This is a documentary shot in a couple of towns in the South that have figured out ways to incorporate gay bars into their lives. Well, I say that, but most of the locals “don’t appreciate” the gays and lesbians just being themselves. However, the gays and lesbians find a way to keep their clubs alive – by buying owners out if they’re no longer interested in running the establishments or by buying previously closed bars and returning the sites to their past glory.

There’s a story of how the gay community reacts to and is strengthened by a hate crime murder. The film also shows their reactions when local preachers take down license plate numbers around know gay bars and then read them out over a morning radio show. And somehow the director was able to interview Fred Phelps, the well-known preacher who shows up anywhere (even at funerals of homosexuals) to protest their lifestyles. (Films like this remind me of how lucky Austinites can be.)

The film is so very touching and important because these people finally find places to “belong” when their everyday lives are less than supportive of them. And they’re able to keep their clubs alive and strong and pumping out the dance music. This is a film well worth seeing.

“A Brief History Of Clerks”

If Kevin Smith didn’t exist, then geeks the world over would have to create him – probably involving some hetero Weird Science-esque alchemy involving copies of Star Wars, a few dozen comic books, New Jersey tap water, a roll of film, and a box of Choc-o-diles.

Considering the technology was lost after creating Kelly LeBrock in the mid-80’s, it’s a good thing that Kevin Smith does exist – much like Santa Claus and that urban legend about Wendy’s chili.

Since his breakthrough debut with a little black & white indie named Clerks, Smith has continued to expand his interconnected View Askewniverse into a lucrative merchandising empire via flicks like Mallrats, Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back, and on TV with the killed-too-soon Clerks animated series. Oh, and he also did Jersey Girl – a small, heartfelt film that’s actually quite good if you give it a chance… It’s got George Carlin, for cripes sake.

The long-awaited sequel to Smith’s debut flick, Clerks II, arrives in theaters August 18th (check out the video blogs at www.clerks2.com, and Kevin and the fine folks at View Askew decided to send over an exclusive Clerks II primer.

Basically, it’s a brief overview of the Clerks universe, meant to get both newbies and fans alike up to snuff before the sequel hits screens this August.

Also, don’t forget about our next bit of A/V sweetness – the one where Kevin decided to participate in an video Q&A session with all-comers. This is the first in a series, so by all means continue to send in your questions by clicking here.

(Before we hit the video, a special thanks to View Askew’s Mattt Potter…)

…And indie imp-guru Kevin Smith (Clerks, Chasing Amy) notes, “There is a Panasonic camera, the 100, that gives a picture that’s about as good-looking as 16-mm or 35-mm film. The kids today who are making their do-it-yourself features are doing it with high-definition video. If I was shooting Clerks today, I’d probably use that camera.”

Smith wanted to use a digital camera for Clerks II, the sequel to his 1994 debut hit, but his director of photography didn’t feel comfortable with the process. “A lot of directors and directors of photography are resistant to put down what they’re familiar with,” Smith says. Besides the shock of the new, there’s the love of the old. “Most people in film have a great affection for film stock, for the medium. And they feel that moving in a digital direction is kind of leaving their history behind. It’s more sentimental than anything else.”

…

Finally, film degenerates, the way a vinyl record does under a stylus or a videocassette does with frequent use. “With film you have degradation problems,” Smith says, “where the stock starts breaking down. Frames get lost when they cut reels together.” The digital look will stay fresh for the life of the theatrical run.

…

Some blame the shrinking theater audience on the narrowing gap between a movie’s premiere in theaters and its debut in video stores–from six months a few years ago to about four months or less today. “With the window getting smaller and smaller,” says Smith, “people don’t want to leave the house. The audience is being trained that they don’t have to run out to the theater to see something.” For many viewers, especially adults, the kids who see the big blockbusters and the critics who review the little indie films have essentially become focus groups that help them decide whether they should see a movie–when it comes out on DVD.

The genius of late 20th century entrepreneurism was to get people to pay a lot for things they were used to getting cheap (coffee) or free (water). A quarter-century ago, Hollywood made most of its money from showing films in theaters. Now the biggest bucks come from DVDs and pay TV. Producers also got something for nothing by packaging recent and old TV shows for the DVD market. All those revenue streams give folks more reasons to stay home, encased in their all-media cocoons, in some cases chained to the desktop deity that can never get enough attention. Just as the computer helps them do many things that used to take them out–work, shopping, buying books, renting movies–so will it soon allow them to download movies to watch on it. As Smith notes, “It’s tough to cram three or four people in front of a computer to watch something. But no doubt Steve Jobs is working on this.”

