And like those other services, from time to time we’ll be choosing one of our paying subscribers to win a mess of goodies. ZEN is excited to announce the first such prize giveaway will give you a big pool of items related to filmmaker and comic writer Kevin Smith. The prizes include:
– A JAY & SILENT BOB logo movie poster
– A J&SB logo T-shirt
– A pair of J&SB action figures
– A Mooby baseball cap just like Kevin is known to wear
– A Mooby beanie baby toy
– A Buddy Christ statuette
– A CLERKS open/close store sign
– A signed copy of CLERKS: THE COMIC BOOK
– The DAREDEVIL: VISIONARIES trade paperback featuring an intro from Ben Affleck
– The CHASING DOGMA trade paperback
and last but not least
– The CLERKS: UNCENSORED DVD featuring the complete animated ABC series (The best DVD in the world, by the way… If not just for the simple fact that ZEN is mentioned by name on the audio commentary track…)
If you’re one of the 400 or so people who’ve already subscribed, you rule; sit back and wait until issue #491 on September 11th and keep your fingers crossed that we draw your name. And if you haven’t yet subscribed, well, the odds are still pretty darn good, and you’ll be giving a much-needed shot in the arm to a service we hope you’d agree is worth it.
And if you haven’t signed up, well, what are you waiting for? There is no set price on the donation – I’ve suggested $6 a year, but readers have been sending in anything from $6 to $200. Our preferred method of payment is via check or money order made out to Sean Jordan sent to ZEN’s new headquarters at 24360 Vista Hills Road, Valencia, CA, 91355. Or if you’d prefer, you can click over to the www.ZENtertainment.com website and click on the AMAZON or PAYPAL logos you’ll see right up front to securely contribute via credit card or other means.
And that’s that! Remember, ZEN remains a free service and not subscribing will in no way affect you receiving issues in the future, trusted we figure some other way to keep the lights on around here. Times are tough in the advertising, freelancing, and dot.com world and your assistance will not only ensure ZEN reaches issue #500 but maybe even #5000.
In closing, ZEN would like to thank Kevin Smith, CLERKS: TAS producer David Mandel, and the good people at GRAPHITTI DESIGNS, ONI PRESS, MARVEL Comics, and DIMENSION Films who’ve contributed to this prize pool.
If you know how to modify these settings, go for it…If not, best not play around too much. We’re not responsible for what you might mess up in the process.
Here’s a look at the AP story that’s running today on the weekend’s box office, slightly trimmed down:
LOS ANGELES (AP) – ”American Pie 2” continues to out-gross all challengers. Amid a weak field of new films, the gross-out comedy remained the top movie for a third straight weekend. Taking in $12.8 million over the weekend, ”American Pie 2” pushed its total take to $109.6 million in 17 days, according to studio estimates Sunday. ”Rush Hour 2” remained the No. 2 film with $11.4 million, raising its 24-day total to $183.3 million. Among a rush of new movies, ”Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” drew the biggest audience. The comedy from writer-director Kevin Smith was No. 3 with $11.1 million.
The baseball flick ”Summer Catch,” starring Freddie Prinze Jr., debuted in sixth place with $7.5 million. The sci-fi thriller ”John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars” opened weakly with $3.8 million to finish at No. 9. Woody Allen’s ”The Curse of the Jade Scorpion,” playing in far fewer theaters than the other new films, had a so-so debut of $2.5 million to come in at No. 11.
”Bubble Boy,” a comedy about a youth with a deficient immune system, did not even break into the top 12, opening with just $2 million. Hollywood is in the midst of its typical late-summer doldrums, when movie-going trails off.
”It feels like summer is over,” said Paul Dergarabedian, president of Exhibitor Relations, which tracks the box office.
The industry is creeping toward its all-time summer revenue high of $3 billion set in 1999, a record Hollywood should break by next weekend. While it was a slow weekend compared to most of this summer, the overall box office still rose compared to the same weekend last year. The top 12 movies grossed $82.5 million, up about 10 percent. ”Jay and Silent Bob” drew the steadiest crowds among new films, averaging $4,014 a theater in 2,765 locations. The movie stars Jason Mewes and Smith as the title characters, who were supporting players in his previous four movies, including ”Dogma” and ”Chasing Amy.” The movie drew heavily on Smith’s cult following, but distributor Miramax hopes it will find a broader audience.
”It’s a very satisfying comedy on a lot of levels,” said David Kaminow, Miramax senior vice president for marketing. ”Hopefully, we’ll get some non-Kevin Smith fans to come and sample what we think is a great comedy.”
…
Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at North American theaters, according to Exhibitor Relations Co. Inc. Final figures are to be released Monday.
1. ”American Pie 2,” $12.8 million.
2. ”Rush Hour 2,” $11.4 million.
3. ”Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” $11.1 million.
4. ”The Others,” $8.6 million.
5. ”Rat Race,” $8.3 million.
6. ”Summer Catch,” $7.5 million.
7. ”The Princess Diaries,” $6.7 million.
8. ”Captain Corelli’s Mandolin,” $3.9 million.
9. ”John Carpenter’s Ghosts of Mars,” $3.8 million.
10. ”Planet of the Apes,” $3.5 million.
