- The server email is back up and running, and it looks like all the stuff that was sitting there in the queue all got delivered…So anything you sent SHOULD have gotten to us. THANKS! Thanks so much for your patience as well. This update should make a nice end-of-week treat, catching us up on all the week’s big events and news — Enjoy, and we’ll see you again real soon.
Archive for August 11th, 2006
More Red Bank Coverage!
- Kevin’s Smith’s two-day siege of Red Bank culminated Tuesday night in Marine Park, where he delighted 2,000 fans (the official number, based on wristbands distributed) with liberal doses of naughty language. The crowd ate up every scatological reference, from Lois Lane and sex with Superman to the correct definition of ‘ass to mouth.’ Red Bank Green has a story and photos (as you see above) on the whole thing. An excerpt:
Coming off a 13-hour marathon that had him signing geek memorabilia almost until dawn at his Broad Street comic book store, filmmaker Kevin Smith entertained 2,000 fans in Marine Park last night with a mixture of endless approachability and profanity.
Local politicians, including Mayor Ed McKenna and mayoral candidate Pat Menna, all but kissed Smith at the start of his open-air Q&A and rocked with laughter at his early answers. But they grew increasingly rigid of jowl and then vanished from stage right as the director of the recently-released ‘Clerks II’ worked his way through an hour of audience questions with dozens if not hundreds of graphic references to sex.
Until a host finally interceded, many of the questions came from self-described aspiring filmmakers asking for jobs, advice or an opportunity to have picture taken with Smith. Increasingly, such requests elicited groans from the audience.
But as he had at Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash on Monday, when he stayed past 4a to greet every fan who turned out seeking an autograph, Smith indulged most questions and requests, no matter how inspired or insipid. Twice he spoke by cell phone to friends of audience members, and agreed to sign one man’s penis after the event.
Read the complete story HERE.
Yahoo/Reuters also has a nice story on the event:
“Clerks” director Smith applauded on NJ home turf
RED BANK, New Jersey (Reuters) – Indie film director Kevin Smith chatted with fans, dispensed wry career advice to aspiring filmmakers and flat-out refused to sign a woman’s rear end on Tuesday night when he came home to New Jersey for an outdoor screening of his breakthrough film “Clerks.”
The show, part of mail-order DVD rental service Netflix’ “Rolling Roadshow” free summer screenings series, drew some 2,000 enthusiastic fans of both the film, shot mostly in nearby Leonardo as well as Red Bank, and Smith, born in a hospital across the street from the suburban New Jersey waterside park where his fans gathered.
In a question-and-answer session before the screening, Smith was alternately respectful and engaged, self-deprecating, profane and good-naturedly abusive of his fans and their questions.
“I don’t wanna’ read your script dude,” he told one of several would-be directors, writers, actors and producers who made brazen bids for everything from career advice to jobs. “I don’t even wanna’ read my own scripts.”
When a young woman told Smith, known for other films including “Mallrats,” “Chasing Amy,” “Dogma” and “Jersey Girl”: “I need you to sign my ass” so she could have it tattooed later, he demurred, saying “I don’t sign body parts ma’am.”
On a more reflective note, Smith said his hit 1994 film “Clerks,” about the vacuous if amusing existence of a couple of slacker convenience and video store workers in New Jersey, was a product of writing from his experience — which he noted was about the only advice he could offer.
“Part of the reason I do what I do is, I grew up fat, and I grew up in New Jersey,” he said to applause from the crowd, many of whom closely resembled the characters in his films.
“So you tend to try harder” and to develop a sense of humor, he said.
The film’s success and resonance with young adults caught Smith by surprise. “It was meant as a calling-card film, and it ended up launching a career,” he said.
The sequel, far-less well-received “Clerks II,” was released this summer. Smith also made a few references to one of his worst-reviewed films, the Ben Affleck-Jennifer Lopez bomb “Jersey Girl.”
“I’m going to do a horror movie next,” he said. “It’s called ‘Jersey Girl II.”‘
“It’s time to do a slasher movie — no comedy, just blood and gore. And boobies,” he added. “But man boobies,” he said in the kind of joke that are his films’ stock-in-trade.
