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Malcolm Heads To Sundance!

January 19th, 2006 @ 6:53 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Gramp, Derek Schroen

  • Malcolm Ingram takes his film “Small Town, Gay Bar” to the big festival called “Sundance” this week, and there’s press galore on both the festival and Malc himself. Let’s take a look at what’s come across the wire today:
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.

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.

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.”

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”); “

Filed in: News, Other Films

View Askew NewsBites™

January 19th, 2006 @ 6:53 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Damon Schmidt, Will Wilkins, Jay, Mike Routt, Justin McGill, Megalion, Tricia Bird

  • Jay and Bob made a quick cameo in issue #79 of Terry Moore’s fantastic comic “Strangers in Paradise”. It looks like they’re building a rocket ship or something. Click the scan above for a closer look at the panels.

  • And here’s some more media for you today — As promised, scans of the excellent Jason Lee article that appeared in “Entertainment Weekly” last week. Click the thumbnails above for super-sized versions! And if ya love reading about Lee and the show, MSN TV has another small article on the program’s success.
  • No one can argue that Jason Lee hasn’t officially arrived in mainstream showbiz now! He was featured in a question on “Jeopardy!” today, asking his character’s name on “My Name Is…”.
  • Kevin had always said he aspired to one day make a family-friendly flick: Seems that “Jersey Girl” can now be confirmed that, with its airing on Encore’s “WAM!” channel, their version of HBO Family. The film is airing regularly, check your cable or satellite listings. E-WAM airs uncut, commercial-free flicks.
  • Congratulations to View Askew vet Matt Damon! IMDB reports:
Good Will Hunting Oscar winner Matt Damon and his wife Luciana are expecting a baby girl, the actor has revealed. Damon, who married in secret last month, confirmed the news to reporters in the Dominican Republic, where he is shooting new movie The Good Shepherd with Angelina Jolie and Robert De Niro. When quizzed about his four-month pregnant wife, Damon replied in Spanish, “It will be a girl,” according to local newspaper El Caribe. Argentina-born Luciana has been teaching Damon Spanish.
  • We know by now that Jason Lee lost the Golden Globe to the also-deserving Steve Carrell. Here’s a transcript of an comments that Jason, Ethan, and Steve made on NBC News during the ceremony’s red carpet interviews:
Ethan Suplee & Jason LeeSteve Carrell

Jason: I love Steven Carrell. And if he would let me ask him out on a date, I would ask him. I’d take him to the movies and for a drive up the coast…

Interviewer: Brokeback Mountain? (Jason & Ethan laugh)

–cuts to Steven Carrell –

Steve: That’s NOT gonna happen. (deadpanned, then smiles) No no honestly I think Jason is going to be winning it this evening. That is my personal prediction. If I were a betting man, that’s what I would bet.

Filed in: News

Lee Featured In New EW Articles!

January 16th, 2006 @ 9:13 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Matt Weyant, Will Wilkins, Belinda, Scottq, John Darren

  • Jason Lee has yet again proven to be a favorite of “Entertainment Weekly” magazine — This time, he’s appearing in the January 20th issue with George Clooney on the cover (will it soon be Lee himself on the cover???). The mag opens with a nice pic of Lee on page 7. The “Earl” article starts on page 36 with the text, eerily enough, starting on page 37. We’ll have scans of the layout and aticle up for you shortly, but in the meantime, check out this piece on their website, which chronicles Lee’s past “sleazy” film appearances. Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Dogma all appear. And look at the high marks EW gave to all those flicks! Niiiice:
Mallrats (1995)

CHARACTER Brodie Bruce, a comic-book-loving slacker who decides to cheer up his pal T.S. Quint (Jeremy London) by taking him to the local mall after they’ve both been dumped by their respective girlfriends. Comic misadventures ensue.

SLEAZE FACTOR Off the charts. While at the mall, Brodie has make-up sex with his ex (Shannen Doherty, left) in the elevator, delivers several unprintable rants that focus largely on sexual misbehavior, and sabotages a batch of chocolate-covered pretzels with his own, um, stink. Still, he’s the surprisingly charming center of this underrated comedy.

