- Kevin’s been keeping up with both the online blogs and SModcast regularly, so we hope that you’re making stops at Silent Bob Speaks, Myspace, and Quick Stop Entertainment part of your regular web travels. We’re going to stick with posting stuff from these sites that we feel might be newsworthy, but leave the more day-to-day type stuff for you to discover at those sites on your own. That being said, while the big news from Kevin’s last week of blogging surrounded the current, well, state of “Red State”, there were a few other snippets we figured we’d pull out for the news archives as well. Keep in mind, this stuff comes from last week, as Kevin has been blogging usually over the weekends, summarizing the previous week in one shot.
Here’s a few random passages from here, and our interpretation of possible hints that lie within:
“I spend most of day buried in my office, writing the second draft of “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” Even with the new stuff, I wind up taking the page count down to 110.” [NA: Sounds like we’re getting close to a good running time! Won’t be long til the scripts final now.]
“I wake up and do a radio tour for the book and “Reaper”, doing about ten or fifteen radio stations around the country.” [NA: If anyone has any audio captures of these interviews, let us know.]
“…I finally get to see “Spider-Man 3? – a movie in which many people cry, sing, and dance.” [NA: Sounds about right to us – nice assessment.]
“…I head home, talking to Carla about “Zack and Miri” casting en route.” [NA: We can’t wait until some of this casting is finally revealed. They’re doing a fantastic job keeping it under wraps!]
“…I shower and head to lunch with Dawn Ostroff, head of the CW, at Ca Del Sole.” [NA: More Reaper on the way, or perhaps another directing stint for another show?]
As always, the full story is available free, 24/7 via MySpace and Silent Bob Speaks! We’ll pick through the next blog entry with more observations, of course. Until then…
Archive for October, 2007
Stash West Swag Song: More Photos!
- Our good friend Albert Ortega brings us exclusive, high resolution photos from his visit to the historic Stash Westwood Signing that took place last weekend. As usual, these are the best photos you’ll see from the event, in both content and quality. As always, click the smaller versions above for the larger versions, as Kevin signs and poses with some of the various props that were on display at the store.
Want more? Obviously a big fan, James posts a Myspace blog dedicated to his trip to the signing, full of photos over the years of many other events. Watch it though, as the full size photos were slow to load, even on our high speed connection.
Got your own story from the Stash? Feel free to drop it in our Comments area or sent it our way. Also, we’re curious on the status of Stash Westwood, so if you wander by, see it open, closed, clearances, etc — Take some photos or let us know. After all, this is a major event in View Askew history, and will leave us with just a single Secret Stash on the planet once again.
View Askew NewsBites™
- Kevin joins PRI’s (public broadcasting) “Fair Game with Faith Salie” show to chat up “Reaper” and “My Boring Ass Life”. You can click here for a direct link to the MP3 audio of the broadcast. The airdate of the show was on October 9th (Tuesday) this week. Faith runs a very personable show, so enjoy it all or just skip to around 33 minutes into the show for Kevin’s segment.
- You don’t see Kevin in Wizard as much these days, due to his stepping back from the world of comics for a while. However, when his name showed up on the cover, claiming he will not only be writing/directing the new Heroes: Origins program…But that it will be the PILOT of that spinoff…We were curious. So, check out the scans above thanks to our scooper, and pay particular interest to what Kevin says about his new female character’s power:
What can you tell us about the power you plan to give your character?
It’s one that every comic book fan is very familiar with, but one that I consider to be the lamest of all the superpowers.
Care to speculate, anyone? Kevin’s not usually the repeating type, so we can’t see flying, invisibility, mind reading, invincibility…And it’s known that it’s a girl. Super strength perhaps? Hmmm. Rumor has it that the fan favorite hero of “Origins” will become a full-fledged cast member for season 3…Let’s hope it’s this one! - With more thanks to Mr. Ortega, here’s a few photos of Kevin and Jen as they appeared at the “Gone Baby Gone” premiere earlier this week, to support pal Ben Affleck’s directorial debut. The film opens on October 19th, and has been getting some fantastic reviews.
