- We’re hoping this item will be something we look back and say, “This was the beginning of Jay & Silent Bob’s comeback”. As some of you may know, Jason Mewes has been struggling with a drug addiction. It’s been an ongoing saga with a lot of press bouncing around the web and otherwise, but we’ve chosen to respect the privacy of Mewes regarding his personal affairs.
Yesterday, we learned that HBO is currently filming a documentary with Jason regarding his addiction, as he’s hoping to help others by letting them see his experiences. He’s also beginning a rehabilitation program where he’s hoping to clean up his act and get back on track. We’re very happy to hear this news, and want to lend our full support and best wishes to Jay.
This item was covered by MANY news agencies on the web today, but The Asbury Park Press had the original story:
By KAREN SUDOL
FREEHOLD — A film star best known for portraying a drug-using character in a series of movies by Red Bank director Kevin Smith will be featured in an upcoming HBO documentary that shows him quitting heroin cold turkey.
And while HBO isn’t revealing too many details about the documentary, included in it will be Jason Mewes’ appearance before Superior Court Judge Michael D. Farren yesterday to plead guilty to violating his probation for a 1999 heroin possession conviction. He turned himself in yesterday after a bench warrant was issued in December 2001 for his arrest.
While the tape rolled, the judge ordered Mewes, 28, formerly of Keansburg and Highlands, to report to the Discovery House drug rehabilitation center in Marlboro within 10 days. He is not permitted to leave New Jersey until he completes the program, which lasts between four and six months. His probation, which was continued to Feb. 25, 2005, can then be transferred to Hollywood, Calif., where he currently lives.
If he violates probation again, he faces up to five years in jail, according to Assistant Monmouth County Prosecutor Susan Schroeder.
Mewes, dressed casually and wearing sneakers, declined to comment afterward.
Mewes, has starred in films by Smith. He played Jay, a marijuana-smoking drug dealer, in the movie “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.” Mewes had debuted as the character in the 1994 hit “Clerks” and appeared in “Chasing Amy” in 1997.
HBO executive producer Craig Veytia, who is also Mewes’ personal manager, said he convinced Mewes to do the documentary so people could have a better understanding of his life and drug addiction. The documentary is a collaboration of Craig Entertainment Group, which Veytia owns, and HBO, he said.
“He (Mewes) wants to help other people so they don’t fall into the same trap as he did,” added Veytia.
Airtime this summer
Called “Rock Bottom,” the documentary includes footage of Mewes using heroin, even experiencing withdrawal symptoms while he quits cold turkey. It will show him in court and likely during his rehabilitation, said Veytia.
The documentary, which begins in Rhode Island and will end in New Jersey, will air this summer, he said. Production began March 20.
“This is building to what we hope is the reconstruction of himself so he gets back on track,” said Veytia, adding that he encouraged Mewes to turn himself in yesterday.
Mewes pleaded guilty to six counts of violating his probation — failing to perform community service; failing to report to the probation department; testing positive for drugs and failing to perform other drug tests; failing to cooperate with counseling and treatment; leaving the state without permission; and lying to the probation department.
In February 2000, Mewes had admitted possessing heroin in 1999 in Keansburg and was placed on two years’ probation. In December, 2001 Farren issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Some sort of documentary is certainly happening, as one of our scoopers spotted a camera crew in a nearby church filming for the program. However, many times in the past, filmmakers make a documentary and THEN try and sell it to HBO or otherwise. We’ve yet to confirm.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting: In Kevin’s appearance at the Arclight last night, he suggested that if Mewes were to get clean, he would like to do another picture with Jay & Silent Bob, perhaps as a reward and an incentive for Mewes since he loves doing the flicks so much. Now of course this is just an idea at this point, but we’re certainly hopeful first that the rehabiliation programs helps Jason, and that we may actually see Jay & Bob up on the big screen again, sometime in the years ahead.
We don’t plan on a lot of continuing coverage on this story, as we’d like to respect the privacy of Jay as much as possible as he goes through this tough time. We will keep you posted on the HBO documentary itself, and anything else as we deem appropriate. Our thoughts go out to Jason and his family, and we wish him the best.
Thanks to all who alerted us to this news, the scoopers were way too numerous to list, so we could only list some up above.
Got Something To Say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.