Between jests, Smith obligingly spoke via cell phone to several fans’ friends who were not able to be there.
“This is such a weird job,” Smith said, almost to himself. “Write on my ass. Talk to my friend … ”
The Rolling Roadshow series stages free outdoor screenings of popular films in areas where they were shot or set. Recent events included “Jaws” on Martha’s Vineyard and “The Warriors” in Coney Island.
Finally, click here to check out streaming video of some fan interviews from outside of the Quick Stop and at the Netflix Rolling roadshow, as well as some live Q&A footage from the event courtesy the awesome Asbury Park Press.
So About This Horror Flick…
- So yes, it’s official — Or as official as it can be — Kevin WILL tackle the horror genre next, with a focus on the horror aspects (not the comedic ones). Being huge horror genre fans ourselves since birth, and growing up watching all those bloody 80’s horror flicks (seeing the classic Friday the 13th sequels on opening nights was always such a blast), it’s nice to see the focus back on horror these days — Films are making money, and good ones are getting lots of acclaim (see “The Descent” if you can catch it, really fantastic, straight horror). So, we’re naturally both very excited to see Kevin taking on a new challenge, and highly look forward to covering this one. Taking Kevin’s intelligence, wit, and ability to tell a cool story, along with the understanding that this has to be bloody and scary…We think it’s going to be a real winner.
You can now check out the famous Rock-Paper-Scissors sequence on YouTube, where Kevin first announced his intentions to do a horror flick.
Kevin’s also recently posted this blurb on the flick:
“…it’ll be pretty different from anything else I’ve done thus far – that much I can tell you. There may be a few chuckles in it along the way, but it won’t be comedy-horror. It’ll be chills and gore.”
Ain’t It Cool News reports on statements made regarding the unnamed horror project from the Rolling Roadshow as well.
We’ve heard that Kevin doesn’t plan for this one to be released for another two years, and that his romantic comedy starring Rosario Dawson would be bumped back to come after this film at some point. Of course, timelines and dates are all tentative, we can only report on what the plan is at present.
Here’s hoping we can get to the set on a really messy day with this one, and watch some of the horror FX magic unfold! We’ll keep you posted on this exciting new venture for Kevin and View Askew as news rolls in.
Amy Inactions: NOW AVAILABLE!
- If you’re like us, you just gotta have each and every inaction figure that hits the shelves, and there’s a strange joy in taking those suckers OUT of their packages (mint in box collectors be damned!) and arranging them amongst the growing, still-standing crew of previous inactions. The top of the desk I’m writing this update from is littered with the crew of inactions, looking fun and colorful (though a bit of a dusting nuisance)…And now, we’re happy to say, the time has come to increase that group even more. The Chasing Amy inaction figures have officially arrived!
Hey! She’s Gay!
Now you too can act out your own ill-advised three-way or scream BLACK RAGE! with your very own set of CHASING AMY INACTION FIGURES!
This 5th set of Inaction Figures based on Kevin Smith’s film CHASING AMY features 5 of your favorite characters from the film in classic inaction form. BANKY EDWARDS and the TRACER guy from the comicon come ready to throw down. Holden and Alyssa argue about sexual experience and inexperience and HOOPER X is ready to, “kill any white folks he lays his motherfu*king eyes on!”.
Sold as a set only. $45 per set.
Place those orders HERE and we’ll be shipping them to your door right away!
What Happened To That Commentary?
- It’s been the most popular question here at the News Askew office for weeks and now, we have an answer to “What happened to that Clerks II MP3 commentary track that was supposed to be released?”. Here’s Kevin:
“This is what I’ve been told by the Weinstein Co. folks…
Turns out that exhibitors (folks that own the theaters) weren’t too keen on the idea of people showing up to the movies with iPods. They felt it was going to be too distracting (or something) for other people in the theater who weren’t wearing iPods for the show – like the commentary-listeners would be laughing when nobody else was laughing, and that’d create some kind of problem. Based on that, they suggested that if Weinstein Co. went through with the commentary track promotion, they’d start pulling the flick from screens. So the commentary track promotion has been tabled until we’re at a very low theater count (which is starting to happen now).