EW GRADE B (Read the review)

Chasing Amy (1997)

CHARACTER Comic-book artist Banky Edwards, who becomes a resentful third wheel when his best friend and business partner, Holden (Ben Affleck, left), takes up with a bisexual woman, Alyssa (Joey Lauren Adams)

SLEAZE FACTOR Medium. Despite his casual homophobia, Banky bonds with Alyssa during an unprintably graphic (but hilarious) exchange where they compare scars from injuries they’ve received during oral sex. As the film deftly shifts gears from comedy to drama, Banky mulls an indecent proposal in order to save his friendship with Holden.

EW GRADE B+ (Read the review)

Dogma (1999)

CHARACTER Nattily attired Azrael, a temperamental demon who’s visiting Earth to partake of one of his favorite vices (central air-conditioning) and to aid a pair of wayward angels, Loki and Bartleby (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck), who are trying to re-enter heaven.

SLEAZE FACTOR High. Not only does Azrael consort with hockey-stick-wielding goons and a monster made entirely of feces (!), he’s also firmly on the side of the guys whose plan will result in the obliteration of humankind.

EW GRADE A- (Read the review)

Page 63 also features a funny sound bite from Earl. Apparently, they hide messages in their foreign language dialogue:

“I want to take this moment ot thank our Latino audience for watcing. And for those of you who can understand me but who are not Latino, I want to commend you for learning a second language.”

Catalina, seemingly insulting Joy in Spanish, but actually addressing viewers, on My Name Is Earl.

The magazine also has Lee picked as their fave at tonight’s Golden Globes for the Best Comedy Actor – Good luck Jason!!!

Filed in: News

The “Logistics” Of Clerks 2…

January 16th, 2006 @ 9:13 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Brad & Chris


“Logistics”
  • In the latest entry in the Clerks 2 “Train Wreck” series, learn a bit about the logistics behind making the flick. You’ll see Jeff Anderson and Kevin Smith discussing the new challenges of extra camera movements in the flick. You’ll see a mid-clip interview with the hilarious Wanda Sykes in between takes of her cameo. And, niftiest of all, you can see some of the actual equipment moving around and everything that’s happening outside of picture range when this stuff’s being shot. Trust us, you have a new appreciation for the complexity of movie-making once you see all the work that goes into these things first hand.

Be sure and remember Zak and Joey in your prayers tonight and thank them for keeping the flicks a-comin’!

Filed in: Clerks II, Multimedia, News

View Askew NewsBites™

January 16th, 2006 @ 9:12 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Justin McGill, Scott Wilkinson, Bassguy, Papa John, Christian Bladt

  • Clippage ahoy! With the Sundance Film Festival kicking off in just 3 short days, director and longtime View Askew associate Malcolm Ingram is eagerly awaiting his chance to showcase his new documentary feature, “Small Town, Gay Bar”. You can surf to this website then click over to the right 6 times to see Malcolm and his bio/clip page. In this extended 4 minute clip, you can see him talk about his inspiration for the film, and provide a little background on what to expect. Congratulations again to Malc and the best of luck at Sundance!
  • Some details on that “Doogal” flick trailer we ran the other day, a CGI film for which Kevin provides a voice — Seems that it’s a re-dub of a UK flick. Our scooper reports:
It looks like it’s the US release of “The Magic Roundabout”, which was a French kids show in the 60’s which was then translated for UK TV by Emma Thompson’s dad in the 70’s. It was released here in the UK as a CGI movie last year with a lot of UK centric celebrity voices (Kylie Minogue (I know she’s an Aussie, but big in the UK) and Robbie Williams). I’d guess that some of the celeb voices are being redubbed for the US, there were plenty of UK thesps involved too, like Sir Ian McKellan.

There ya have it, folks!

