Filming for Tuesday, February 20 moved to Northeast Los Angeles and a…uh…a building of some sort. No one really seemed to know what it was. It looked like it may have been an old mechanic’s shop, or perhaps even a really old barn. One way or the other, it’s an artist’s studio these days, and was rented out for one day to shoot some scenes.

Shooting started at 6:30 in the blessed AM (that means “The Call” was for 6:30, in trade terms — stick with me, kiddies, and you’ll learn all sortsa cool words) and wrapped around 6:30 in the PM. All in all, a long day.

Today’s unplanned last-minute fubar: Running to a Kinko’s about 10 miles away to get a printout that was needed as a prop for a scene. The intrepid retrieval crew came back with printout in hand with about 20 minutes to spare. That’s either no time at all, as everything involved in movie filming is needed yesterday; or all the time in the world, since “hurry up and wait” is also the order of the day when it comes to shooting a flick.

Anyhoo, in front of the camera, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and Ben Affleck all got serious lens time, and Affleck even referred to an actor named “Ben Affleck” in his lines, proving that if self-awareness is indeed the path to salvation, then Mr. Affleck must be pretty well darned saved.

Today’s lunch selections included some sort of fish, which was really very good, and chicken skewers basted in peanut sauce. I ain’t too crazy about peanut sauce, but if you’re into that kinda thing, I heard they were okay.

– Jim McLauchlin

“Elizabeth also stars in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back,” the fifth “NewJersey” comedy from writer/director Kevin Smith, out in August.

Says the actress, “I play Jay’s love interest in the film. He’s never had a loveinterest before, and he’s never had an on-screen kiss. I’m in a gang of girls inthe film – very innocent and sweet, where the other girls are hard-core andcomplete sluts.”

This is Kev’s ‘Fox Force Four’, and tonight is “glamour stuff” with the girls as he calls it.

The girls (Shannon, Eliza, Ali & Jen) all sit bundled up in coats and shielded by propane heaters that Kev dubs “The Fortress of Heat”. They’re coming in handy tonight, as temperatures are to dip into the low-‘30’s, with cold winds throughout.

The scene calls for the girls to simply hop out of a van, and strike sexy, camp-like poses together in their tight, body-hugging suits.

To motivate the girls performance and hoping to get the shot off in one or two takes, Kev offers up this little piece of advice:

“The sexier the pose you make, the faster we move on to the next shot. The van you will be jumping out of does have heat, but the other van waiting directly behind you is “the heat van”; it’s MUCH warmer.”

The shot is set and the girls drop out of their coats, revealing their skimpy outfits, and head off to the van.

The scene rolls, but isn’t quite what Kev and Scott want. Scott would like them to exit the van a bit quicker, so he offers up this direction to the girls:

“Maintain the sexiness, but make it faster.”

After a few more takes, the scene moves into a 2-shot of each set of girls, striking those same sexy poses. What looks great on film looks even better in person, but you’ll just have to take my word for it (or not).

A few gems:

The Pokemon spoof. Holy cow, this is hilarious. The last third of an episode is done in Pokemon style complete with pointless dance numbers, animals there for no reason, and transforming robots (including the one I picture at the bottom where a robot transforms from a car back into a robot, KILLING THE PASSENGERS). Funny.

The “Outbreak” episode, with a great job by James Woods and no shortage of laughs.

Randall’s tenure as the bride of a mail order husband.

Judge Reinhold!

The little league game with the rescued slaves (from the Indy 4 spoof). How did they get away with this?

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY great stuff and fans and non-fans of Kevin Smith can dig it. Buy this DVD or I will send out a puncher.

Dear Marilyn: Can you give me the scoop on the new Kevin Smith film starring Ben Affleck? I need answers.

Courtney Compliment, Tipp City, Ohio

Dear Courtney: The plot to Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back has been kept under wraps, but Matt Damon has told me he and Affleck are just doing cameos in the film. As the story goes, Jay and Silent Bob catch the two making Good Will Hunting II.