- Variety reports that Will Ferrel will headline a BIG budget theatrical version of the cult TV show we dug as kids, “Land of the Lost”. One can’t help but notice the extreme coincidence in that Ferrell’s character in Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back was named Marshal Willenholly way back in 2001. We seem to recall Ratface slipping in a Sleestack refrence somewhere, too. Hey, count us in.
- In that Radio Askew interview we ran last update, Kevin was put on the spot to name his favorite TV shows — While we certainly agreed, “Lost” was strangely absent, despite Kevin’s proclaim of love for the show at the thrilling end of last season. Now, it seems he’s got “Lost” on the brain again, with its premiere just a few months away. A brief snippet from Entertainment Weekly confirms:
KEVIN SMITH: Let’s give props to Lost. How brilliant was this season finale? I mean, it’s cruel because they’re not coming back until like January, but hats off for taking a foolproof formula and spinning it to make it even better. You’re like, ”Oh my God, so now they’re all flash-forwards?! How genius is that?” … We [had] all settled into ”Okay, this is what they do, they flashback and we learn a lot about the characters.” But that whole episode, you’re sitting there going, like, ”Wait a second — is that Jack’s father’s body [in the coffin]? But wasn’t the body on the plane? Who was this person in the casket that he’s going to see?” And then the moment where Kate f—ing walks up from the car and you’re like, ”Wait — they knew each other before?” And then all of a sudden, it becomes f—ing clear, you’re like, ”Oh my God, that s—‘s insanely brilliant!” You can only do that in TV, though. You can’t do that in a feature. You know what I’m saying? Like, you get a moment like that in a feature like The Sixth Sense, where you’re like, ”Holy s—, he’s been dead the whole time!?” But to do two seasons and then suddenly throw a massive curveball is just so dramatically satisfying, you just take your hats off to the writers in a big, bad way.
Lost’s season three end was one of the most memorable TV finales of all time — We’re in definite agreement that February is just too far away. - Those interested in Superman, or specifically the story of Kevin’s experience writing a big screen Supes flick, can always check out the first “Evening With Kevin Smith” DVD where Kevin tells the famous story. Or, if you prefer text, it seems this new book on the way, lengthly-titled “Superman vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon” will also cover the story, among other stories of the man of steel in Hollywood.
Stash West: Radio Askew Coverage & Photos…
- Once again, and possibly for the last time ever, View Askew fans lined the streets of Westwood, CA over the weekend for the final event at Stash West – Kevin’s book signing. We’ve got a couple photos above for you from the event. Got a report or a story on your day? Let us know.
Want more in-depth coverage of the event and the festivities afterwards? Our pal Will at Radio Askew has you covered. For the first time in Radio Askew’s 54 episodes, Kevin Smith himself is a guest, a major guest on this on-location episode, live from Stash Westwood. The show, taped live and uncut at 1 AM in the morning, captures the party atmosphere at the store and features 38 minutes of Will and Kevin discussing a variety of topics. The loglines, direct from Radio Askew themselves:
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| LIVE show from the West Coast Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash!
| Kevin Smith and Bryan Johnson in the hizzy!
| Kevin talks SModcast.
| SModcast, mixed at Skywalker Ranch?
| Kevin tells us why he does the VA Poker Games.
| Kevin Smith almost chose Dexter over signing books.
| Kevin’s top 4 TV shows on air right now.
| Another retelling of what happened with BSG.
| Where’s Mewes’ iPhone?
| How did Kevin get his iPhone?
| Will comes off as a homophobe (way to go Will)
| Brief Poker Tournament recap.
| About ‘My Boring-Ass Life’
| Kevin on his Letterman Experience
| Kevin vs. Radio Askew?
| Kevin a Master of All Media?
| Will incorrectly credits Malcolm Ingrim with Ethan Suplee’s alternative Mallrats title.
| Will owes Kevin a handy.
| RUN MING!