  • The Weinstein Co. is off to an excellent start, with their first animated flick “Hoodwinked” celebrating a surprising $12.2 million gross this weekend, putting it at #3. Great news!
  • Alanis Morissette was on Loveline last week, the 11th of January to be exact. In the episode, a caller asked about how she got the role of God in Dogma. She talks about how she ended up as God, then talks about Kevin, and how much she liked him. You can download the episode at the Loveline Download Center.
  • Comic and TV writer Mark Evanier mentions Kevin in an article on his blog titled “The Comic Book As A Selling Tool”:
Second point: Publishers these days are well aware of the financial benefits of selling a comic book to the movies — that’s the only reason some of them are publishing at all — so you probably won’t be able to get a deal where you totally control the movie rights. Most likely, getting your idea issued as a comic book will mean taking the publisher on as a partner, and some will not be content to be silent partners. Some, in fact, will insist on controlling those movie rights. That could wind up working for you but it doesn’t seem to be what you’re after here.

There are two possible exceptions to the above Second Point. One is if you walk into the publisher’s office with fabulous credits and contacts in Hollywood. I mean, if Kevin Smith wanted to make the kind of deal you’re talking about — and was willing to cut the publisher in on the potential bonanza in films and video games and such — he could swing it. His name would help sell the comic and his clout would help sell the movie. I’m assuming you don’t have the rep of a Kevin Smith.

  • And finally today, on this morning’s Sirius Howard Stern show, during the introduction, they played the entire segment from “Clerks” where Randall orders porno videos from the distributor, thus showcasing the power of Howard’s new medium. Catch ya next time!

Filed in: News

Group Plays Our Drinking Games…And Lives!

January 13th, 2006 @ 6:09 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Dan Maccarone

  • We received this report from the sketch comedy group Slightly Known People who decided, for some crazy reason, to attempt taking on ALL of our View Askew drinking games (from Clerks all the way up to J&SBSB — We question their playing style and bending of the rules, sure, but it seems like they certainly got into the spirit of things and had themselves a good, safe time. Here’s an excerpt:
We sip Kahlua and coffee on our own for the first 15 minutes of the film, but soon we’re knee deep, constantly drinking when people comment on the smell of shoe polish, whenever anyone buys cigarettes, anytime the video store or Quick Stop are locked during business hours, etc.

Our coffee runs out quickly and, with 1/3 of the Kahlua gone, we switch to a pitcher apple-tinis, just as our friends Al and Robin join us. Sadly, the first pitcher soon runs dry leaving us, with one-third of the movie left. To conserve sobriety (as much as possible) we switch to vodka-cranberry. Immediately Pace spills half the pitcher onto Maia and the floor. Way to go “Hands McGee.”

– Clerks tally: 220 sips
– Pitcher of Apple Martini
– Pitcher of Vodka Cran
– 1/3 bottle of Kahlua and coffee
– Never did see the picture of Lenin’s tomb. Instead, we drank to missing it.

You can check out their full account of the experience, complete with photos. And of course, check out the stuff that got us started at News Askew: Our Official View Askew Drinking Games, exclusively at News Askew! Thanks for trying the games, SKP!

Filed in: News

View Askew NewsBites™

January 13th, 2006 @ 6:08 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Will Penley, MonmouthCountyVAFan, Rich D, Graham S, Joe Gross, Matt Booker, Christopher Jackson

  • Here’s something we haven’t heard before — The trailer for a new CGI kid’s flick called “Doogal” touts none other than KEVIN SMITH as one of the many celebrity voices on board the pic! Check out the trailer HERE! It’s a Weinstein Company flick, so it certainly makes sense. Perhaps Kevin can shed some light on the character he’s voicing and the amount of screentime he’s expected to get.
  • And in other Kevin Smith movie news — Sony Pictures website for “Catch And Release” is now showing a 2007 release date for the film! We haven’t seen any official announcement yet, but this looks to be true. So, unfortunately, it sounds as if we’re going to have to wait a while longer for Kevin’s big screen leading role debut (in a non View Askew production, anyway). If we learn more about the delay, or if the release date changes yet again, we’ll let you know.
  • Newsarama reports that “Degrassi: The Next Generation” will be making its move into the world of comics. “Degrassi: Extra Credit” will fill in the gaps from the TV program, picking up where some plots leave off, or expanding other elements. The first issues are due in October 2006. Complete details over at Newsarama.
  • Congratulations to “My Name Is Earl” for picking up the People’s Choice Award — Best New Comedy this year! Well deserved. Just shows you how many folks are watching the show and digging it. Also, you gotta love the fact that when Jason Lee picked up the award onstage, you could hear fans shouting “Brodie! Brodie!”, as he smiled and acknowledged them. Happy to see that both Lee and the fans haven’t forgotten the roots!
  • Just weird — This kid’s made a film with his webcam that’s attempting to mimic the deleted finale of Clerks. Peep it HERE.

