Film Notes: After filming here, breaking up hard to do for ‘Zack’ gang

The cocoon, plus the cast and crew for Kevin Smith’s “Zack & Miri Make a Porno,” are gone.

“The whole show, we’ve been kind of in a cocoon and not really talking to anybody,” the writer-director said earlier this week in Monroeville as filming wrapped. “But it was incredibly productive for us to work that way.”

Moviegoers and members of the media generally left the production alone, even though some knew about locations or spotted tell-tale trucks around places like Monroeville, McKeesport, McKees Rocks and Hazelwood.

“Everyone was really nice about it. If we were shooting any place else, we wouldn’t have gotten the kind of privacy that a movie like this kind of requires. There are a lot of naked people walking around.”

Still, Smith added, “Some people think it’s a nonstop party, but you’re talking about 12-, 15-hour days that take their toll. You’ve got a lot to accomplish in a very short window.”

Nevertheless, he managed to finish two days ahead of schedule, which prompted Seth Rogen to chime in: “All I keep thinking is I wish I did more takes. That’s about a thousand more jokes.”

He and Elizabeth Banks star in the comedy — dirty, sexy but sweet, Smith promises — about two friends who decide to make a porn movie for the money but discover they have feelings for each other.

Rogen was a trouper, returning to Pittsburgh the day after he was a presenter with fellow funnyman Jonah Hill at the 80th Academy Awards. “It was a little hectic, schedule-wise, because I had to fly out of here and fly back and I worked on Monday, but not till the afternoon.”

Smith said Rogen could have insisted he pick another scene to shoot that day, but he didn’t. “He was a true champion, man,” the director said.

As for Rogen’s red-carpet and Oscar experience: “It was really weird. It was a lot of fun. I kept expecting someone to ask me to leave. It was great, I was shocked that they asked us to do it. The whole thing was just kind of thrilling, it was really cool. … It was great watching Philip Seymour Hoffman not laugh at my jokes.”

Oscar-winner Hoffman, a nominee for “Charlie Wilson’s War,” was among the A-listers in the front rows of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. “Never before have I not made such famous people laugh,” Rogen quipped.

Smith and the table of Pittsburghers had no trouble laughing. In fact, the director said of Rogen and Banks: “Both of them were, hands down, the two best actors I’ve ever worked with. I know you’re supposed to say that cause it’s the current movie but I’ve worked with [expletive] Matt Damon.”

Not to mention the likes of Alan Rickman, Rogen volunteered. “Make a list of all the people we’re better than,” he said, laughing. (Barbara Vancheri, Post-Gazette movie editor)

Want more press, photos, and multimedia from “Zack & Miri Make a Porno”? Don’t miss our production site for the film, where we continue to archive every article, post, picture, and more.

Kevin,you planning on taking this film to Sundance or Cannes?

Kevin says: “If we come out in the fall, it’ll be too early to take it to Sundance. And I can’t imagine it going to Cannes in May (next May), as we will have already been released domestically seven/eight months prior.”

Kevin, I asked in another tread, but you might have missed it– any plans on being at Wizard World Chicago in June? Seems like prime time and place for a Z&M Q&A.

Kevin says: “Maybe. Too early to tell.”

If someone booked you for a speaking appearance before Z&M got released would you be able to bring it and show it?

Kevin says: “In this, the age of easily affordable video cameras and cell phones that shoot media, I doubt I’d bring the whole movie. Maybe a clip.”

I guess I should ask it as: Can someone book an appearance of you and Z&M before it’s release date?

Kevin says: “Me? Sure. I’m doing a Q&A in North Jersey in early May. The movie? No.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do a Q&A where you’ve brought clips or anything, with the exception of V’thons.

Kevin says: “In the old days, I used to do it a lot. But even as recently as “Clerks II”, I brought a clip to various cons in advance of the flick.”

Is there going to be an NY screening like C2?

Kevin says: “Not likely. We only did that because Harvey wasn’t at that first L.A. screening. We won’t make that mistake this time.”

Probably too early to ask (and it’s probably been asked before too), but what are the odds of a Vulgarthon or similar this year with Z+M playing? What about a Vulgarthon without Z+M?

Kevin says: “Doubtful.” and “Not likely.”

Question about the LA screening: How long would there be between the announcement of the screening (the chance to put requests in) and the screening itself? Couple of weeks, like the ‘Clerks II’ LA one, or longer (I think it was about a month), like the NY ‘Clerks II’ showing?

Kevin says: “Couple of weeks, I’m guessing. I’ll know more by the end of this week – as the Avid arrives tomorrow, and I can go back to editing on Tuesday. There’re only a few scenes left to put together, and from there, it’s all about fine-cutting. If the fine-cutting is taking longer than anticipated, the proposed screening won’t happen ’til May-ish, I’m thinking. Regardless, you’ll know more in a week.”

