• Kevin & Jennifer arrived a bit late in San Diego for the con this year, due to traffic – But our favorite faithful photographer, Albert Ortega, didn’t miss a beat — Check out this new bath of Kevin, Jennifer, and a couple leftovers of Rosario and the Richard Kelley panel, too. As always, click these for large, beautiful high resolution versions, and thanks very much to Mr. Ortega for sharing his wonderful work with us. Enjoy.

• Here’s a look at the press release that’s going around confirming that October 25th overseas release of a 3-disc “Evening With Kevin Smith” which collects the original set along with the second installment. If the release date sticks, it does indeed look like some areas abroad will get “Evening 2” a couple weeks before the U.S.
• Kevin gets mentioned by the ailing Roger Ebert in a recent e-mail sent out to his fans:

We send our best wishes to Mr. Ebert for a speedy recovery.

• With the horrors of war happening in the middle east, it’s hard to imagine things do continue to move business as usual as well — Check out this scanned newspaper ad for Clerks II, which also promises free tickets to whoever lines up on September 1st in the Rev-hen Theater in Tel-Aviv. The film starts in Israel on Aug 24th.

• That famous “Kevin Smith Way” gets mentioned (along with a photo) in a recent article in Paulsboro’s Gloucester County Times. See the scan here.
• Here’s some fresh press from Australia regarding Clerks II. The film opens there on August 31st. Kevin hosts a screening of Clerks II on Tuesday, 7pm, State Theatre, 136 100, for $35.

• We apologize for the error – It seems that we were right to be suspicious, as the con we listed in newsbites yeterday has not only listed current guests, but PAST guests as well — A bit confusing. Kevin was indeed a past guest, but is NOT scheduled to appear this year.

We’re sorry for any confusion we may have caused. More news later!

• We’re getting all sorts of news on the highly anticipated “Evening With Kevin Smith 2: Evening Harder” DVD release today. First off, for our US readers: VideoETA confirms that Sony has announced a November 7, 2006 release date for the new set. The official running time remains a whopping 236 minutes, and collects highlights from the Toronto and London appearances.

In addition to the single-set release, a two-pack collection of BOTH Evening 1 and Evening 2 is also planned from Sony (no US release date yet set). If for some crazy reason you didn’t get the first one, this will be your chance to get both at a great price. We’ll let you know full details on getting these items from the Stash as soon as possible. We’re certain there will be signed copies available.

Now, for Australia: We’re getting word that Sony Pictures plans to release Evening 1 and Evening 2 as a 2-pack set on October 25th! Could Australia get Evening 2 a couple weeks before we do? Quite possibly. We’re waiting for official word from Sony on this, but have a source in Australia confirming this date in the dealer packaging promotion. We’ll keep you posted on this exciting development, and hope to have an advanced review of Part Two for you as soon as possible. Evening 1 continues to entertain all who see it, we can only imagine the new collection will bring more of the same. International-style!

• Professional photographer Albert Ortega’s back, with some beautiful high resolution shots taken of the lovely Rosario Dawson as she made her way around the recent San Diego Comicon, including filling in for Kevin’s Q&A panel when he was stuck in traffic. As always, click the mini pics for some gorgeous, fully pixelated versions of Ms. Dawson. Enjoy. Photos of Kevin and Jen’s arrival, and more, coming soon.

• If you just want to listen to Kevin’s appearance on “At The Movies”, iTunes also has the file as a download through their podcast directory.
• And speaking of film critics, Kevin’s rant against Joel Siegel gets mentioned in this L.A. Times article on movie critics having a bad summer:

• You gotta admire an actor who gives everything he’s got to a performance. This fellow on YouTube may just be imitating great performances (in this case, Damon and Affleck’s famous parking garage scene in “Dogma”, but he’s pretty spot on and plays BOTH ROLES. Nice job, young sir. Keep it up.
• Anyone else think it’s funny that post-”Jersey Girl”, “Sweeney Todd” has had such a resurgence? AP is confirming today that Johnny Depp has been cast in the lead of the new film, to be directed by Tim Burton. We still credit JG for the reason this film project exists.
• Empire Online confirms a new casting for Jason Mewes. “Netherbeast Incorporated” is a vampire comedy set in the world of America’s businesses. Robert Wagner, Judd Nelson and Dave Foley are also in the cast for the film, which is now shooting in Arizona. Congrats to Jay, and we’ll of course keep you posted on this project.
• Kevin’s “At The Movies” review of “Half Nelson” is mentioned in this CanMag article. Kevin had very positive things to say about the film during his guest spot.

