Archive for August 31st, 2004

Clerks Sequel: Questions Answered!

August 31st @ 8:16 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Kevin Smith

  • With the cat finally let out of the bag, the Clerks sequel has naturally been generating quite a bit of excitement,
    questions, and concerns with this sudden return to the Askewniverse we know and love. Kevin’s taking all of these concerns and providing
    some interesting, insightful answers of what we can expect to see in this sequel. If you weren’t already excited, wait until you read
    all of this great stuff. We’ll let Kevin take it away from here:
– This isn’t gonna be a cameo-heavy affair, a’la “Strike Back.” The only returning characters are Dante and Randal, and Jay and Silent Bob.

– This isn’t gonna be a star-studded affair. The biggest names in the cast are gonna be Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Jason Mewes.

– This isn’t an “I’m not even supposed to be here today… AGAIN!”-heavy, wink-wink affair. We barely refer to the first flick (though I do love Lynch’s proposed tagline of “They Still Don’t Like You”; considering the tone of the script, an even more appropriate tagline would be “They Like You Even Less”).

– Jay and Silent Bob have about as much screen time as they had in “Clerks.” This is Dante and Randal’s flick all the way.

– The title makes sense. Sure, there’s a bit of cheekiness in there, but it’s pretty appropriate, based on the material.

– This is the funniest thing I’ve ever written. It’s also really poignant.

– We’ll still be making a “Clerks” cartoon movie, separate of this.

– This is not a grab at the green. Saying so is kinda laughable, if you’re privy to what I make per film now, vs. what I’ll make for this film. Part of the idea about doing “Passion” is to strip away the trappings of success we’ve been enjoying for the last few years, in an effort to get to the raw and pure. None of us are making our usual salaries on this flick; we’re all doing it favored-nations style, with deferments. If the flick does well, we’ll get paid our full-freight on the back-end. If not, we did it for the love. But if I was “all about the green”, I’d be gearing up for “Hornet” or “Fletch” instead. This one’s about the passion; the passion of the “Clerks.”

– Some of the key players from the “Clerks” saga who’ve already read the 143 page first draft: Mos, Jeff, Brian, John Pierson, Bob Hawk. Jay’s reading the new, refined 119 page second draft this week. Once they were all on board, any doubt or hesitation I might’ve felt about monkeying with the original’s legacy disappeared completely.

– This isn’t about “Jersey Girl.” While disappointed that we didn’t do double the theatrical business we crawled to, I understand why what happened to that flick happened (considering how poorly “Gigli” did, I consider us kinda lucky that we got to 25m). If this is a reaction to anything, it’s more of a reaction to “Green Hornet”, and the trajectory my budgets have been taking lately. Before (and if) I direct “Hornet”, I wanted to do something small and more me-like. While working on the “Clerks X” dvd, it became clear to me that “Passion” was the way to go.

– We almost did this flick three years ago, instead of “Strike Back.” I’m glad we didn’t, because I was able to say much more now than I would’ve then.

– There are gonna be lots of folks expressing disappointment or downright hostility with the idea of this movie. Let ‘em vent. If it’s all that bad, Xtian will just sweep it off the board. But the last thing I’m interested in is opinions on what I’m doing this early in the process, if at all. The beauty of making that first flick was being able to do it in a vacuum. Granted, I could’ve kept my mouth shut about it ’til we were done shooting; but with “Clerks X” coming out, it just felt right to share. Regardless – I don’t want folks running here with reports of what’s being said about the idea of this film at other boards. Don’t waste your/my time with the braying of the jackasses. There’s not even a movie to bray about yet. Once there is, if you still still feel the need to tell me what some random, knuckle-headed Talk Backer has to say about the finished product, then God bless. But until then, leave it in the locker room.

– Oh, who am I kidding? This flick makes me so happy, I’m not even bothered by the bitching (could still be even happier without it, though). I’m in love with this flick. If other folks aren’t, I can’t really say I’m concerned. I’ve read the script; they haven’t. I have the benefit of insight into the flick beyond the title and the notion of it; they don’t. The reaction is pretty much what I thought it’d be: a ton of positive, and minimal amount of bitching. Even if the equation was reversed, I’d still feel as good as I do now.

– At this point in my life, this flick makes absolute fucking sense.