What made you think about putting Katie Morgan in a movie, other than her ties to porn?

Kevin says: “It actually had very little to do with her day job. She’s just a really funny actress.”

At risk of being Smith-smacked and running away crying, I have to ask…good sir, do you have plans to attend New York and/ord San Diego Comic Cons this year?

Kevin says: “Definitely San Diego.”

Having worked with Seth now would you change you mind about Green Hornet?

Kevin says: “He’s got the “Hornet” thing under control, sir. Certainly doesn’t need my help there.”

More news from Kevin as we see it — Keep your browsers at the ready.

Q: Will composer James Venable be doing the score?

Smith: “I think so.”

Q: Who sits with you when you edit?

Smith: “Nobody. It’s like writing, so I’m alone. Once the Avid gets back to the office, I’ll be burying myself in the editing room again, cutting and slashing and getting the flick ready to show (some of) ya’ll in April/May.”

Q: How much footage do you load into the Avid? Just what you think you’ll need, or everything that was shot?

Smith: “Selected takes from each set-up. But generally, I’ll have Patrick load everything but the takes that may have had a technical error (and I’ll even load those sometimes, if the foul-up doesn’t happen ’til midway through or something).”

Q: As you edit, are you consciously thinking about certain areas that might have problems getting the film an R by the MPAA and planning alternate edits of scenes in case they refuse that rating? Or is that something you’re not going to bother with until you submit it for a rating?

Smith: “The first big hurdle will be getting it to an acceptable running time. If there’s an MPAA battle to get into, I’ll worry about it then.”

Q: As production evolved, did the story change at all to the point where certain scenes were combined or omitted or altered just as a result of seeing things played out in person or on the Avid?

Smith: “There were two occasions when this happened…

1) We were on the first shot of what was to be a long set-up day, with another day of exterior set-ups leading into the scene in question. And the more I thought about it, it suddenly didn’t seem necessary. So one set-up into the scene, I iced it all, compressed some info, and went with something else entirely. Works much better than the other thing would’ve.

2) Right before we did the cast/crew screening, I showed the flick to some of the keys and inner circle. With the movie fast cresting toward two hours in already cut-together scenes, and two weeks or so left of shooting, I was looking for stuff to drop. Milos (our first A.D.) suggested dropping a scene that, while funny, didn’t move the plot forward one iota. It was a good cut. Instead, I wrote a much shorter scene that actually lent something to the characters’ development and dovetailed nicely into the third act.”

Q: So do you have any idea when “Zack & Miri Make a Porno” will be open to general public?

Smith: “In the fall, I think.”

Q: Any idea of when the movie will hit UK cinemas? Any chance of London Film Festival?

Smith: “Hopefully before Christmas (though I doubt it) and no clue.”

Q: Did Affleck and Lee make cameos in this one?

Smith: “Negative. There was really nothing for them to do in this one.”

Q: Did you shoot alot of stuff for DVD extras (Behind the Scenes, making of’s etc.) for when it eventually comes out on DVD?

Smith: “I didn’t, but then I never do. I shoot for the film. Whatever’s left over goes on the DVD. Joey and Zak, however, shot boatloads, I believe.”

Q: Now that Zack and Miri is completed are you going straight into Red State or will you wait a little while?

Smith: “As soon as we can scrape the budget together, I’d like to get going.”

Finally today, here’s the first of what we hope will be many more looks at the production design for the film — A logo from the “Bean-N-Gone” coffee shop where Zack works. We always dig the unique look that the design team puts into View Askew’s films, creating their own little world and making for some nice easter eggs to spot in the background. We’ll see what else shows up in the coming weeks.

Making Porno, Pt. 2: Climax

It’s been a long time since the last update, I realize; over two months, to be precise. My apologies for that and the total lack of SModcast during that period. I was preoccupied. Rest assured, SModcast will return the moment the recording gear gets back to L.A.

Around two in the morning Wednesday, we wrapped “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. Poetically, it snowed right before we rolled for the last time… just after we’d laid a bunch of fake white stuff for an exterior shot at Zack’s job. It nicely summed up the uncooperative nature of the weather we’d grown accustomed to over the course of the production.

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Some folks have asked why I’ve been so stingy with the details on this flick, as opposed to flicks we’ve made in the past, during which I was blogging and posting pics galore. There’s no conspiracy behind it, really; I just wanna try something different this time. I want folks to discover the flick for themselves, instead of me jamming it down their throats. I’m also gonna try to keep from over-selling it with hyperbole and absolutes. I’ll let you guys apply those (good or bad) when the time comes. Just know that we had a problem-free, productive shoot in which everyone was firing on all cylinders and the result was THE FUNNIEST FUCKING MOVIE WE’VE EVER MADE!!!

* ahem *

No more hyperbole starting from this point on, I meant.

