Thanks to Geektyrant. In late January, the film will make its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. Lucky fans who have an opportunity to see Kevin at one of his upcoming live appearances can get their first looks at the trailer, as Kevin has been sharing it when possible.

If you’re a movie website or film journalist and you want to feature this poster or use it in a story, don’t be a detail-thin dick.

Be sure to tell people WHY the poster was released: because a bunch of generous fans pledged $1000 to The Wayne Foundation in less than 30 minutes.

If you also include the link for the The Wayne Foundation in your story/article, you’re not only being a thorough journalist, you’re also helping to crack down on scumbag kid-fuckers. http://viewaskew.com/thewaynefoundation/

It only takes a few seconds longer to provide all available facts in any story.

Including THIS fact can help save a child’s life.

Stay tuned as more new high-resolution one-sheets should arrive as the week moves on.

“One high-profile title hunting for a buyer is Smith’s fundamentalism-skewewing horror pic “Red State”. Festgoers will be curious to see whether Smith follows through on his suggestion in an earlier podcast that, were “Red State” to play at Sundance, he would publicly hand-pick the distributor right on the spot (“Might even bring up a professional auctioneer to make it fun and unintelligible,” he said.)

/Film hints that some of the cast and crew may be in town for the film’s premiere. No further details have yet been announced as far as a screening date or theater, but we’ll be sure to reveal that as soon as we can, for those of you lucky enough to be attending the festival. Maybe we can find a way to get you inside info to get you in the door. It will easily sell out and be a tough ticket, as Kevin’s films debuting at festivals have always been extremely popular.

Here’s Sundance’s official logline for “Red State”:

Red State / U.S.A. (Director and screenwriter: Kevin Smith) – A group of misfits encounter extreme fundamentalism in Middle America. Cast: Michael Parks, Michael Angarano, Kyle Gallner, John Goodman, Melissa Leo.

If you’re curious to learn about the other films just announced, /Film has done an excellent summary of everything and so has GeekTyrant.

Director Richard Kelly’s seen the film, and his quote reminds us of those we read from the rare few who Kevin shocked by passing the script on to them back when it was written. Check THIS out again courtesy /Film:

“I have never seen a filmmaker reinvent himself the way you just have. I won’t say anything else because I don’t want to spoil anything. It’s really really exciting. If the movie ends up playing at Sundance, I might actually come up to just see the audience’s response. I can not wait…”

Nice, right?

A few final notes: Kevin reveals that we’ll get our first look at John Goodman’s character in the next issue of the UK’s Empire Magazine. Get those scanners ready for us, UK’ers. Keep up with the latest happenings via the “Red State of the Union” podcast which Kevin promises will NOT come close to spoiling anything about the film. Not even close.

Huge congrats to Kevin and the entire cast and crew on this major achievement. Now, on to distribution and a theatrical release date.

Let’s take a look, first, at the SMOD-related stuff (new episodes announced this week), followed by some comments from us :

The day of the Lord cometh like a thief in the night – as does a brand new #SMODCAST http://smodcast.com/main.html 147: Belly Full of Spells

Via @VideoETA “Sorry to hear about Sundance.” s’cool. I listened to this & it made me feel better: PLUS ONE # 1! http://smodcast.com/main.html

FILM NERDS! Hear a new LIVE FROM @SMODCASTLE featuring a discussion with Darko-Daddy Richard Kelly: http://smodcast.com/livefromsmodcastle/

Loving Mewes, is easy ’cause you’re beautiful. Hear a brand new episode of JAY & SILENT BOB GET OLD right now! http://smodcast.com/getold/

It’s time to Babble the fuck on! Listen to me & @RalphGarman on the brand new HOLLYWOOD BABBLE-ON! http://smodcast.com/babbleon/

Via @yourmelody1 “How’d the show go last night?” These beautiful fucking Californians SOLD THAT SHIT OUT FOR US! EXCELLENT way to debut!

Via @ScottElvisKappy “What’s the capacity in new theater?” 300 & change. With tables out: 600. We’ll need it… FOR OUR NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOW!