Smith and sidekick Jason Mewes will be reprising their roles as überslackers Silent Bob and Jay, and the film costars Chris Rock, George Carlin, Shannen Doherty, Will Ferrell, Shannon Elizabeth, Seann William Scott and Alanis Morissette.

No ‘Fletch Won’, But Fletch’s Son Instead?

There’s been lots of talk in the last year that screenwriter/director Kevin Smith wanted Jason Lee to play the new Irwin Fletch in the upcoming “Fletch Won” movie which was supposed to be a prequel of sorts, following a younger Fletch solving his first case.

Now comes word from ‘TheRagingBull’ who heard at a card show in Pennsylvania, from a person who worked on the first Fletch film, that the new Fletch movie will not be the rumored “Fletch Won,” but will be based on the book “Son of Fletch” from 1993 and his son will now be the main character.

Our source says that this would give Chevy Chase more time on camera, as he would play his father, making the two a father and son team.

Amazon.com’s listing for the book includes a synopsis:

A young escaped convict shows up at Fletch’s door–claiming to be his son. Problem is, Fletch never knew he had a son. In all his years of solving crimes, the wise-cracking reporter has never come upon a case he couldn’t handle. But now Fletch faces the greatest challenge of his career: fatherhood.

Will Chevy Chase return in the role as Irwin Fletch? Has Kevin Smith changed his thinking? Only time will tell – take this as a rumor for now.

SNOOTCHIE BOOTCHIE NEWS
On Location: ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’

The term “movie set” is just a little bit of a misnomer. “Movie sets” would be a lot more accurate.

Sure, the bulk of Kevin Smith’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” is happening on a studio in appropriately named Studio City, California, but it ain’t like that’s the only place the magic happens. Sets all around L.A. have come into play, including a hotel, a movie theater, and even a school in nearby Canoga Park. As production (L.A. production, at least — the crew will wrap things up in Red Bank, New Jersey) has passed the halfway point, most of the remaining scenes will be at the main studio, including some featuring….

Mark Hamill. That’s a-right. The beloved thespian made famous by the timeless flick “Corvette Summer” and his ongoing role as the voice of the Joker in the “Batman Adventures” cartoons will be taking part.

And a certain comic-booky celeb has made an appearance, too. Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada just padded his résumé with a “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” appearance. “It was fun — a real blast,” Quesada says. “I’ve got a cool part, a couple lines, and it’s a very romantic scene.”

Well, Quesada says it’s romantic. Kevin Smith says something similar…but still different. “He turned in what could be termed a very ‘hard’ performance,” Smith says. “You’re going to see Joe Q as only [his wife] Nanci Q has seen him before.”

And Smith is pretty sure he’s found an acting diamond in the rough. “People remember the first time they really got to see Nicholson ply his trade on the big screen in the Roger Corman, non-musical version of ‘Little Shop of Horrors,’” Smith says. “Joe’s appearance in ‘Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back’ will be as mythical and memorable as that. As the Marvel head honcho, many people have said Joe’s the luckiest man alive, because he’s paid to be the lunatic that runs the asylum. But when the movie comes out, the fanboys will proclaim Joe the luckiest man alive for an entirely different, and far more valid reason.”

Quesada is under strict orders from Smith not to disclose just what his role is. But any sordid rumors to the contrary, he did remain clothed. In fact, he was fitted for a special and specific costume.

But even though he liked Joe’s performance, Kev will be angling elsewhere for the future. “I’ve now cast two high-profile and talented Marvel muckity-mucks in View Askew flicks — Joe in ‘Strike Back’ and Stan Lee in ‘Mallrats,’” Smith says. “Next up, I’ll be casting from the DC talent pool.”

So now that he’s had his one shot at the big time, does Quesada think he’ll be getting groupies? “In addition to the ones I already have?” he laughs. “Hey, a guy with my charisma on screen for the first time — you never know.”

Take my word for it — Mrs. Quesada need not worry.