…

Whatever is lost on the smaller screen, DVD has become, in Smith’s words, “historically the final record of your movie. That’s the one people watch over and over.” Rodriguez has said that the “real versions” of his movies are the extended, unrated ones on DVD.

www.VAChat.net Presents:

What: The Vulgarthon Kick Off Party and RAINN Benefit
Where: Upstairs at Ashes Steakhouse and Cigar Club
When: Tuesday May 30
Time: Upstairs room opens at 6PM with wait staff for dinner.
Party starts at 8PM with Live Band starting at 8:30 PM.
What Live Band?: The Band is Fabulous Johnson featuring the board’s very own Roger on Drums and Vocals. Plus 70’s and 80’s Dance music between Band Sets!
How Much?: $5 per Person Cover Charge (explained below), Cash Bar

The Party to kick off an awesome week and support a great cause!
Ashes is located 3 doors down from Jay And Silent Bob’s Secret Stash in Red Bank.

OK, the deal is I need to have a certain amount of people confirmed as attendees by April 15th, to lock in the band and venue. I encourage all interested attendees to pay ahead of time via PayPal. Therefore, the price of $5 will be for advance tickets and the price will jump to $7.50 April 16.

If you want tickets, PayPal $5 to vachat@comcast.net. Or use the “Make A Donation” Button at the bottom of www.vachat.net.
Virtual Checks and Credit Cards accepted!
Be sure to include your board name and real name in the PayPal message.

Any Other Questions? PM or e-mail me at roger@vachat.net

Kevin Smith, in his trademark shorts, and wife Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, in her little black dress, celebrate the eighth anniversary of their first date at the Independent Spirit Awards. Smith told this year’s horrified Spirits audience he “got lucky” with Jennifer eight years earlier at the show, when he won his “Chasing Amy” Spirit award. May we add he’s still lucky. How many guys have a wife so hot they get to shoot her for Playboy?

And just as it becomes clear, it gets mucky again…

“Clerks II” may not be one of the Weinstein Co. flicks that wind up in one of the MGM slots, because MGM is a signatory of the MPAA – which means that “Clerks II” going through MGM would require an R rating, and that’s not gonna happen. So unless the flick’s somehow allowed to go out unrated through MGM, it’s not likely that we’ll occupy one of the aforementioned slots after all.

11:30-11:55pm: Old school rap video’s play. It’s a TV show circa 1984/1985 featuring Run DMC, Jam Master Jay, Kool Moe D and more.

11:55pm: John Pierson speaks briefly and introduces the first 5 minutes of a documentary named “Jam”, about Roller Derby. The film is about over-the-hill 50 somethings addicted to Roller Derby. It was truely hilarious stuff! The World Premiere is at SXSW this week, and John urges everyone to go see it. I highly recommend it, from the 5 minutes I saw.

12:00am: We see a 5 minute short named “Directions Guy”. Unfortunately, there are no words that can do this clip justice. It’s a guy giving ridiculously complicated directions. Yep, that’s what it is. Great ending though! I hope we see this again, perhaps at Vulgarthon.

12:05am: Kevin takes the stage. Someone asks if Jason Lee is truely a Scientologist. Yes he is, and Ethan Suplee has been a life-long Scientologist, but neither of them EVER try to push their beliefs on anyone.

Someone asked if Kevin can do the “Two Step” from House Party. Alas, Kevin cannot, but Jason Mewes and his friend Mustard apparently have it down.

Clerks: Sell Out will definitely be the title of the animated flick, and it definitely will be made. It will use Powerhouse Animation. The plot was confirmed as being about 2 guys (Dante and Randal) who work at a convenience store and make a film about it.

We learn that George Clooney would have been Kevin’s ideal Green Hornet, although Jake Gyllenhall would be good too.

Kevin’s work on The Southland Tales was filmed in 5 hours on one night, but was still a pretty major role. Apparently, all his scenes will feature Janeane Garofalo, although she was not at the shoot. Kevin does share scenes with The Rock, and also Moonlighting’s Curtis Armstrong.

When asked about “Poopie Trim”, Kevin said that Ethan had given him a heads up. He told Kevin “You HAVE to watch this week”, to which Kevin responded “Why, do you say “Poopie Trim” or something”?.

Kevin doubts the live action Clerks sitcom pilot will ever see the light of day, although a scene from it WILL be featured in an upcoming “Train Wreck”! Now THAT is something to look forward to!

1:00am: Kevin screens for the first time the Clerks II teaser trailer. The trailer was fantastic, and although it contains a couple of spoilers for those who want to go it cold, it doesn’t touch on the films major plot, or the films most memorable scene.There is a great “Jersey Girl” joke in the trailer, which the studio wanted to do, but had to wait for Kevin to suggest it. The trailer was approved by the MPAA, but Clerks II has not yet been submitted. I actually ran into Kevin at Los Angeles airport later that morning and spoke about Clerks II’s rating. I am convinced it will get an R, and although Kevin doesn’t think it will, he actually hopes it does.

1:05am: House Party!!