• We know many of you are waiting on a big announcement regarding the Mallrats X screening and reunion this month. We can promise you it’s coming ANY MOMENT NOW!!! Just not THIS very moment. Stay close.

• Kevin is given high praise in the recent edition of Entertainment Weekly magazine, for his contributions to DVD. Clerks X is cited as a must-own edition. Kevin’s is also quoted in the sidebars “Criterion on Top” and “What’s He Doing There?” Scans are right here.
• The Chasing Amy Q&A from Vulgarthon has even made its way into the celeb gossip rags:

• The lovely Joey Lauren Adams’ episode of “Veronica Mars” airs tonight on UPN. There are some screencaps of the episode trailer (with a glimpse or two of Joey) at Neptunesite.
• The Zach Braff for Fletch rumor continues to get tossed around, with his fellow “Scrubs” cast member Donald Faison talking to the IESB, who brings up the casting possibility to him. Faison also mentions his desire to work with Kevin himself in the piece. It’s always neat to see raw, unedited sit-downs with the talent — Thanks to the IESB and zach-braff.com.
• The Sun-Chronicle poses some other humorous film ideas in the same vein as the Boston Red Sox-themed “Fever Pitch” that opened last weekend. Here’s one we thought you might get a chuckle out of:

• Kevin’s “My Boring-Ass Life” blog diary continues to fascinate at the View Askew WWWBoard. Kevin’s updating it regularly, with some precise detail on his day-to-day activities. Folks are finding it interesting and quite revealing (all the way down to the bathroom trips). You need to visit the board to read each entry, but here’s a summary of some of the more newsworthy tidbits that have been shared over the past week:

• Get an email from JJ Abrams, who’s in for my guest-hosting episode of “Dinner for Five.” The final, locked five is JJ, Jason Lee, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill, and me. We shoot on Tuesday.
• When I get home, there’s a situation heating up – a situation which could wind up pushing the “Clerks 2” shoot by a month and change. The producer Jenno Topping (who, aside from being a producer is also the main squeeze of Project Greenlight’s Chris Moore) has sent me a script, not to direct (smart lady), but to act in. It’s this movie Susanah Grant (writer of “Erin Brokovich”) wrote and is directing, called “Catch and Release”, which stars Jennifer Garner and Timothy Olyphant. I’d be playing Sam, who’s in the flick quite a bit. Somehow, off of “Evening With Kevin Smith”, Susanah thinks I’m right for the role, and Jenno’s not doing the smart thing and trying to convince her otherwise. So Jeno and I talk about it, and she says that Phil (Raskind, my agent) insists it can’t happen, because we’re due to shoot “C2” in June. However, that schedule’s not set yet, and we’re talking about pushing maybe a month and a half here (maybe two) to do something I’ve never been offered before: a big part in a big movie.

  I call Phil about it, and we hash it out, and talk about whether it’s even a possibility. By call’s end, I decide I should talk to Harvey about it.

  I call Harvey and tell him about the flick. Harvey says that I should probably read the script (I haven’t, at this point; meant to take it with me to NJ and Ill last weekend, but my carry-on was overpacked already). He says “If it’s gonna make you Tom Cruise, then do it.” I tell him it’s not gonna make me Tom Cruise, but that nothing short of a deal with Lucifer is ever gonna do that anyway. He says “My first instinct is to say you should keep your powder dry, because you’ve got ‘The Passion’ coming up. But if they’re gonna pay you a lot to do it…” I tell him I don’t know what I’d be getting paid, and he says to call him back once I’ve read the script – as that’s the key factor in deciding to make/be in any movie. He also tells me that Fox Searchlight might be coming in with New Co. on “Clerks 2” and handling the foreign side. Since Searchlight’s had such a killer few years lately, and since both Harvey and Searchlight previously worked together on (and did so well with their respective releases of) “Garden State”, this is awesome news.

• Two interesting emails: one from Richard Kelly, letting me know that all systems are go on “Southland Tales” and that I’ll be needed for two days in August.
• I pop into the editing room to see what Mosier’s been doing with the “Mallrats” re-cut. We’ve decided that, instead of calling this “The Director’s Cut” that we should call it “The Cut That Should Never Have Been” – as longer doesn’t mean better (certainly in the case of “Rats”).

Other notes from this week’s diary: Mosier has informed Kevin that they’ve got cash coming for Clerks 2 from the new studio. Stash East will be getting some light refurbishment. Kevin and Scott are still working on the Mallrats recut for the X DVD. Kevin may also be joining the Director’s Guild, as they’ve asked him to become a member.

That’s about it for the newsworthy stuff from Kev’s weeklong wrapup. You can read every last detail at the View Askew site.