  • We dig this ceiling tile painted for a Senior High School project from Joe Gross. He claims to have enjoyed the inside nature of the joke with his classmates. Nice work, Joe!

Filed in: News

Your Turn For Clerks 2, East-Coasters!

January 10th, 2006 @ 9:09 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Kevin Smith

  • More east coast love for ya’ll – Never say Kevin forgot about us folks here on the colder side of the country! Clerks 2 will yet again screen JUST FOR YOU, THE FANS in February, with a brand new, never-before-seen tight 92 minute cut. This cut was carefully crated based on results from the screening that we attended in Los Angeles. We’re hoping to make it up to NYC for this one, to take a look at what’s changed. So, what do you say? You wanna see Clerks 2 next month in New York City? Here’s Kevin:
So here’s the deal: we’ve got the cut down to 92 minutes, and I want to get the flick in front of an audience on the EAST COAST, to see how it plays. So I’m looking for SIXTY folks to come watch the flick with us in NYC between Monday, Feb. 20th and Thursday, Feb. 23rd (we’ll be locking into the exact date over the next week or so).

Same deal as last time: we’ll be renting out a small theater and throwing up a DigiBeta-projected version of the current cut of “Clerks 2”. There may be cards to fill out this time, but I’ll also be doing a focus group immediately after the screening again, so be prepared to talk about the movie honestly.

Below is a sign-up list. I don’t want this thread filled with “I wish I could go” posts. If you can’t go, don’t post about it here. You don’t have to be from the east coast (indeed, at the last screening, we had folks flying to L.A. from the east coast), but since we’re screening it there, it’d be helpful. However, you’ll notice the close proximity of these proposed screening dates to the NY ComiCon, so if you’re from other parts of the country – or the world – and you were gonna make the trip out for that con anyway, by leaving a few days earlier, you may be able to peep “Clerks 2” way early as well.

I’m gonna be hand-picking the SIXTY myself. Attendance is gonna be based on how long you’ve been posting, what kind of postings you make, and ultimately, how trustworthy I think you are. Anyone attending will be signing a non-disclosure agreement; you’ll be expected (and legally-bound) to keep all the details of the flick under your hat (or you can be just as awesome as the last group who watched the flick, and keep the details of the flick to yourself simply because you don’t wanna spoil the movie for those who haven’t seen it yet; you’ll note that not a single “scoop” or early review has appeared anywhere online).

So let me hear it below: why do you think you should be in the audience for this first look at “Clerks 2”?

Sign up NOT here in our talkbacks, but over at the View Askew Board for your chance to be one of the chosen few. If it’s anything like the last time, you DON’T want to miss this chance. You’re seeing the film before most everyone, at least 6 months early. Plus, Kevin’s focus group and Q&A after the flick in L.A. ran for around 4 hours — A true treat for the small group of us in attendance. Good luck, and we hope to see you there!

Filed in: Clerks II, News

Server Taking Shrapnel…

January 10th, 2006 @ 9:08 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by Brad & Chris

  • Howdy folks — Just wanted to explain why the site’s been loading so slow, in case you didn’t already figure it out — In addition to having a very visible net presence for the Clerks 2 teaser trailer (it’s been the top story at the highly-trafficed “Aint It Cool News” today), we’re ALSO getting slammed particularly badly due to the streaming nature of the trailer. Since not many folks have figured out a way to download and save the teaser on their machine to watch over and over, every re-watch is also hitting the server. So, we expect these slower speeds for at least the next day or two, until the large amount of view requests calms down a bit.

