- With three college appearances left this year, we’ve now enhanced our college appearance page with more information on all the appearances. Simply click the MORE INFO link for a popup page containing showtimes, locations, ticket information, and more. We’ll keep updating this page as we learn more about ticket availability, sold out venues, etc.
Archive for October, 2001
“Heroes” Artwork & Poem Revealed…
- Thanks to Marvel, you can now see the new artwork from Joe Quesada and the corresponding poem by Kevin Smith from the upcoming “Heroes” book. Click the thumbnail above for a detailed look.
Kevin On Short Film, Red Bank Benefit, New Script & More!
- Wow! This one came in outta nowhere…As Kevin likes to sometimes do, after being silent for quite some time, he’s dropped in with a HUGE update on stuff. Not only does his new short premiere this Saturday night at the Concert for New York City (see story below), but he’s also announcing his hosting duties of another big benefit project in Red Bank, AND has the latest for you all on the “Jersey Girl” script. Great, great stuff. Here’s Kevin:
There’s a star in your midst, folks…
…and his name is gramp.
That’s right! Our own, beloved senior poster is nothing short of brilliant in the short we shot for the big “Concert for New York City” that’s happening on the 20th (and being simulcast on VH1). There are some other, familiar View Askew faces in the four minute piece who’d be hard to miss, as well (including Marvel Head Honcho, Joe Quesada); but right now, I just wanted to give the shout-out to gramp. He was the true discovery of the project.
I’m told the short’ll play in the second hour of the show, which features performances by folks like Bowie, the Who, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Elton John, Macy Gray, Janet Jackson, Melissa Etheridge, the Backstreet Boys, Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Carrey, etc.
How did I get involved? The Powers That Be invited me, Scorcese, Woody Allen, and Spike Lee to make short flicks about why we love NYC.
I’ll repeat that list…
Scorcese, Allen, Lee… Smith?
Great company, yes; but you know it just insures that my short will be the worst (although, some would say that was a given, regardless of the roster). But, hey – being the worst on THAT list is a pretty big honor, I say.
But while I’ll be at Madison Square Garden on Saturday for that shindig, tonight and tomorrow night, I’ll be emcee-ing a pair of concerts a little closer to home. The Alliance of Neighbors of Monmouth County – a local charity benefiting the families of the 160 Monmouth County residents killed in the WTC Bombing – is throwing two shows in Red Bank at the Count Basie Theater (tickets are already sold out), featuring a host of local acts and music legends, bookended by the Big Two from our neck of the woods: Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen.
I was at the sound check last night, sitting no more than fifteen feet from the Boss as he performed “My City on Fire” and “Thunder Road”, and within spitting distance of the Bon Jovi boys as they rehearsed their choir-backed rendition of “Keep the Faith.” This goes without saying, but both sounded phenomenal (and you haven’t heard Springsteen until you’ve heard him in a 1400 seat theater with only twenty people in it).
Also on deck for the show: Joan Jett, The Smithereens, and a host of others. If you live in Jersey and you want to check it out, Friday night’s show is being simulcast, live, on Comcast cable, starting at 8:30pm. I’ll be the fat guy in the sleeveless, hooded sweatshirt, introducing the talent.
I’m 115 pages into “Jersey Girl”, with maybe another thirty to forty to go (the first drafts are always the longest). Would’ve been done by now, but the short flick thing kinda came out of nowhere and took about a week, all in.
As for the script thus far: the few folks who’ve read it (Jen, Mosier, Affleck, Jon Gordon and Gina Gardini at Miramax) seem to think it’s the best thing I’ve ever written. But, then, what’re they going to say? “Wow – you really ARE a one-hit wonder, Kev.” Or “Perhaps you retired Jay and Silent Bob a little too soon?” Regardless, it was nice to hear the feedback.
My opinion of the scipt?
I love it.
But man, is it different than anything we’ve done before.
I’ll check back after the show Saturday night, to see what you think of the short.
NYC Concert Details Proliferate…
- Reports are starting to hit various web sites now revealing the list of directors that have filmed new shorts that will debut on Saturday night at the concert for New York City. Here’s the E! Online summary which lists all those involved with that portion:
DIRECTING FOR NEW YORK: Woody Allen, Edward Burns, Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, Jerry Seinfeld and Kevin Smith all directing short films that will debut at Saturday’s all-star Concert for New York City. The films are each expected to “celebrate the spirit of New York.”
The New York Daily News has revealed that “The four-minute films will celebrate the spirit of the city since Sept. 11”. All proceeds, 100 percent worth, go to families of the victims, rescue workers and others impacted by the tragedy. The event, with stars from Julia Stiles to Jim Carrey to the Backstreet Boys, will reach 80 million U.S. homes, 88 countries and feature a phone and Web number on the TV screen to aid in donations.
