BA : I had to do a lot of imagining, and talked to friends who had kids. What I discovered when I talked to them is the openness with which they expressed
how parenthood had changed them. It surprised me, because they would be these tough guys I grew up with. As far as the dynamic with [my screen daughter]
Raquel Castro, I kind of relied on her. She has a father, I don’t have a daughter. So I took the cues from her about how that relationship might be, and
she was great about it, really helpful.

Q: Have you witnessed the change a child makes in your director, Kevin Smith?

BA : I think the story came out of his own ruminations on what it would be like if he had to raise a daughter by himself. Would he be up to it? What would
he do? For career driven people that’s the central preoccupation of your life. You’re trying to make money, or achieve some goals that you have set out for
yourself and then all of a sudden you’re sideswiped by this whole other aspect of life – a family. What my character realises is that your family, as well
as what sort of person you actually want to be, are the things that are really important. It’s about trying to become a man I guess.

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/WRITER TO BE FIRST RECIPIENT OF AWARD IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO DVD SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

ENCINO, CALIFORNIA (June 22, 2004) … Filmmaker Kevin Smith will be presented with the first-ever DVD Visionary Award during the Opening Session at the Video Software Dealers Association’s (VSDA) Home Entertainment 2004, organizers of the show announced today. The Opening Session will take place at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, July 14 at the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Kevin Smith is the ideal first recipient of this award because he understands what it is like to be a film lover,” said VSDA President Bo Andersen. “In addition to creating works that reflect his deeper understanding of the complexities of work, relationships, religion, and family, Smith exhibits his commitment to his fans by creating some of the best supplemental materials available on DVD. His commentary and extra footage is full of humorous anecdotes and allows the viewer to have a closer look at the filmmaking process.”

Kevin Smith’s entrance to the independent film community began with his 1994 release of Clerks. Financed by the sale of his personal comic book collection and loans from friends and family, Clerks was met with critical acclaim and awarded the Filmmaker’s Trophy at Sundance, the Prix de la Jeunesse and the International Critic’s Week Award at Cannes. The ten-year anniversary version of the film, Clerks X, will be an exclusive Miramax Collectors Series 3-disc DVD set that will include the original theatrical version, an extended Sundance cut, and a new documentary. Clerks X will be released in stores on September 7, 2004.

Smith’s second film, Mallrats, was panned by critics and did not fare well in theaters but went on to be extremely successful on home video. Critics and audiences warmly received his third project, Chasing Amy. Dogma, a faith-based comedy, generated a great deal of controversy due to its pragmatic approach to religion, but thrived despite pressure from religious groups. With the aptly titled Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back, Smith wrapped up his five-film “Jersey Trilogy” and headed for more grown-up territory with the March 2004 release of Jersey Girl. The Miramax film stars longtime Smith collaborators Ben Affleck and George Carlin, as well as Jennifer Lopez and Liv Tyler. Jersey Girl will be available on home video September 14, 2004.

Smith has even made a name for himself in cyberspace, establishing two widely-popular websites, www.viewaskew.com and www.moviepoopshoot.com. Both are common bookmarks among film lovers. Although Smith relinquished his prized comic book collection to get his start in filmmaking, Smith’s successes have allowed him to open his own comic book store, Jay and Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, in downtown Red Bank, New Jersey. Graphic novels are not only sources of inspiration but also viable projects as he has written for the seminal superheroes Spider-Man, Green Arrow, and Black Cat. Smith is currently writing the big screen adaptation of the comic book and television superhero The Green Hornet.

Attendees may register for the event online at www.HomeEntertainmentEvents.com or by phone by calling 888-778-8892 or 218-723-9130. All Access badges are $345 for VSDA members and $395 for non-members prior to June 18 cut-off date. Exhibits and Conference badges are $95 for VSDA members and $145 for non-members prior to June 30. After June 30, All Access badges are $425 for VSDA members and $475 for non-members and Exhibits and Conferences badges are $125 for VSDA members and $175 for non-members. All Access badges provide entry to sponsored events, the opening ceremony, seminars, exhibit suites, and exhibit floor. Exhibits and Conferences badges provide entry to the seminars, exhibit suites, and the exhibit floor only.

Companies interested in exhibiting may contact Home Entertainment Events’ Kimbirly Orr at kkorr@HEEteam.com (mainstream companies) or Janet Gibson at jgibson@HEEteam.com (adult companies).

VSDA’s Home Entertainment 2004, the Home Entertainment Retail Expo, and the AVN Adult Entertainment Expo are organized through Home Entertainment Events, in which the Video Software Dealers Association is a partner. For more information about Home Entertainment Events and its shows, please send an e-mail to info@heeteam.com

Established in 1981, the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) is the not-for-profit international trade association for the $22 billion home entertainment industry. VSDA represents more than 1,200 companies throughout the United States, Canada, and a dozen other countries. Its members operate more than 12,500 retail outlets in the U.S. that sell and/or rent DVDs, VHS cassettes, and console video games. Membership comprises the full spectrum of video retailers (from single-store operators to large chains), video distributors, the home video divisions of major and independent motion picture studios, and other related businesses that constitute and support the home video entertainment industry.

q. Jason Lee? How do you know about Jason Lee?
a. I just really loved him in Mallrats. Also he’s skating again.

q. Oh, you’ve skated with him?
a. Naw, I just saw the kickflip tail sequence in the magazine.