For the record, from what I was told, AMC Theaters was supportive of the commentary idea. So if it still winds up ultimately happening (and it better be soon, as we’ve only got about two weeks of theatrical life left), check the flick out in an AMC Theater while listening to the commentary track. You won’t get any shit for doing so there.”
As soon as the track is available we’ll have it for download here at News Askew. Stay tuned.
Clerks II On DVD, HD-DVD December 5th!
- Davis DVD confirms that December 5th release date we’ve been hearing for Clerks II on DVD, but brings more details, including the confirmation on what’s sure to be a gorgeous, 1080i High Definition edition available that very same day:
It’s official. The Weinstein Company and MGM Home Entertainment will release Kevin Smith’s Clerks II on December 5th. The follow-up to Smith’s career-making 1994 original film arrives as a two-disc set with a 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer and Dolby Digital 5.1 audio. Bonus materials will include a feature-length audio commentary with Kevin Smith and his View Askew cohorts (of course), deleted scenes, a 90-minute making-of documentary, the complete MySpace.com DVD Credits List, trailers and more. Retail is $29.99.
Also look for an HD-DVD edition day-and-date with a 1080p hi-def transfer. No word yet if there are any exclusive extras to this version, so stay tuned. Retail is $35.99.
View Askew NewsBites™
- A great double bill is on tap for Pittsburgh, PA this weekend – Clerks I and II at The Oaks theater! The fun starts at midnight Saturday the 12nd, and 10 PM on Sunday the 13th. THIS WEEKEND ONLY! Don’t miss it!
- Movie supersite iFilm have posted their extensive collection of Clerks II videos for your viewing pleasure, all in one spot. Check out their trailers, exclusive interviews, red carpet coverage, and more.
- ESPN.com’s Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, reviews Clerks 2 (and some other films quite hilariously) in his column today. It’s a B-minus mixed review, but generally positive.
- Check out this Wired article on Slackers for some mentions on Clerks II (and comparisons to Linklater’s Fast Food Nation).
- Kevin is mentioned briefly in this review of Talladega Nights when the reviewer mentions the appeal of his work to a specific generation.
- Australia’s starting to get excited about Kevin’s impending arrival for the Clerks II premiere. Here’s a scoop sent in from a local listener of a popular radio program:
Kevin Smith and Clerks II got a mention today on the Australian radio show Tony Martin’s Get This on triple M. As I wrote him an email requesting for him to get Kevin on the show while he is in Australia. Rather than replying to me he addressed it on air saying how he would love to get Kevin on the show but thinks that his show isn’t powerful enough to get Kevin on (it does go around Australia and is podcasted though). Then one of the co-hosts made a joke at how good would “Silent Bob” be on radio.
- Fan Girl AmyWin blogs about her recent experiences with Clerks 2 at her blog site.
- Anyone who wants to get a better look at Randal’s new favorite website can check out the flash designed for Clerks 2 over at http://www.wheelieblog.org/.
- The lovely Claire Forlani of “Mallrats” fame (recently seen in a pretty bad Stephen King “Nightmares & Dreamscapes” episode) has joined the cast of CSI: New York. She will play the team’s new medical examiner.
- Add “My Name Is Earl” to the MySpace community – Yahoo News reports that Beginning this week, MySpace members can submit their photos via a My Name Is Earl profile page, with three pictures ultimately being chosen to appear during the credits of a second-season episode of NBC’s top-rated sitcom under the heading “Friends of Earl.” Your face on NBC! Best get over there and start submitting!
- Surviving Grady is a popular Boston Red Sox blog. They just did a dialog post using Randal and Dante, plus some of the Sox players. Good stuff. Especially funny if you follow the Sox, of course.
- A web post is now indicating that Screen International will release Clerks II in the UK on September 22nd.
- And ending on the big note today, horror, the Project Greenlight horror/comedy “Feast” will indeed have a small theatrical run before hitting DVD. The world premeire will be at the awesome Palms hotel on September 12, 2006 — Anyone got tix for us? 😉 Feast will hit theatres nationwide for special late night showings beginning on September 22 and 23, 2006. The special run will be followed by the DVD launch of “Feast” on October 17, 2006. We’re looking forward to seeing this one!