonderful. See for yourselves sometime next year. I just want to officially predict now that it will be nominated for best picture with a guaranteed win for best supporting actor for Lucas Black–who is stupendous.

“No, that’s me. That’s my butt. Cleaned and buffed … I talked to Harvey Keitel!”

The Jay and Silent Bob-Athon

An all night Kevin Smith marathon showing Clerks, Mallrats, and Chasing Amy. There will be Trivia and Dance Contests through the night for Jay and Bob merchandise. It starts a 10pm on Sat. December 4th at the Towne 3 Theatre…1433 Alameda …San Jose, Ca. 408-287-1433 and is 7.50 for the whole night.

Adavance tickets are on sale now for 7.50 at:
TOWNE 3 1433 The Alameda
San Jose, CA
(408)287-1433

CAMERA ONE 366 S. First St.
San Jose, CA
(408)998-3300

CAMERA 3 288 S. Second St.
2nd & San Carlos
San Jose, CA
(408)998-3300

Comicopolis
738 Water St.
Santa Cruz, CA
(831)427-1929