• We love it when the flicks get early press, and it seems like Kevin’s recent trips onstage have gotten the word out about Clerks 2, before filming’s even started. Here’s 2 pieces from the weekend:

• “Reel Paradise” will be a part of the Nashville Film Festival. It plays there on April 17th. John Pierson will be doing a Q&A during the festival as well.
• Jason Lee will be appearing as the first guest on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson on Monday, April 11th. We’ll see if he mentions the new sitcom or anything Askew-related.
• The photo collection is already growing by leaps and bounds at Askew View. Nice organization as well. We dig it. Be sure to stop by there, check out the photos, and maybe even add some of your own from any of our past events.
• Jason Mewes made his first appearance on Project Greenlight this week, as he was cast in the role of “Edgy Cat”. It was a brief showing but of course, he managed to get off a joke about flirting with the casting director. Greenlight is as good as ever this year. If you’re not watching, you should be.
• Raquel Castro’s mother contacts us with the latest news on her daughter. They’ve just returned from a trip to Japan, where Jersey Girl was recently released:

• Fred Tepper, who supervised the digital effects in Dogma, has a film coming out, direct to DVD, titled…“Sasquatch Hunters”. Interestingly enough, the company that arranged the distribution is the same company that’s handling Jeff Anderson’s “Now You Know.” “Sasquatch” hits shelves on April 12th.
• Alanis Morissette talks with Rolling Stone about her upcoming projects, including her own TV show on Comedy Central, HERE.

Just to clarify on the confusion regarding upcoming Clerks ANIMATED projects: At both appearances last weekend, Kevin did indeed confirm the plan to do the CLERKS ANIMATED FEATURE that would go direct to video/DVD. The plot, as previously mentioned: Dante and Randal decided to make an indie feature about life at the Quick Stop.

Kevin ALSO said that they’ll be doing 5-6 CLERKS ANIMATED SHORTS that will play before CLERKS 2. Different theaters will get different shorts. Of course, all of them would be collected for the film’s eventual DVD release.

None of the deals are done on any of these projects at this point, but this is indeed what the plan is right now. Hope that clears it up for ya’ll.

• Yep, it’s deserving of a headline because it was a passing remark made by Kevin today. Will Clerks 2 not only be the first movie to get funding and lens under the Weinstein company, but the first to hit the silver screen as well? So far, it sure looks that way. Clerks 2. January 2006. That’s like 9 months away! We like the sound of that. We really do.

• You all love the Roadside Attractions, but it’s even MORE exciting for fans when Kevin gets to spend some real couch time with Leno, chatting as we know not many can (any guy who can fill 7+ hours has no trouble telling a fun anecdote or two on The Tonight Show, we’re certain). So, we’re pleased to announce Kevin will be making an appearance as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH. Consider this advanced notice to get your tickets if you’d like to sit in the audience and cheer!

Kevin will be promoting “Silent Bob Speaks”, the new book, arriving on shelves all across the country next week. Now available from the Stash, SIGNED, by clicking our pretty little banner above. Why would you order it anywhere else?

• Here’s a few final tidbits of interest that came up in last Sunday’s appearance at Crystal Lake. The Clerks cartoon news sort of conflicts what Kevin said in Red Bamk (if it’s being reported correctly to us, perhaps it’s just a misunderstanding). So we’ll try and determine whether we will be seeing more animated Clerks stuff on video or not. Our feeling is that the project may become those mini animated shorts that will randomly screen before Clerks 2:

While nothing may be decided yet about those cartoons…It’d be interesting to hear if we’re going to get a feature length animated, or more likely to see the pre-C2 shorts. Kevin? Any clue?

• Yes, it’s one of the few View Askew Productions that doesn’t feature a familiar duo, or any familiar faces from the other flicks…Yet it holds the honor of being the first prestigious documentary to arrive under the banner. The Hollywood Reporter gives praise to the compelling “Reel Paraise”:

We urge you all to see the film when you get a chance, especially if you love movies (and who doesn’t?). We’ll let you know when and how you can see it, as release information has not yet been announced.

• NOTE: Kevin’s Saturday KLSX radio gig that we mentioned last update has been CANCELLED. No reschedule has been set up at this time.
• USA Today cites Kevin as “Top Talent” among a list of directors heading to the Weinstein’s new shop. Kevin even lends a quote to the piece:

• The #Viewaskew chatroom on DALnet has been brought back to life — You can access the room via IRC client at irc.dal.net, or via the server hotspeed.dal.net. OR: If you prefer Java chat, use DALnet’s website. Login as a guest, then type “/join #viewaskew”, followed by “/nick (yourboardname/nickname/name)” and you’re good to go.
• Aimee Mann’s “That’s How I Knew This Story Would Break My Heart,” which plays during the funeral scene in “Jersey Girl,” is now available for purchase from iTunes. You can also stream the song for free at her official site.
• A happy belated birthday to possible future “Fletch Won” star Zach Braff, who turned 30 earlier this week.
• Just a remimder: Mark Jwayad’s film “Oh Danny Boy” does its world premiere Saturday, 8:15PM @ the St. Johns Theater in Portland, Oregon. Mark worked on and had a scene in “Jersey Girl”.
• Hmmm…Cinematical basically reran our Raue story in capsule form, even took a picture from us…But nary a credit? Hrmph.
• And last, but certainly not least, happy belated to Kevin’s own muse (not MEWES), Jen Smith!