indieWire: PARK CITY ‘06: Malcolm Ingram: “And if you truly have something to say. Nothing will stop you from saying it.”

“…Tell us about the moment you found out that you were accepted into Sundance.I was in my den. I had just gotten off the phone with my editor Scott trying to figure out when we’d find out if we got in.

Trevor Groth called. And my brain instantly broke. It definitely goes up there as [one of the] top three moments in my life so far.

What do you hope to get out of the festival and what are your own goals for the experience?

My main goal is to try and secure some form of distribution to ensure the film gets out there. I’m also looking forward to sharing the experience with my crew. They worked so damned hard. I thank God that it wasn’t for naught.

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AP/CNN: Gore, Nader, Aniston at Sundance

“…”I’ve always had an incredibly warm feeling about the place,” said Smith, who returns to Sundance as executive producer of buddy Malcolm Ingram’s documentary “small town gay bar,” about oases that homosexuals find in the Deep South. “I went there as a dude with a job at a convenient store and left there as a dude with a film career. That place changed my life in a matter of about four days.

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Reuters: Sundance Festival sets stage for indie filmmakers

“…Director Kevin Smith, known for making movies like “Chasing Amy,” executive produced Malcolm Ingram’s “small town gay bar.”

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Out In Hollywood: Queer Lounge Builds Audiences for Gay Films At Sundance

“Small Town Gay Bar,” a documentary about the patrons of two local gays bars produced by Kevin Smith (”Clerks,” “Chasing Amy”); “

The rumour you’ve heard is incorrect — at least partially. First, the incorrect part is that the movie is going to be made, and if all goes as planned should be in production in early ‘06. Second, and correctly, Kevin Smith is no longer affiliated with the Fletch film as writer or director.

the reliability is extremely good. I’m David List, the producer of the film. It’s not really sad news. It was an amicable departure, and there should be some announcements in the coming weeks which should bring you back…

Too early to tell. We don’t have a script yet. We’re meeting with a potential new writer in a couple of weeks, and if all goes well, we should have a new script a few months thereafter. Also, much could also depend on how Chevy feels. Who knows if he want to do a cameo in film that he is so closely associated with the lead. I think it would be great…

September 1:

Well…I like to think I have some pull. I hope you go to see the film even if Chevy isn’t in it. That said…I think everyone will welcome his being a part of it. Whether or not he chooses to, will probably be up to him…Keep you posted…

Hi. As you may have read, Kevin is no longer affiliated with the project. And you’re right — his type of comedy just isn’t “Fletch.” Keep checking the board, and the trades. There should be some announcements coming soon…David

Hi there. It’s really not sad news. Kevin’s intimating that we (me, Harvey, etc.) want to make a “chevy-esqu” Fletch film are just not true. In fact, it’s the opposite. We want to create a new and contemporary Fletch. Some actors, in fact, who were initually discussed were later decided against because their comedic timing was too close to Chevy’s. It’s not that Kevin isn’t talented or funny. It’s just that his comedic style, ultimately, proved not translate well for “Fletch,” at least as I and Harvey felt. Keep an open mind. There’s lot’s of very funny writers out there. You might be surprised…David

Hi there. Sorry you feel that way. Zach is a very bright and fresh new talent. There’s much more to him than “Scrubs” and “Garden State.” That said…only time will tell who’s right…

A great review in tomorrow’s L.A. Times:

A nice feature in the L.A. Times:

From the LA Weekly (the same critic, ironically, who butchered both “Strike Back” – in Variety – and “Jersey Girl”, in the Weekly):

The Weekly also made it the Top Pick of the Week.