Whoa! Fell asleep old-man-early last night & forgot to give y’all THIS: the latest RED STATE OF THE UNION Q&A! http://smodcast.com/redstate/

On the new RED STATE OF THE UNION: more on HIT SOMEBODY lead Nic Braun with casting director DebAquila! http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0032597/

Via @DJBrujah “Do we get a new Smodimation today, sir?” Monday, sir. And it’s pretty awesome. For now: http://smodcast.com/smodimations/

@RyanFerguson83 “will we ever get an Affleck podcast?” If the Askewniverse was like BLOOM COUNTY, then #SModcast is like OUTLAND. Opus & Bill came over. Then, during the six year run of the strip, almost all our Bloom County favorites eventually showed up. #ItsOpusTime

We especially love that last comment and “Outland” analogy. It really does seem that gradually, all the greats from View Askew past and present have been stopping by the SModcastle or the recording studio to check in for an episode or even a series. We’re looking forward to the days we see the likes of Affleck, Lee, and others recording special episodes.

For those of you a little behind on “Babble On”, just to summarize — The show’s become so huge that it’s moved to the Jon Lovitz Comedy Club at Universal Citywalk at least through the end of the year with a standing Friday night engagement. As you can see, it’s already selling out. If you have the means, get there and see what you have been missing. The show is absolutely hilarious.

SModcast Network and SModcastle continue to get e-ink as well.

Finally, for those wondering when they’ll get to hear the Gaiman/Palmer special, wait no more — The official site for this 3-hour event has gone live. The show will eventually be free like all SModcasts remain, however, for its debut, we’re asking for a charitable donation of 90 cents and up, per chapter (3 chapters total) which benefits The Wayne Foundation. In chapter one, hear Smith talk candidly with Gaiman and Palmer. In Chapter 2, hear Palmer rock the stage. And finally, in Chapter 3, hear Gaiman read! All starting this Monday. Find out a little more about what you missed via this blog from an attendee. A clip:

…I’ve seen a million interviews. Live and on TV. The subject is promoting something, and certain topics are taboo, and truth rarely comes out. Kevin’s only interested in the truth. He extracts it. And one got more insight into the struggle to be an artist last night at the Smodcastle than at any panel at any music conference ever.

You see it’s about the people. They’re a special breed. And those who last are not about the money, because it’s too hard for it to only be about the money. They were always a little bit off, always living in an alternative reality in their heads. And it’s only when they laid this down that they found out huge swaths of people identified.

The folks at @FastCompany took a look at #SModcast & @SModcastle in THIS article.

It’s a busy and exciting time for the SModcast network — Keep following News Askew along with Kevin’s twitter and the SModcast network’s site for all the latest, with new content showing up every day.

“Red State is done. Next step is the hockey movie, Hit Somebody. Then I’m done. There’s possibly a Clerks 3. If I have something to say in my late 40s about being in my late 40s, I’ll think of [Clerks’] Dante and Randal. Shy of that, I don’t have any more movies I want to make.”

Did we take this as a unofficial announcement of retirement from filmmaking? Not at all, really. Kevin has always said he wanted to get 10 films out there (he’s been saying this for a LONG time, dating all the way back to Dogma around 1999). So, to our loyal readers, this may not have seemed major news, though it seems some outlets picked this up as some sort of bombshell without even checking with the source. /Film, however, decided to contact Kevin directly about the quote, and he Kevin took the time to script a thoughtful, detailed response which we’ll share a few excerpts from here:

… But THIS “retirement” crap? Not news so much as another sad example of how fucking lazy movie press has become: they cannibalize stories by other writers just to have something to post on their own blogs. Yours was the only website that bothered to go DIRECTLY to the source, Peter – other cats ran articles without even tossing a Tweet my way to check veracity. And I answer Tweets like I answer the dinner bell: often & much. While sweating. And already eating something else.

I’ve always said (since CLERKS, even) that I’ve got about ten films in me (that info might even be on my Wikipedia page). And COP OUT notwithstanding (solely because I didn’t write it), HIT SOMEBODY is the 10th film I’ve got in me. At this moment in time, I’ve got no other flicks I wanna make. The musing about a possible return visit to the View Askewniverse with a third CLERKS is something I’ve been doing since CLERKS II, but I’ve always opened said musings with the disclaimer “If I ever wanna make a flick about being in my 40’s, I’ll think of Dante & Randal first.” There are no concrete plans for a CLERKS III.