E-mail is also controlled by the servers, so we haven’t been receiving email messages until the wee hours of the morning, when traffic finally dies down. If a message or scoop you’re trying to get to us is bouncing back, or you’re not getting a reply, please try sending it again.

Of course, the slowness is an inconvenience, but it makes us happy — Obviously there is a BIG following for this film, and a large web audience very into it. We’re pleased that you’re receving the teaser so well, and hope you continue to watch it as much as you’d like. It’s tough to comment on the teaser having already seen the film, and being able to put all of the scenes into context. It’s even more fun to watch knowing what’s happening during each and every colorful clip that’s appearing on your screen. So, if you like what you’re seeing NOW, wait until you hear some of that brilliant KS dialogue that comes along with it. We can’t wait for all of you to see this one.

Filed in: News

View Askew NewsBites™

January 10th, 2006 @ 9:08 pm | No Comments » | Scooped by John Lovegrove, Michael Scaglione, Justin McGill, David Seiden, Darren Crist, GAKish, Paul Simon, Michael Groetken

  • The voice of Jason Lee made a surprise appearance on a FOX animated show (nope, NOT NBC!) on Sunday. Lee read a few funny lines for the Family Guy clone “American Dad”. Here’s what Lee said about the bit in a recent interview:
“I did a few scenes in an episode of American Dad which I love that show and Family Guy so I thought that was cool that they called me in for that. I think it’s Detective Baines or something. It’s literally, I don’t know, maybe eight lines or something.”
  • The musical “Sweeney Todd” seems to have been enjoying quite a resurgence since Kevin broadened access and knowledge to it in “Jersey Girl”. Now it’s even crossing a little closer to our world, with the guy who initially took away Kevin’s brilliant Superman script, Tim Burton, now reportedly working on a big screen version with star Johnny Depp. Fascinating! An official announcement is expected in the next few weeks.
  • A quick “get well soon” to View Askew vet and comic genius George Carlin, who pent 8 days in the hospital over the holidays due to congestive heart failure. Kevin says:
George sent out an email about his holiday ordeal yesterday, and it was comic gold, the best passage being “DAILY IV’S AND BLOOD-DRAWS ALSO INVOLVE TAPE BEING PLACE ON HAIRY AREAS AND LATER REMOVEDEITHER SLOWLY OR SAVAGELY. EITHER WAY, IT HURTS. FUCK YOU, IT HURTS. I’D RATHER HAVE A SPEAR LODGED SQUARELY IN MY NECK THAN TO HAVE THIRTY OR FORTY OF MY HAIRS PULLED ALL AT ONCE.”

The “Fuck you, it hurts” bit still cracks me up. I wrote him back that his ordeal was almost worth it for that line alone.

  • For more information on the song that Kevin recently posted this Mattt Potter video, or to download it, visit Keneteph Entertainment’s Myspace site. Don’t miss this one — A catchy, clever tune with some great video to back it up. Belated Snoogans Greetings!
  • And your daily dose of “My Name Is Earl” news: Jason’s the subject of a New York Times article titled “Trust Me, I’m Funnier With The Moustache”. The article features new quotes from Lee, Suplee, and Kevin is featured prominently, of course:
“…many of Mr. Lee’s friends say the greatest achievement of “Earl” has been to shine a spotlight on one of Hollywood’s best-kept secrets. “It’s been 10 years coming for Jason,” Mr. Smith said. “Driving down Sunset Boulevard and seeing a billboard with your friend’s face on it – and that friend, for once, isn’t Ben Affleck or Matt Damon – is a phenomenal feeling.”

In case you mised it, there’s also a nice interview with Earl creator Greg Garcia over at IGN Filmforce.

And finally, there’s this TV Guide Online piece on the programs bumping of NBC’s failing “Joey” off Thursday nights. In it, the article ponders why Kevin hasn’t made a guest appearance on “Earl” yet. We’re wondering the same thing…

Filed in: News