And from LA City Beat:

August 17 * New York, NY IFC Film Center- Waverly September 2 * Los Angeles, CA Landmark Nuart Theatre * San Francisco, CA Landmark Lumiere * San Rafael, CA Rafael Film Center * Berkeley, CA Landmark Act 1&2 * Pleasantville, NY Jacob Burns Film Center September 23 * Chicago, IL Music Box Theatre * Seattle, WA Landmark Varsity * San Diego, CA Landmark Ken Cinema

September 30 * Austin, TX Landmark Dobie Theater October 21 * Washington, DC Landmark E Street * Cambridge, MA Landmark Kendall Square * St. Louis Landmark Tivoli November 5 * Detroit, MI Detroit Insitute of the Arts November 6 * Rochester, NY Dryden Theater (Eastman House)

As the Crowd was expecting the Tenacious D to take the stage, out comes Kevin to introduce them. He admits to begging for the opportunity to bring them out. Apparently there are only 9 cocks in the world that he is interested in sucking. (There had been 10 but he topped off Affleck and is now down to 9) The 2 men he was bringing on the stage were numbers 7 and 5 on the list.

He walked off stage as Jables and KG walked on, and Kyle stopped Kevin and totally dropped trow, mooning the audience and displaying his junk to Kevin, who at least for the time being did not come through with his offer, at least not then.

NBC Star Welcomes Birth of First Child

Ethan Suplee, who stars on the new NBC comedy “My Name Is Earl,” has welcomed the birth of his first child.

Suplee’s fiancee, talent manager Brandy Lewis, gave birth to the couple’s daughter June 23 at a Los Angeles hospital, publicist Kathy Manabat said Thursday. The baby is named Francis Clementine Suplee.

“They’re happy and thrilled and spending time with their daughter,” Manabat said.

Suplee’s screen credits include “Without a Paddle” and “American History X.” He will co-star with Billy Bob Thornton in the upcoming film “Mr. Woodcock.”

Lewis, who manages Giovanni Ribisi and Juliette Lewis, has two daughters from a previous marriage.

Just wanted to point out that John Pierson started the Reel Paradise Q&A last night by commenting on the View Askew logo animation that opens the flick. He said that without Kevin’s generosity, the free movies in Fiji would not have happened and that without Kevin’s influence, the documentary definitely wouldn’t have happened. Just thought it was nice for JP to give Kev props before he started talking about the movie.

The movie itself was pretty entertaining. Pierson’s kids are a real hoot.

“Clerks”

Get this: While Kevin Smith spent $26,800 producing his indie smash, he spent $27,000 securing the rights to the songs on the soundtrack. It was a Hollywood first and it was worth it. Highlights include Alice in Chains’ “Got me Wrong” and Supernova’s “Chewbacca.” Then there’s “Berzerker,” a catchy tune that has more bleep-outs than a Mike Tyson press conference.

“THE CRITERION COLLECTION ON SCREEN,” a monthly series at the new IFC Center, kicks off Thursday, July 21 at 8:45 pm with a special presentation of Richard Linklater’s indie landmark SLACKER (1991).

The series will highlight exceptional classic and contemporary cinema selected by The Criterion Collection, the world’s preeminent home entertainment label. Each month, Criterion will showcase one of its titles, screening meticulously-restored movies in IFC Center’s state-of-the-art High-Definition digital cinemas. In addition to a pristine version of the feature film, these events will include shorts and the illuminating bonus features that The Criterion Collection is known for–from short films to director and cast interview and deleted scenes–presented in a plush theatrical setting.

The program’s first installment on Thursday, July 21 at 8:45 pm, will feature Richard Linklater’s groundbreaking SLACKER, one of the most influential films of the Amercian independent movement. SLACKER presents a day in the life of a loose-knit subculture of marginal, eccentric, and overeducated citizens of Austin, Texas. Shooting on 16mm for a mere $23,000, writer/producer/director Linklater and his crew of friends eschewed a traditional plot, choosing instead to employ long takes and fluid transitions to create a tapestry of over a hundred characters, each as unique as the last, culminating in an episodic portrait of a distinct vernacular culture and a tribute to bohemian cerebration.

Criterion’s new High-Definition transfer of the feature will be shown. Also on tap are Woodshock, Linklater and Lee Daniel’s 1985 Super-8 short about Austin’s answer to Woodstock; audition interviews with potential SLACKERs; and a reunion that catches up with the cast and filmmakers 10 years after the film’s release.