…

…If you’ve GOTTA have some Kevin Smith news to hold you over? Here’s something that’s not so much news as my stated intentions for RED STATE: if it gets into Sundance, my plan is to pick the RED STATE distributor right there – IN THE ROOM – auction style. Might even bring up a professional auctioneer to make it fun and unintelligible. And if you’re a multi-millionaire who can’t make it to the first screening of RED STATE, fear not: maybe we’ll set up an eBay page for the post-screening bid-calling as well.

Congrats to /Film for doing the diligence to check with Kevin, and for getting the facts straight. More news later, as we’ll be watching for the “Hit” news and anything else that drops, as well as catching up on some leftover holiday tidbits from the break. Stay tuned.

Hear ye! Hear ye! Hear ye a brand new #SMODCAST – Ep.146: Take America Across Your Chest! Walls of human bone! http://smodcast.com/main.html

Hear us age before your very ears! Listen to a brand new JAY & BOB GET OLD! Ep 11: Nothing Compares To Mewes http://www.smodcast.com/getold

It’s time to Babble the fuck on! Hear a brand new HOLLYWOOD BABBLE-ON with me & @RalphGarman! Get ep 13 now! http://smodcast.com/babbleon/

See all the @SModcastle shows in December & you get to BE on an episode of JAY & BOB GET OLD. How? SModPass! http://smodcastle.com/smodpass/

Peep out the NEW #SModcast Network homepage/schedule: http://smodcast.com/ PUCK swaps days with GET OLD, and the debut of SMarriage!

Cross STATE lines in a brand new episode of RED STATE OF THE UNION: http://smodcast.com/redstate/ This week: Splinter of the Klein’s Eye!

A man & woman fused eternally! Listen to the first SMarriage at @SModcastle! http://smodcast.com/smarriage Starring @JacobsChris & Rhonda!

And finally, these two random tidbits reveal that the 1st draft of “Hit Somebody” has moved along, and spotted a fantastic Askew shout-out buried in an acclaimed film this year. Here’s those two:

Watching the adorable THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT. I wish I was a lesbian. Bonus Askew sighting: Ruffalo’s restaurant is Holden’s Potzers Inc.

Via @Solancer “how’s the progress on HitSomebody?” Moving along nicely. First draft pick @ThatDavidKlein read what I’ve got so far & dug.

As always, follow @ThatKevinSmith and it goes from his keyboard to your twitter feed in moments. And you won’t miss a thing!

iTunes users: You can also subscribe here free and follow along with one of the top rated entertainment podcasts in the world. The podcast will continue on a weekly basis, recorded every Monday night and debuted on the web later in the week.

This is the first time we’ve ever known of a director have this close of a relationship with the fans — For such an extensive, involved time period, you can be involved before the film hits theaters, and potentially even have an impact on marketing and more. Plus, you’ll get to see “Red State” WAY early. You just can’t miss it.

With the 10 week course, and a 2011 release date planned, is that hinting that the film might hit theaters sometime in February? No release date planned just yet, though we’re anxiously awaiting. That, and a hint that our Christmas present this year, December 25th, will be our first look at the teaser, has us with “Red State” fever. A nice, slow marketing campaign that’s really got anticipation levels high is the right way to go with this one.

So, in short, be a part of movie history and join the “Red State Club” before the seats are gone. And if you’re not in the area, rumor is that Kevin will screen the teaser for fans attending the Boston Q&A at the House of Blues on Thursday, December 2nd.

While we’re talking “Red”, here’s a few tweets on the subject recently:

Via @bapps84 “Will you be doing a press junket for RedState?” No. But you’ll hear about it all the same, I’m thinking. I do so love to sell.

Hear the teaser for RED STATE & reaction to it in our new mini-series, RED STATE OF THE UNION: http://smodcast.com/redstate/index.html

Via @iamkateonfire “Can’t wait to actually see it, audio gave chills. Nice work!” HEAR THE TEASER: http://smodcast.com/redstate/index.html

Via @Jakkk “Trailer sounds awesome! Can’t wait to see it! ‘You better believe I fear God.'” Complete with Q&A! http://smodcast.com/redstate

Subscribe NOW to our new RED STATE OF THE UNION show, via iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/red-state-of-the-union/id403735816

Via @tbylckwd “When will you hear from Sundance about Redstate?” No clue, but they’re watching it upstairs right now… #Shhhhhh

The podcast is a highly-recommended listen. Kevin’s comments are interesting, in that it sounds like he has a plan for the marketing of the film and is planning a very slow build, which we love. As far as Sundance, we’ll keep you posted on anything we hear, as soon as it’s revealed. Fingers crossed!