Kevin does indeed confirm that pre-production on Zack and Miri happens in November, and filming in January. With cold, snowy temps in Pittsburgh, could THAT be our shooting locale? We’d sure love it as it’s just a 3 hour drive into set for us if that’s the case. Also, we second the nomination for “Dexter” as one of last year’s best shows — The first season was indeed fantastic. Check out season 2, airing now on Showtime. But there’s so much more.Visit the official Radio Askew site to check out this episode and all of Will’s great work over the years. Like SModcast, it’s a free MP3 podcast that’s done purely for the joy of it, as a gift to all the fans out there. Kudos to Will on the ultimate “get” – A live Kevin Smith exclusive interview!



Malcolm’s In Ohio With “Small Town Gay Bar” Today!
- Malcolm Ingram is currently touring Ohio this month with his View Askew produced documentary “Small Town, Gay Bar”. The acclaimed film will screen in various parts of the state, sponsored by Equality Ohio. The film will be showing from October 7-12, and showing in: Steubenville, Yellow Springs, Lima, Warren, Cleveland, Columbus. Tickets are available for $10 and available for online purchase. Stick around after the show for a chance to meet and greet with Malcolm, a geniunely good dude who’s got a ton of history with View Askew. Be sure to say hi and tell him how much you enjoyed the flick.
Tonight, Malc’s in Columbus, with the show starting at 7 PM. The Thursday show, in Lima, is FREE. So hey, all Ohio area residents, get out there, support Malc and the flick. Tell him News Askew sent ya.
View Askew NewsBites™
- Thanks to a loyal scooper, here’s a direct scan of that Playboy magazine mention from this month, where Kevin is named as one of today’s great actor-directors. As always, click to blow up through inline image viewing magic, to see what great company Kev’s in the sidebar with.
- We know you saw “Jersey Girl” and the famous “Sweeney Todd” ending…But it was also a surprise how many folks who saw the film weren’t familiar with the musical. With Tim Buton’s new version, now available in trailer format at Yahoo, maybe the joke (and performances) will be more generally understood by audiences for future viewings.
- And last, but certainly not least today, Rosario Dawson makes Film Threat’s list of “The Fifty Best Breasts In Movie History”. You can watch various YouTube videos for each of the gals as evidence. Of course, her “Clerks II” rooftop scene is their proof in this case. Enjoy, and we’ll see ya…SOON!
Auctions Askew: The Poster Edition!
- We adore Auctions Askew, but there’s one thing we just hate about it — The fact we can’t buy all of this stuff ourselves. This week, the big AA returns with more amazingly cool one-of-a-kind items from the Askewniverse. It seems that these iconic props just get cooler with each edition. As always, the auction page runs down each item at a quick glance, though you’ll do your actual bidding on eBay.
It’s a poster/sign-heavy week this time, but don’t miss the top item (whose picture link is broken at presstime, just go to the auction to see it). The actual track suit worn by Kev’s mom that wraps up Clerks II. Not only a memorable moment, but a true Askew icon in what it represents from the first Clerks as well.Also this week, posters that we wish could be hanging on our own walls – One of a kind promotional posters for the phony “Bluntman & Chronic” film, “Sailboat: The Movie” and a Mooby promo. All this stuff appeared in that big theater sequence from J&SBSB, and can be clearly seen on screen. And finally, we LOVE any Chasing Amy prop as the film remains our fave of the bunch. This is your chance to own a sign seen during the hilarious train station scene.
As always, more photos and longer descriptions right over at Auctions Askew. Kevin signs COA’s (that’s certificates of authenticity) for all this stuff, so you can prove it’s genuine when you show it off. Bid carefully, as this stuff only shows up once — Then it’s yours forever. Good luck!
“Red State” Searches For Funding…
- As part of the weeklong blog entry we’ll summarize for you next, the biggest news was the fate of “Red State” — Last we’d heard, the script was in the hands of the brothers Weinstein, who get the first look at anything Kevin does. The script is completely unconventional compared to Kevin’s other work, from what we hear, and all who’ve laid eyes on it have been shocked by its bleakness, claiming it to be totally different from anything he’s written before. That being said, on the last Friday in September, the answer regarding the film’s funding came in:
- When we land in La Guardia, I get phone call from Weinstein Company exec Michael Cole who tells me about a meeting he and Harvey took with our potential Zack’s agent. He also drops the bomb, which doesn’t really explode so much as lay there, as Scott and I were pretty much expecting it…
Harvey and Bob are passing on “Red State.”