For the full post, surf your butts on over to the Myspace Blog or the Silent Bob Speaks site. We can’t wait to hear Kev and Scott wax philosophical behind the SModcast mic’s once again, and welcome the return of both that and the most insightful blog on the web. Welcome back, Kevin.

Take note, there’s also been some Z&M cast updates over at the IMDB – It looks like Zack’s full name is “Zack Brown”. More character names have also been revealed (Jeff=Deacon, Craig=Delaney), as well as some new supporting cast members. Mostly extras, but one we haven’t heard before — Gerry Bedknob also from “The 40 Year Old Virgin” is now listed. We’ll keep digging up what we can, but like the man says, this one’s going to be a little less present on the web than a few of the past flicks. But hey, that just makes our scooping job a little more fun and challenging, right?

Both these guys are incredibly gracious to their fans, and would love to meet you and talk shop, whether it be about their new projects or their View Askew family. If you’re in the area, stop by and meet these two View Askew icons, who have been with us from the very beginning with “Clerks”, and all the way through.

Our thanks to our scooper, Eric Wilkinson, a local Jersey filmmaker and View Askew fan, who will be attending the show to promote his film “Jerome Bixby’s The Man From Earth”. His flick now coincidentally shares the same distributor as Brian’s new movie, the great Anchor Bay. Drop on by the Anchor Bay booth for more information, and tell them News Askew sent ya.

These are 2 exclusive clips from the comedy, both featuring Brian’s character Jay, who is the assistant director on the movie being made IN the film. You won’t find them anywhere else on the web, and they come to us with thanks to the film’s producers.

The first one of there happens later in the movie, where Jay explains a movie of his own that he’s writing.

The second one is earlier, when the camera crew is interviewing Jay about how he started working for Harry the director (played by “An American Werewolf in London’s” David Naughton).

Visit the official site for more details on the film, or look above for the way meet Brian in person in Jersey and chat up the film with him this weekend.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: “It’s a wrap on Kevin Smith’s ‘Porno'”

“…On shooting here: “It went so swimmingly, it was crazy,” said the director, who finished two days early.

“We were fighting weather issues at the beginning because we tried to do most of our exteriors up front,” Smith said, as Rogen added, “The weather was too nice.” But some of the real snow allowed Rogen to fishtail as he drove, lending authenticity to the wintry setting and man-made white stuff.

On navigating the city: Rogen got lost a lot at the beginning but said, “I slowly narrowed down where I go to a few places. Now I get to the Waterfront easy,” to go to the movies, eat at Red Robin and — like all the out-of-towners — shop like mad at Target.

Off-set diversions: Smith favored NHL 08 (he also went to a couple of New Jersey Devils games at Mellon Arena, clad in his home-team colors) while Rogen is a “pretty mean drummer” on Rock Band and pretty good at Guitar Hero. “I’m like your utilitarian game player.”

Sneak preview: Smith has been editing as he’s shooting and recently hosted an early rough cut for cast and crew in the Strip District. “We set up two big monitors, two big flat screens, and I think 80 people came over and watched 80 percent, 85 percent of the movie. … It’s pretty watchable.”

When studio chief Harvey Weinstein visited the set, he asked Smith if he was shooting “TV coverage as well,” which would allow the movie to air on television or in other tame outlets. “I was, like, dude, I’m having a hard time shooting an R-rated movie, let alone a PG-13- rated version of the movie.”


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Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: “Director waxes philosophic on his ‘dirty, dirty movie'”

“…Smith said he knows he’s taking a risk with the word ‘Porno’ in the film’s title.

But love trumps sex, he said. Like his other films — “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy” — there’s an old-fashioned romantic sensibility beneath the raunch.

“It’s a dirty, dirty movie,” said Smith with perfect deadpan. But then, he added, “I hope the balance is there. It’s a really touching love story, no pun intended. In terms of the stuff I’ve done in the past, it’s probably closest to ‘Chasing Amy.’ ”


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Variety: “Seth Rogen: Half The Work For Twice The Pay”

“It’s one of the first movies that I’ve just acted in, and it definitely feels like I’m doing half as much,” he says from the film’s location at Pittsburgh’s Monroeville Mall.

Working with Smith is a big deal for Rogen. “‘Clerks,’ when I saw that, was one of the defining moments of my career,” he says of Smith’s early success. “It’s the first movie I saw where the characters were talking like me and my friends talk to each other — about ‘Star Wars’ and blowjobs and what have you. That was tremendously influential in my writing. And then Kevin Smith told me he wrote a movie for me and I’m in. Thank God I really liked it,” he says of “Zack and Miri.” “It was a very simple process. Usually you have to put a gun to my head to make me finish a script, and I read ‘Zack and Miri’ in one sitting.”

Among other things we’ve learned, Kevin anticipates the movie will show up on screens in November 2008, along with (hopefully) an R-rating despite some rather graphic sex scenes.