On “Red State”…

We’re picture locked on RED STATE. Running time: 97mins (w/credits). Sundance watches Monday. Contingency plan for a pass in place. #Ready

Via @itsthattroyguy “Any prospects on distro?” With a cast like ours & a $4mil budget? It’s a no-brainer purchase for any distrib OR studio.

@nosajdabeno “is the lack of time spent on RedState due to your lack of interest/excitement for the film?” Opposite: made the flick with all the unbridled need & desire of a high school virgin trying to fuck before his parents come home. Had 3yrs to prep; hit set, crushed.

Via @docERtrauma “What % of a film’s budget goes to talent vs operations?” In the coming weeks, I’ll publish our RED budget so you can see.

Via @swickster “depressed that’ll be at very least 6 months b4 Red State goes wide” Nah – six months from now, you’ll have seen RED STATE…

Via @solidpython “When do you unleash a RedState teaser upon the world” If we get into Sundance, I’ll put the teaser online. #FingersCrossed

On “Hit Somebody”…

Via @BluMeaning “Now that you’ve done horror, any other genres you want to try?” Sports. Wrote another 10 pages of HIT SOMEBODY last night.

Via @KevSaund “Can you say who it is?” My HIT SOMEBODY lead? Sure – we’ll talk about it on BABBLE-ON next wknd: http://smodcast.com/babbleon

Via @AdamAbbott “RedState had a short shoot time. Will #HitSomebody be the same?” I’d say it’ll take roughly double the time we did RED in.

Via @LouisPJr “Your first choice lead for Hit Somebody passed” Already had my new guy shortly thereafter. And he’s perfect. #SeeItAllWorksOut

Via @Psymin1 “Why not film in Michigan?” That’s where we’re shooting HIT SOMEBODY next fall, once @ThatDavidKlein is done on TRUE BLOOD.

On SModcast and SModcastle Shows…

It’s SMunday SMorning! Time for #SModcast with me & @SMosier! SMod144: Dance 10, Looks 3 – http://smodcast.com/main.html #BarbarianBoobs

Get ready to gimme yer wallets & purses: I just posted the new @SModcastle schedule for the next 2 weeks! http://smodcastle.com/tickets.html

Via @fuckmikesmom “no more 2 shows in one night @SModcastle” Starting 11/17: Having Sex, w/Katie Morgan at 7:30, Bagged&Boarded at 9:00.

On past and upcoming live appearances…

Via @jaybwebb “too fat for 40 online!” Watch it FOR FREE, using the @EpixHD 14 day free trial: http://epixhd.com/kevin-smith-too-fat-for-40/

Via @tom_jorgensen “Too Fat for 40 was awesome, are we gonna get a longer cut on the DVD release?” Yup: all 4 hours of it, plus bonus stuff.

If you dig us… http://smodcast.com/getold …we will cum. Get tix for JAY & SILENT BOB GET OLD… LIVE! http://jayandsilentbobgetold.com

Via @KikiPassion “did you have fun in Kitchener?” I did. Great room, great crowd. Went almost an hour over because it was hard to leave.

Via @RChazzChute “I learned a lot from you last night in Kitchener. Here’s the piece about it: http://bit.ly/aB7ic7 ” Love it, sir. Go! GO!

Via @vincent404 “any plans on taking Smodcast on the road to Austin” Yup.

Via @mybrainhurt69 “r u goin to come to England and do a smodcast sir?” That and SO much more, sir. #StartSavingYourPenniesFor2011WithKevin

And finally, this one didn’t really fit any of the above categories, but sounds quite interesting…

Via @LovelyLocLady “Will you ever release a film via iTunes?” @JayMewes & I are working on a cartoon we’re hoping to do exactly that with…

For more from the world of Twitter, visit Kevin’s official feed where he waxes poetic on filming in Los Angeles and other random topics not covered above.