View Askew NewsBites™
- A followup to the Leeds thing – Apparently the theater which showed the winning film there was HUGE, and held a ton more folks than the J&SBSB theater, which explains why the audience may not have been able to vote for the film – Not as many of them got to see it (even though its screenings sold out). Seems a bit unfair!
- Afroman’s “Because I Got High” also has soared to #1 in Australia, and is widely becoming known as the tune from Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, some very good pre-publicity for the film.
- One of 411wrestling.com’s columnists is running a parody of a famous scene in Clerks replacing Dante, Veronica and Willam with wrestlers. Check it out HERE.
Confirmed: Kevin To Headline MegaCon 2002!
- We ran a newsbite on this back on the 11th, but now we are pleased to confirm, Kevin will indeed headline MegaCon 2002 in Orlando, Florida this February 22-24! Here’s the press release with this announcement, a guest list, and more:
- FILM DIRECTOR KEVIN SMITH TO HEADLINE MEGACON 2002
ORLANDO, Fla. – Film director, writer and actor Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back) will be the guest of honor at the eighth annual MegaCon show at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando February 22-24, 2002.
More than 15,000 fans are expected to converge on MegaCon 2002, buoyed by Smith’s first appearance at MegaCon and an expansive guest list for the show. Smith will be holding a special 2-hour panel discussion about his film, television and comic book work, as well as host a charity auction that will benefit retired comic book creators.
In addition to Smith, who also writes the DC Comics best-selling comic book Green Arrow, MegaCon boasts a guest list that cuts across the worlds of film, television, science fiction, comic books, Japanese animation and role-playing games. Some of the guests include:
- June Lockhart, from TV classics Lost in Space and Lassie
- Bob May, the Robot from TV’s Lost in Space
- David Prowse, the man behind the mask of Darth Vader in the three original Star Wars films
- Kenny Baker, R2D2 from Star Wars, and co-star of Time Bandits
- Paul Blake, whose character Greedo was killed by Harrison Ford’s Han Solo in the original Star Wars
- Michonne Bourriague, who played the bounty hunter Aura Sing in the recent Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
- Jeanette Goldstein, who played Vasquez, the heroic marine from Ridley Scott’s motion picture Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver
- Mark Rolston, whose character Drake defended Sigorney Weaver’s character Ripley in Alien
- George Perez, artist of CrossGeneration’s quarterly CrossGen Chronicles and veteran comics creator currently working on the Marvel Comics/DC Comics team-up special JLA/Avengers
- Brian Michael Bendis, who now chronicles the new adventures of Spider-Man in Marvel Comics’ Ultimate Spider-Man comics
- Joseph Michael Linsner, creator of the comic book Dawn, and artist on Marvel Comics’ Killraven
- Greg Land, artist of CrossGeneration Comics hot new fantasy adventure comic book, Sojourn
- Sergio Aragones, classic Mad Magazine cartoonist, and creator of Groo the Wanderer
- John Romita, Sr., classic Marvel artist, best known for defining the look of Marvel’s trademark character Spider-Man.
- Bernie Wrightson, classic Batman artist and legendary horror comics illustrator
In addition to the guests, MegaCon 2002 will feature Japanese Animation film festivals, costume contests for fans, discussion panels with popular artists and writers, more than 100,000 square feet of exhibit booths featuring publishers, art studios, comic book creators, dealers and other attractions. MegaCon is also the home of A Commitment To Our Roots (ACTOR), a charity organization founded to provide financial assistance for retired comic book creators. On Saturday February 23, 2002, Kevin Smith will be hosting the first 2002 ACTOR Art Auction, featuring rare and one-of-a-kind comic book art and memorabilia. Last year, the ACTOR Auctions raised more than $130,000.
Also, MegaCon will be the host of a special roundtable about the Golden Age of comic books, with a guest list including industry legends such as:
- Martin Nodell, creator of DC Comics’ Green Lantern
- Harry Lampert, creator of DC Comics’ The Flash
- Dick Giordano, classic Batman artist and former executive VP of DC Comics
- Nick Cardy, veteran golden age artist, known best for his 1960s run on Teen Titans and the thousands of covers he illustrated for DC Comics
- George Tuska, artist for almost every publisher in comics from the Golden Age through the 1980s
MegaCon (http://www.megaconvention.com) is an annual celebration of modern popular culture that attracts figures from the worlds of film, television, science fiction, fantasy, comic books, animation, role-playing games and others. The show is supported by publishers, manufacturers, dealers, distributors, creators and fans. MegaCon has become known as a great marketplace for comics, toys, anime and collectibles, as well as one of the east coast’s best-attended genre conventions. Over the past eight years, MegaCon has hosted some of the most recognizable names in the film, television, comic book, gaming and sci-fi/fantasy industries. By attending the convention, enthusiasts have encountered industry legends and discovered exciting new products. Movie producers, artists, authors and creative teams have been among the 1,000+ personalities that have attended the MegaCon event.