It’s the first time Harvey and Bob have passed on anything I’ve wanted to do, but if they were gonna pass on anything, this’d be the one to do it on. The only explanation Michael gives me is “Harvey thought it was more of a Bob flick and then Bob didn’t get it. They’d rather just concentrate on ‘Zack and Miri’ at the moment, which we’re all pumped about.”
Naturally, this makes me wanna make “Red State” even more than I did just prior to that phone call. I get excited thinking about having to raise financing for our hot potato of a flick. This represents a turning point of sorts for Scott and I, inasmuch as everything (with the exception of “Mallrats”) has been made with the Weinsteins. It might be nice to see if we can get something done without them. Whether it’ll be nice or not, however, it’s what’s in the cards, as they don’t feel the flick is very commercial. And, in truth, on the surface, it may not be – unless we get the buzz I think we’ll get off the festival circuit. Regardless, it’s not something we’ll have to think about ’til after we’re done with “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”
Other sites such as The Movie Blog and /film have picked up on the story as well, offering up their own thoughts. What do we think? Kevin’s determined to do it, and he’s got a LOT of friends and exposure out there. With the Weinstein’s passing, and Kevin’s penchant for doing flicks on the cheap like no one else, we’re betting that the crew finds a way to do this on a really small budget with a new distributor. We’ll keep you posted with news on “Red State”, though it seems the main focus will remain on “Zack and Miri Make A Porno” for now. With a possible biz strike hitting at the end of June 2008, if “Red State” does happen, it will likely do so immediately after Z&M, we’re figuring on a late winter or early Spring lensing. So, expect Kevin and Scott to continue their search for a way to make the movie happen.
View Askew NewsBites™
- Kevin gets a nod in the November issue of Playboy, page 53. They interview Robert Redford and have a sidebar with the best actors/directors in the business today. Kevin is featured with Clint Eastwood, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner and Zach Braff. How’s THAT for some company? If anyone’s got the ish, hook us up with a scan!
- The amazing IMDB gets a little cooler with a recently new feature (at least, recent from our point of view) — You can now not only track an actor, but a film character through their cinema journey as well. Thus, track the travels of both Jay and Silent Bob as they made their way through the world of movies and TV. Pretty neat (though the lists are a bit incomplete from where we stand, currently).
- There’s nothing like seeing a View Askew film with a great audience on the big screen. That’s why Vulgarthons are always so fantastic. So, we always like to let you know of other chances to catch these modern classics in your local theaters. Marcus Cinemas is running “Cult Classic Month” in Madison, WI and they are showing Clerks on the big screen (along with Scarface, The Big Lebowski, and Pulp Fiction.) There are two showings – one on Friday, October 19th and the other on Saturday, October 20th. Both shows are at 10:00 pm CST and cost only $6.00. See their site for the full story, and a rare chance to see “Clerks” projected larger than life.
- And finally today, Phil dropped us a photo showing us just how dedicated a fan he is — Take a peek at his View Askew themed tattoo. Phil says that he wants to be a film critic, and Kev’s films are the reason why. In a good way, of course. He uses the tattoo as a reminder of his mission. Good on ya, Phil! See you folks next time…

Kevin LIVE: Today At Secret Stash West!
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- Today’s the day, west-coasters — Get your butts in line NOW at the soon-to-be-history Secret Stash West location for Kevin’s final stop on his whirlwind book signing tour. Today, Kevin starts signing your books at noon pacific time, and plans to end around 6 PM. There’s a potential line-capping for this event, so reserve your space in line as soon as ya can. This is quite possibly the LAST day of business for Secret Stash West, so bring some extra cash and take advantage of what’s sure to be some amazing clearance sale deals. This one is truly worth the trip, even if you’re a bit outside of town.
Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash
1045 Westwood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
(310) 824-1373

