“I try not to get into too much detail because they’re going to hire a fight choreographer anyway,” Smith said. “So I’ve always been a screenwriter that when it comes to the prose sections of the script, the scripted passages, in my own scripts I’ve always left them relatively thin because A, there’s not much action going on, so hence not much need for screen direction. And B, I just feel like I know what it’s going to look like when I direct it so I don’t need to waste page space with scene descriptions or action descriptions. But when it comes to something like this, you do have to kind of lay it out visually for people because this movie like Green Hornet isn’t supposed to be dialogue driven. They want moments, tentpole moments and stuff. So I tend to describe just enough and then leave it open for interpretation by a fight choreographer or whoever winds up directing it if it’s not me.”

The project is set up at Miramax/Dimension, and with indications that the Weinsteins are not going to leave Disney, the project looks to stay on track. “If anything, I guess maybe Harvey is now going to step down as cochairman and take a production deal, if what I’ve read in some of the papers is true,” Smith continued. “In any event, that’s not going to happen for at least a year or something, because he’s still got time left in his deal. So it seems like everything for the next year or maybe two is going to be status quo. And regardless, Bob is staying at Miramax and continuing to run Dimension and Harvey’s just going to set up a production deal and become a production entity, I guess similar to what Joe Roth is doing or has done with Revolution. So he’s still going to be there, which means I’m still going to be there. Maybe Harvey could negotiate it into his production deal that it would become a movie that would be done under his new shingle, but right now we’re on track to start that movie in March or April of 2005. So I don’t think Harvey’s going anywhere before that.”

1. First off No announcement this month. He said in about 1-2 weeks. It is related to his next movie tho. From what I gather it may or may not be one that is announced already (Ranger Danger, Fletch Won). He wouldnt tell us anything since we would spoil it for everyone 😉 But he did say this: “Once I’m allowed to talk about it, you won’t be able to shut me up” Should be worth the wait.

2. He once again restated about no Lee in Fletch so that is not the announcement.

3. Official opening date (as of now) of the west coast Secret Stash is May 1st. There will be a Stash Bash to celebrate the grand opening.

4. Kevin and company have pretty much decided on the direct to DVD approach for the Clerks animated films. They contemplated a college campus release of the flicks but ultimately have decided that direct to DVD is cheaper, faster, and a more direct route towards the intended customers. He also mentioned the possibility of doing one every year.

5. Big Helium Dog should be out on DVD this year (already known info but nice to hear again).

6. Jeff Anderson’s flick “Now you Know” should arrive on DVD this year as well.

7. Mewes was there and he mooned everyone. February 6th he’s 10 months sober, that was good to hear.

Ben Affleck says he’s only interested in making a “Daredevil” sequel if his buddy Kevin Smith directs it. So what does the “Dogma” director think about the prospect of adapting his “Daredevil” comics stories for the big screen? “I had heard [there was interest], then I was talking to them about writing it, but I wrote it once [as comics already], you know?” Smith said at last week’s premiere of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

Kevin Smith to Forge ‘Scary’ Sequel

By Justin Oppelaar

NEW YORK (Variety) – Dimension Films continues to stack the masthead for “Scary Movie 3″ with comedy heavyweights, signing Kevin Smith (news) — a veteran at Dimension and parent Miramax — to executive produce and co-write the project.

Smith, whose writing and directing credits include “Clerks,” “Chasing Amy” and upcoming Ben Affleck (news)-Jennifer Lopez (news) pic “Jersey Girl,” joins slapstick trailblazer David Zucker (news) (”Airplane!,” “The Naked Gun”), who has agreed to direct.

“It is an honor to be involved with David, one of the creators of ‘Airplane!,’ which is arguably the funniest movie of all time,” Smith said. “Our aim is to make this third in the franchise as funny as that other hysterical third-in-the-franchise flick, ‘The Godfather Part III.”‘

The new addition steps up the rivalry between Dimension and Sony-based Revolution Studios, where “Scary Movie” originators Keenen Ivory, Shawn and Marlon Wayans (news) are developing their own spoof project based on the sci-fi/fantasy genre.

Both films are expected to be out next year, but Dimension chief Bob Weinstein has vowed to be first to market with an early fall release. “Scary Movie 3″ is set to begin shooting in February.

For writing duties, Smith joins scribes Pat Proft, Brian Lynch and Craig Mazin, who signed on to craft the script in November.