View Askew NewsBites™
- Because of it’s huge success at the film festival in Rio, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back will hit Brazil’s theaters in January 2002. Among more than 300 films screened there, J&SBSB took the #6 spot.
- DC Comics fanzine Fanzing just put out their latest issue, and the theme this month is Archers. There’s tons of articles about Green Arrow, Speedy, Arsenal and a mention or two of Kevin along with a massive reading guide covering all 137 issues of the Green Arrow series before Kevin started writing. Check it out!
- UK News: Afroman’s “Because I Got High” single is set to take over the #1 spot in the UK this week. A story titled “Thank You, Kevin Smith” that appears HERE mentions the news.
- Speaking of the UK, the Buddy Christ is apparently a taxable item when shipped overseas, due to it being listed as a “religious artifact” by the British customs service. Wow.
New Short From Kevin To Premiere At NYC Concert…
- Here’s a last minute BIG scoop that we wanted to get up for ya today — A new short from Kevin Smith himself will premiere at The Concert For New York City Saturday night, at Madison Square Garden. The show, which features top-notch musicians, actors, athletes, and more, will debut some new short films created for this event. Kevin’s one of those contributors! At this time, no details are available on this short, so we’re not sure what the content is, or what the title is, but we’re hopeful it will air live on VH-1 this Saturday as part of the special. Here’s the full details on the benefit concert from The Garden’s website:
THE CONCERT FOR NEW YORK CITY
Doors will open at 5:30 PM. Please arrive early as we have increased our security measures. This show will begin promptly at 7:00 PM, as it is being telecast live.
“The Concert for New York City” will feature musical performances by Paul McCartney, The Who, Bon Jovi, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, Macy Gray, Goo Goo Dolls, Melissa Etheridge, India.Arie, Bono & The Edge from U2, David Bowie, Elton John and Janet Jackson live via satellite. Others confirmed to participate include Jim Carrey, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow, John Cusack, and members of all of New York’s sports teams.
All money raised from “The Concert for New York City” will go to the Robin Hood Relief Fund, which was established by the Robin Hood Foundation, with funds to be distributed to the Twin Towers Fund created by Mayor Rudolph Giuliani; and other charities directly benefiting those affected by the World Trade Center tragedy, including families of those missing or injured, the heroic firefighters, police, rescue workers, and all others in need, including those suffering the economic consequences of this tragedy and its aftermath. 100% of the money raised will go directly to aid victims and their families.
Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster phones, outlets and internet only. If tickets remain they will be available at the MSG/RCMH box office’s starting Tuesday, October 9th. VIP packages will be made available through the Robin Hood Foundation. Information on those packages is available online on the Robin Hood Foundation website, at http://www.robinhood.org.
This show will be telecast LIVE and commercial free on VH1 on Saturday, October 20th @ 8PM. It will also be simulcast on the VH1 Radio Network and Westwood One. The event will also be broadcast on television and radio networks around the world. All telecasts will feature a phone number and web address for charitable donations.$250.00, $500.00
We’ll have more details on this breaking story as soon as they come across the desk.
Commentary…
- We’re still around, just wanted to let ya know, though we’ve reached that expected lull now, after things have finally calmed down. This post-J&SBSB downtime was expected, but don’t worry, there’s a lot on the horizon – We’ll have all the scoops on the new flick (still tentatively titled “Jersey Girl”), upcoming comic projects, a new Vulgarthon, and of course, Kevin’s current focus, the college appearances. Speaking of those, we’re setting up a page that will allow simple access to the latest on all those appearances, details on that below, and a few newsbites as well. Here we go…
Kevin’s Upcoming College Appearances!
- For those of you who may be occasional readers, or just like knowing the latest, we’ve put together a simple page that lists all of Kevin’s upcoming college appearances, as well as links to the latest details (admission prices, student/non-student, locations, times, etc.). If you want to catch Kevin live, this is a great chance, as not only will you have a guaranteed GREAT time at the Q&A, but you’ve also got the chance to appear on the upcoming DVD that they’re filming for. Check out the latest list HERE, and come back for updates as well. If you’re in the area, don’t miss your chance to see Kevin live!