• Kevin’s staying mostly at home these days after a ton of Clerks II press, and with that comes some nice Q&A online from Kevin himself. Sometimes responses are silly, especially when the questions happen to be silly, but today we’re happy to report that Kevin gives some nice scoop and answers on a variety of topics. Let’s run down some of them, shall we?

• On Clerks II DVD Train Wrecks: “On the “Clerks II” DVD, we’ll include what we’re calling the “Top Ten” Best Wrecks. That’s it. However, depending on where you purchase “Clerks II”, there will be a bonus disc available with a shitload of other Wrecks. From what I’m told, that’s gonna be an exclusive with either Circuit City, Frye or Best Buy outlets.”
• Status of the Clerks Animated Movie: “It doesn’t go at all. Haven’t started that yet. But when I do, rest assured, Bear will pop in.”
• On the Jackson Five’s ABC: “I’ve just always dug that song, and waaaaaaay back in ‘99, when I was thinking of the original incarnation of “Clerks II”, that song (and the dance number that accompanies it) was always gonna be a part of the flick.

  Oddly, back then, it was Randal who was gonna be learning to dance/falling in love atop a roof at the Seaside Heights boardwalk, with all those dancers treading the boards below. The dance partner/love interest I had in mind for him?

  Alanis.”

• On the Horror Flick Script: “I’ll start writing it once I’m done with the Edinburgh/Oz press tours, after we’ve put the DVD to bed. Shooting it? Maybe early next year.”
• On Influences For the Horror Flick: “Favorite? Probably “The Shining” or “Halloween”. The biggest influence on me as I set out to make one? “Race with the Devil”.
• On a Green Arrow film: “If it’s written well, acted well and directed well, it can rock. I do think there’ll be a Green Arrow flick one day. Were I to write it (which I’ve got zero interest in doing, mind you), I’d put him in the classic costume, though – as ridiculous as it may look on film.”
• On A UK Press Trip: “I was scheduled to leave for the UK this evening to do a Thursday press day in London prior to heading to Edinburgh, but had to change plans, as Harley was having a meltdown about me and Jen heading out on the road again (we’re now thinking of bringing her on the Australian leg of the tour). All this flick-related travel has been tough on her. I mean, she’s seven.

  So as it stands, all the UK press I’ll be doing for “Clerks II” (aside from the Empire interview I’ve already done during the LA junket day) will be in Edinburgh. If UK journos can’t make it to the fest, I imagine there’ll be some phoners in my future.

  Then again, the flick doesn’t open there ’til late September, yes? So maybe I’ll be invited back closer to the theatrical release, at which point I can do a bunch of London-based press.”

So there ya have it, folks. Looks like we may get our horror on sometime in 2007! We’ll keep you informed on this and any other breaking news! Feel free to check out the full post for a few other words from the man HERE.

• YouTube’s got a new 10 minute limit on clippage, sadly, so we have to bring this one to you in four chunks — Here’s the complete “At the Movies” appearance from this past weekend with Richard Roeper and our very own Kevin Smith. Watch Kevin take the reins of the program very deftly as he gives his honest opinion of the latest crop of flicks hitting theaters near you. Here’s hoping that he might be invited back after this wonderful showing. Enjoy it via our News Askew YouTube channel!

Part One (7:16)
Part Two (4:07)
Part Three (7:16)
Part Four (1:58)

• Check out THIS clip of some Kevin Q&A footage taken at the big Rolling Roadshow event earlier this week. This is around a 10 minute edited segment of select moments from the event. Enjoy!
• The rock band “Supernova”, famous for contributing the song “Chewbacca” from Clerks, continues their lawsuit against the forthcoming band, also trying to use that same name, currently running that summer “Rock Star” reality show. Billboard has details. So does CNN.
• Henry Rollins mentions Kevin in the Dispatches section of website http://www.henryrollins.com. Here’s an excerpt from the July 5th, 2006 entry:

• We really dig the 3D animated Brodie video. Maybe these guys can get some work and do the Clerks Animated Movie in this technology? Could be interesting…
• The producer of a new low budget film called “Looking for Garth Brooks” was so inspired by Kevin that he’s including the Buddy Christ in several scenes of the flick. Check out his production news page for a nice shout-out to Kevin, as well.
• And finally today, a very happy birthday to faithful Askewer Ben Affleck!

• Lots of news today involves new video clips for your enjoyment, or the realm of home viewing in general — So welcome to News Askew’s “Video Sunday” update! Read on for your chance to check out tons of multimedia today, many of which we’re hosting exclusively on our News Askew YouTube channel. Thanks for coming by. Let’s get started.