– I can’t wait to shoot it, and I can’t wait ’til you all see it.

– That storyline about Dante and Randal shooting a movie about working at the Quick Stop is the plot of the “Clerks” CARTOON movie. It’s secure. The plot of “PotC” is something completely different.

– The flick does NOT employ the tone of the “Clerks” cartoon. It’s OG “Clerks” all the way.

– The flick’s in both black & white and color.

– Having not seen “South Park” since season two (unless you count the movie), I was unaware they did an episode called “The Passion of the Jew.” I don’t know how (or if) this info will affect our title.

– There will be no “reunions” or “crossovers” in the flick. Again – the only characters returning are Dante, Randal, Jay, and Bob.

Got any more concerns or questions? Ask away in our TalkBack or at View Askew’s forum
and Kevin will do his best to answer.

Stash West Signing: More Details…

August 31st @ 8:16 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Kevin Smith

  • For those of you planning to attend the big signing event at Stash West on DVD day next week, Tuesday, September 7th,
    here’s some details. Interest is very HIGH for this event, so first off, we suggest that you get there EARLY. The Clerks/Jersey Girl DVD
    release party is scheduled to run from 5-10 PM that day, though we expect the line will start MUCH earlier than that.

Kevin and Jay will definitely be in attendance to sign your items. We’re not sure if any other surprise guests will show up. Many of you
have been wondering if you can get anything except the DVDs signed and personalized. Here’s Kevin’s answer to that question:

Let me clear up a little confusion…

I’ll sign anything you bring to the store. However, you’ve gotta buy one or both of the new DVD’s from the STASH in order to get ANYTHING
signed that day.

So feel free to bring a truckload of shit for me to sign (within reason, of course; none of this multiple copies of the same thing, shit,
please); just know that you’ll be required to buy one (or both) of the new dvd’s from us to get that truckload of shit signed.

And come early. Based on all the calls, we’re getting the vibe that it’s gonna be crowded.

So, you heard it here. With multiple items being signed, lines can get long, so we again suggest that you get there as soon as you can.
Kevin is known to sign until everyone’s satisfied, but with 5 hours already scheduled, there dude’s hand can only work for so long before
it falls off. Getting there early ensures you’ll get into the store and get all your goodies autographed. Have a great time, folks.
You’ve got 2 very jealous east coast webmasters here eagerly awaiting your reports!

More “Passion of the Clerks” Press!

August 31st @ 8:15 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Brad & Chris

  • Yes, more of the staggering amounts of mass media on the internet are picking up on the big Clerks sequel news, and we’ve got links
    and snips of the latest stuff, including some new quotes from Kevin:
E! Online – “Clerks” Clocking in for More

“But the big question is whether Clerks fans view the The Passion as a noochie-no-no. Smith–who went on to make Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma and, what was supposed to be the swan song for the whole “New Jersey Chronicles,” Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Back–certainly hopes not.

While we can’t pull off the $27,575 budget of the first, we’re gonna make it damned cheap,” he says. “When all’s said and done, God willing, this won’t be a Two Jakes, Texasville, or Jaws: The Revenge kinda follow up.”


Houston Chronicle – Kevin Smith to mark ‘Clerks’ anniversary with sequel

(Text Same As AP Story previously published)

View Askew NewsBites™

August 31st @ 8:15 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Joe Bonincontri, Adam, Bob Grimm

  • The project’s hit the big time! Variety has run a small story officially announcing the Movies Askew project. Exepect competition to
    heat up as word spreads around the industry. Budding filmmakers, take note: We’re eagerly awaiting your entires!
  • IGN gives more muchly-deserved high marks to that incredible Clerks X disc that streets on September 7th (a week from today!). They
    take a slightly more abridged look than we did in OUR REVIEW, but have similar positive comments about the staggering amount of entertainment to be found
    in this 3-disc set. Read the Clerks X review at IGN’s site.

  • The scan we’ve got here is a bit blurry, but this piece comes from Premiere magazine on sometimes Askew actor Ethan Suplee. There’s a
    short story he tells about Mallrats in there, along with details on his latest, “Without a Paddle”.
  • ARCHIVE: One critic’s Jay & Bob review’s final paragraph seemed to have his
    wish come true with the latest news! We’re looking forward to seeing Jay in all his profane glory again soon, as well.