A new chapter in poker history was written tonight at Commerce Casino when, for the first time, a major open tournament was won by a film celebrity. Playing a very strong game, relaxed and obviously enjoying himself immensely, actor Ben Affleck took down the championship event of 2004 California State Poker Championship, $9,900 $100 no-limit hold’em, winning $356,400 and a $25,000 seat in next April’s Bellagio/WPT championship event.

His final opponent was journeyman pro Stan Goldstein. Finishing third was another show business figure, film/TV producer Chuck Pacheco, who finished 41st in this year’s WSOP championship. Between them, Affleck and Pacheco (and sweater Toby Maguire) attracted probably the largest entourage for any poker tournament.

In a brief speech, Affleck said he got lucky and complimented Goldstein as a great player. Afterwards, he said he was also pleased that he didn’t win by just sucking out and showed he wasn’t a “complete donkey.” He indeed had the best hands when he knocked out Pacheco (5-5 vs. Ac-Qc) and Goldstein (J-J vs. Ad-10d).

Affleck is an avid student of the game who paid tribute to such players as Annie Duke, Antonio Esfandiari, Allen Cunningham and Gabe Kaplan for tutoring him. He said he also learned something tonight from Goldstein, who once outplayed him and forced him to fold when they both held the same hand: K-J. Affleck plays mainly side games, preferring $25-$50 blind no-limit.

Tonight’s championship final table provided plenty of drama, with the lead changing hands many times.

After starting with 90 players on day one and 38 on day two, the championship event got down to the final table of nine with Stan Goldstein holding the chip lead with $235,500 and Ty Nguyen close behind with $218,800. Play continued with blinds of $1,000-$2,000, antes of $300 and 42:21 left. On the first hand, shortest-stack Raymond Davis went all in with A-K to Goldstein’s pocket 8s. A river 10c gave Davis a miracle straight, the same lucky river card that paired and saved him from finishing 10th the night before.

Amir Vahedi dropped more than 50k two hands later when his A-K lost to Pacheco’s J-J. Down to 20k, he busted out on the next hand. He re-raised all in with As-10s and Ty Nguyen, with K-K, flopped quads.

When blinds went to $1,500-$3,000 with $500 antes, Nguyen, a young pro, had taken the lead with about 255k. On hand 23, John Esposito, a pro sports bettor who has a 1999 World Series bracelet for $2,500 limit hold’em, moved in when a flop of 8-5-2 gave him a set of 5s. Pogos Simityan called for 25k with 9-9 and finished eighth.

Davis moved in for the fifth and last time, this time with the lucky 10c (Kc-10c) in his hand. He wasn’t so lucky when he ran into Affleck’s pocket aces and finished seventh. On hand 67, a major pot gave Affleck the lead for the first of several times. A flop of Q-7-6 gave him a set of 7s. He bet 20k, Nguyen, with A-Q, hit it for 30k more. Affleck moved in for 64.5k and suddenly had about 230k after Nguyen called and lost.

Affleck was wearing a cap and shirt with “big slick” logos. When asked, he said someone gave it to him. “Rich movie stars get everything free,” Pacheco cracked.

When blinds went to $2,000-$4,000, the approximate chip count was: Affleck, 245k; Jimmy Tran, 215k; Pacheco, 150k; Esposito, 135k; Goldstein, 80k; Nguyen, 70k.

Nguyen, dropping steadily from his one-time chip lead, was down to about 42k when he called Esposito’s re-raise and went all in. He had K-J to Esposito’s A-Q and busted out. Goldstein, with pocket treys, said he knew Esposito had a good read on Nguyen and would have come over the top to get heads-up, but didn’t have enough chips to do so.

By the 7 p.m. dinner break, Tran had taken the lead from Affleck, but all five players had plenty of chips. Then Esposito made a small trap raise of 15k. with pocket aces. Pacheco re-raised with pocket 10s and Esposito gladly called all in with A-A. But a 10 flopped, Esposito finished fifth and now Pacheco had the lead with about 330k.

Suddenly action heated up as players began catching cards. On hand 130, with $1,000 antes and $3,000-$6,000 blinds, Goldstein raised to 34k with K-Q and Tran moved in with Q-Q for about 80k. Goldstein got lucky when a king flopped, and the field was down to three. Pacheco had 355k to 325 for Goldstein and 220k for Affleck.

The affable actor/writer/producer/director then put a big hit on Pacheco when his J-J held up against A-K. He led again with about 325k, then won the next pot and had close to 400k. Then Goldstein re-took the lead with two pair against Pacheco. Finally, Pacheco moved in with Ac-Qc. “Gotta call you,” said Affleck. His 5-5 held up, Pacheco was out and Affleck once again led, this time with 512k to 388k for Goldstein.

“I like it that you’re showing respect,” Affleck jested as heads-up play continued. “I was afraid you thought you could just take it from me.” “You’ve got respect,” Goldstein assured him.

Respect turned to submission on the last hand when Affleck bet 30k with Ad-10d into a flop of 10-6-3, Goldstein raised 30k and Affleck moved him in holding pocket jacks. An 8 and 4 came, and the young matinee idol was the 2004 Cal State champion.