For those of you who are unfamiliar with Vulgarthon, it’s a film festival we’ve held in Red Bank, New Jersey for the past three years. We’ll screen DOGMA and other films of mine alongside films that have not yet been given wide distribution. It’s nice because it lets some of these smaller films get seen and fans of the older films can see those in a theater with those involved in the filmmaking process.
I’ve been thinking of moving it here, but you can only imagine the shitstorm I created with that idea. I can’t tell you how many times in my career I’ve been called a sellout, but moving anything from New Jersey for me brands me a sellout of the worst sort. My e-mail is flooded with slogans of “Jersey Represent.”
I just figured it would be nice to actually have some of the stars of the movies show up, and having it here might make that a little easier. I know it’ll be easier to get Ben to show up if I have it here. Hell, it’s tough enough to get him out of the house at all these days considering he’s, you know, fucking… I think the next one will be here though.
Now that JERSEY GIRL is almost finished, what are you thinking about next?
Every time I work on a project, people ask me what’s next. This is really one of the first times I don’t have anything specific in mind. Again if I could do the FLETCH project with Lee I’d be all about that and there is the CLERKS cartoon, but the other two projects I’ve been tossing around are each very distinct. One is sort of a sci-fi romance I’ve been toying around with for a long time. The other would be a remake of this amazingly bad movie from the seventies, starring Peter Fonda and Loretta Switt RACE WITH THE DEVIL. I’m obsessed with the title, and it’s about these two couples that go out in their Winnebago to do some camping, and stumble across a satanic ritual. When they are discovered, the cult chases them and they spend the rest of the movie, you guessed it, racing with the devil. Of course, I pitched it to Bob Weinstein because it’s this great slasher flick and I figured it would be right up his alley, and he just thought it was a terrible idea. He didn’t even like the name, pointing out that they’re not really racing with the Devil but from him. Turns out someone actually already has the rights, so I’m even less excited about it now.
VZ: It probably comes out that way, but I think this story requires a certain visual treatment. When you have a moving story like JERSEY GIRL, it gives you the opportunity to create some moving shots. I don’t move the camera just to move it. I don’t push in to a character until that’s required by the story. A dolly move should mean something. It should emphasize the storyline. I don’t think we have a lot of camera moves in this movie. I think sometimes we have some nice camera moves, and people will probably notice that, but [when we move the camera] it always relies on the story.
The 29-year-old Easter Bunny, Travis Peterson, described the assault in an interview Monday with the Wausau Daily Herald.
“I was just sitting there in my chair, waving to the kids, and he came up and jumped in my lap and just started hitting my head,” Peterson said. “Little fragments of (paint from) the bunny’s eye got into my eye, and it’s kind of irritating right now.”
Kevin’s event schedule will be announced soon, and we’ll have all those details right here. The guest list for this year is again very, very impressive. Check the whole thing out HERE. As you know it’s local for us, so we’ll look forward to seeing some of you there.
Hmm, let’s see… what else? Oh, Chris Pastras and I are going to be re-releasing Stereo skateboards and possibly clothes again. Shhh, don’t tell anyone. Anyway, we’ve been meeting with skateboard distribution companies to find the right one to work with. Should be interesting to see how well it does in the now more mainstream world of skateboarding. Been working in the darkroom lately. Almost everyday, and for as much as 8 hours at a time. Should have everything printed for my first exhibition in about 8-12 months (it’s a long and arduous process). Blah, blah, blah. Hope all is well out there. Be back soon…
Lee is also mentioned in the new issue (#57) of “Strangers in Paradise” by Abstract comics. A fan writes in and says that in a movie version of the comic, Jason Lee should play the character David.
Hollywood couple J.Lo and Ben Affleck have secured a deal to remake the classic movie Casablanca, according to reports.
The pair are said to be delighted with the multi-million pound deal and are now in talks wirth American producers.
The original film was a hit in 1942 starring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman.
Affleck will take the romantic lead as Rick, the Daily Star reports.
Lopez will play the former lover who had jilted him but comes back into his later life – married to a French resistance leader.
Actor Ben is reportedly a big fan of old movies and the project will give him a chance to indulge his passion.
It will not be the first time the two have appeared on screen together – they recently starred in the hit romance Jersey Girl.
A friend said: “They are overjoyed at the propspect of being in Casablanca together.
“It is the chance for them to show how much they love each other through their on-screen chemistry.”
Then, later tonight, as part of the 2003 Phoenix Film Festival, he’ll host a screening of “Clerks” at 10:30 PM. This all happens TONIGHT apparently, though we haven’t had much time to check into it. We just wanted to get this news out ASAP if it’s indeed happening, in the hopes some readers might catch Brian. Enjoy.
Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck will costar in two movies this year scheduled to be released just three months apart
NEWSWEEK, April 14 issue — Just in case you need more of Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in your life, the couple will costar in two moviesthis year. Unfortunately, they’re scheduled to be released just three months apart, begging the obvious questions: Can they both make a profit? And is either any good?
AFFLECK AND LOPEZ fell in love last year while making “Gigli,” a dramatic comedy about gangsters. Directed by Martin Brest (whose previous outing, “Meet Joe Black,” flopped), the $54 million film began suffering from negative buzz last fall after test-screening audiences hated the ending, in which Affleck’s character (pronounced Jee-lee) died. Revolution Studios, which financed the film, forked over about $1 million for a three-day reshoot. Last week a test screening of the new version inspired a scathing review on the Ain’t It Cool News Web site—and a heated moment between Brest and Revolution head Joe Roth over the pace of the movie’s final 25 minutes. After a three-day standoff, Brest headed back to the editing room to tighten the final segment.
Meanwhile, Affleck and Lopez’s other project, the romantic drama “Jersey Girl,” had been basking in good early buzz. This sparked speculation that its director, Kevin Smith, had somehow planted the Ain’t It Cool review as sabotage. Those close to both projects describe this theory as “paranoid” and “ridiculous.” (Smith has been a close friend of Affleck’s since the two made “Chasing Amy” years ago, and even helped Affleck and Matt Damon get their “Good Will Hunting” script into Miramax’s hands.) What’s more, the fates of “Gigli” and “Jersey Girl” are actually tied together—if audiences balk at the first flick this summer, they may boycott the second film come fall. Revolution contends that “Gigli” will be vindicated. “The picture will speak for itself,” says executive Tom Sherak. “This is a really smart summer movie. It’s not a fastball down the middle. It’s not ‘The Hulk.’ It’s a curveball.” Here’s hoping it’s over the plate.
Always great to get some early buzz out there. Good stuff for JG!