Some other stories on the weekend box office can be found at Box Office News, and Box Office Report. Plus, we’ve gathered up a couple more summaries from around the web. Most sites and reports due note that, while the film is tracking for third place, audiences loved the movie and that it’s still the biggest success for a View Askew production to date:
Then there’s this one, from Box Office Mojo:
Many folks wrote in to say they spotted Kevin, Jennifer, Vincent, & Bryan at the Monmouth Mall last night to check out the crowds for the flick. Apparently, it was standing room only out there, and some folks even spotted Kevin buying one fan a ticket. Too cool. Kevin’s also recently alluded to a possible Vulgarthon 2001 this November or December in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Finally today, just wanted to give a big shout out and a thanks to DVS Shoe Company, who out of the blue sent us some sweet new kicks that are just cool and comfy as hell. Highly recommend you check them out if you’re looking for something different than the Nikes that everyone else is wearing. Check them out HERE
Alright, got some more stuff to catch up on for this Saturday update:
Also, 96.5 The Point have posted a RealMedia version of their radio interview with Kevin, which you can check out HERE. Enjoy ‘em, folks!
Ultimate Spider-Man Team Up #9 artist, JIM MAHFOOD, to appear at BEST COMICS & HOBBY CENTER in NYC.
BEST COMICS & HOBBY CENTER announced the first East Coast appearance of Indy veteran and up-and-coming mainstream comic book artist JIM (Ultimate Marvel Team-up #9) MAHFOOD. Having teamed with creators, such as KEVIN (Clerks, Green Arrow) SMITH and BRIAN MICHAEL (Ultimate Spider-man, Powers) BENDIS, as well as turning out his creator owned titles, such as Grrl Scouts, Zombie Kid, and Smoke Dog, Jim has worked on a host of projects that appeal to all walks of life.
Jim’s just finished work on Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #9 with Brian Michael Bendis. Being a long time Spider-man fan, Jim got the chance to work with his childhood hero. “I’m actually having a blast drawing all this [stuff].”
On October 27th, Jim will be appearing at Best Comics & Hobby Center from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm! On hand will be copies of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up #9, the new Image Comics Edition of Clerks: The Comic Book, Grrl Scouts and much more. As an added bonus there will be a BRAND NEW mini comic featuring Jim’s creation, Smoke Dog, as well as a handful of other Indy creators work. This 32-page mini comic will be exclusive to the signing session and limited to only a few hundred copies.
E-mail, call or drop by our website in the next few weeks for more information or directions.
| Rank | Film | Gross | Change | Theaters | Average | Total |
| 1 | Jay & Silent Bob | $4.397 | NEW | 2,765 | $1,608 | $4.4 |
| 2 | American Pie 2 | $3.793 | – 40% | 3,150 | $1,204 | $100.6 |
| 3 | Rush Hour 2 | $3.365 | – 37% | 3,001 | $1,121 | $176.1 |
| 4 | Summer Catch | $2.819 | NEW | 2,335 | $1,207 | $2.8 |
| 5 | The Others | $2.607 | – 21% | 2,436 | $1,070 | $40.1 |
| 6 | Rat Race | $2.426 | – 31% | 2,551 | $951 | $19.8 |
| 7 | Princess Diaries | $1.995 | – 30% | 2,749 | $726 | $77.8 |
| 8 | Ghosts of Mars | $1.280 | NEW | 2,048 | $625 | $1.3 |
| 9 | Captain Corelli | $1.215 | – 48% | 1,612 | $753 | $11.3 |
| 10 | Planet of the Apes | $0.962 | – 49% | 1,927 | $499 | $165.2 |
| 11 | Jade Scorpion | $0.778 | NEW | 903 | $861 | $0.8 |
| 12 | Bubble Boy | $0.646 | NEW | 1,605 | $402 | $0.6 |
After an aggressive week of promotions varying from late night talk shows to television spots, Kevin Smith’s Jay & Silent Bob topped the box office as expected, but the comedy turned in only $4.4 million. While this will become the best debut for a Smith production, the Miramax release was expected to do a bit more. Jay & Silent Bob received promising exit polls from opening night, scoring an A from males under 21 and A- from females under 21 (CinemaScore). The film played in 2,735 theaters and averaged a good, but not spectacular $1,608 per-screen. For the weekend expect Jay to pull in around $12.0 – 14.5 million depending on its Saturday holdup.
Warner Brothers’ Summer Catch debuted decently, earning $2.8 million for $1,207 per-cinema in 2,335 locations. The Freddy Prince Jr. baseball flick scored a B+ average among moviegoers polled and should gross $8 – 9 million for the weekend.
Not even Ice Cube could escalate Ghosts of Mars to a solid position, as the John Carpenter flick took in $1.3 million at the box office for a poor $625 per-screen in 2,048 sites. Along with its weak opening, the film also received harsh feedback as it scored a C- average among moviegoers polled on Friday night. Ghosts of Mars looks to see about $3.6 – 4.0 million for the weekend.
Woody Allen’s Curse of the Jade Scorpion launched to rather disappointing sales, picking up just $778,000 from 903 theaters, on its way to around $2.3 – 2.8 million in ticket sales. By contrast, Small Time Crooks earned $3.9 million in 865 cinemas. Jade Scorpion picked up a B+ average among polled audiences.
Disney’s Bubble Boy saw dreadful results, as the terribly reviewed comedy grossed $646,000 for a pitiful $402 average in 1,605 locations. Bubble Boy should see $1.8 – 2.2 million in ticket sales. On the surprising side, the comedy did receive a B average grade among polled crowds.
Among holdups, American Pie 2 slipped to second place on its way to roughly $11 – 12 million. If Jay & Silent Bob were to slip up on Saturday night, AP2 could have a shot at #1.
Rush Hour 2 scored $3.4 million and is on its way to about $10 – 11 million at the box office.
