Our look into the the most exciting year for Kevin Smith and View Askew Productions (so far) concludes today, with the second half of the year:

JULY



July began with news of the biggest releases of the year — Nope, not a movie, but Apple’s industry-changing iPhone. Kevin graced the front of USA Today’s website with his smiling face holding a bag of two of the devices (one for him, one for the wife).

With “Live Free or Die Hard” in theaters, Kevin also kicked off the month doing some press for the film, mostly by the way of local and satellite radio.

Our biggest moment of the year arrived on July 7th. On that day, we celebrated 10 years as “News Askew”. To commemorate, we debuted a new design (you’re looking at it) and complete overhaul of our 10 year news database. The new system allows us faster searching, and a much greater flexibility with features. While we’ve been working behind the scenes on bugfixes, news cleanup, categorization, and other surprises, we’re happy to report there’s much in store for 2008. Once again, we thank our fans and supporters for allowing News Askew to continue, and were proud to celebrate this major anniversaary.

As the month rolled out, “Zack and Miri” continued scoring press mentions, along with Kevin’s blog, as well as the famous SModcast, now up to its 20th episode.




Meanwhile, another View Askew vet was celebrating some praise of his own — Ben Affleck was enjoying critical acclaim for his directorial debut, “Gone, Baby, Gone”.




Genre art was all the rage when Smith and Mosier appeared at LA’s first “Crazy 4 Cult” art show, which featured artwork celebrating classic cult films and television. These one-of-a-kind works sold extremely well, with Kevin adding quite a few to his own collection.

Late in the month, Kevin revealed a few more tidbits about the movies of the moment: “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and “Red State”. On the latter: “I keep trying to, like, [temper] everyone’s expectations, because it’s not horror like ‘Hostel.’ It’s not gore porn. The best comparison I think of is ‘The Shining.’ It’s going for that kind of mood. It’s a very unsettling film.” For the casting on the former, Kevin expressed his interest in Rosario Dawson as Miri, and hoped that longtime Askewers Jason Mewes and Jeff Anderson would also appear.




As the month winded down, fans who were already excited to see Kevin appear in San Diego at the Comic-Con that weekend had a reason to become even more so: The “Reaper” pilot would screen in full at Kevin’s Q&A panel. More rave reviews for the show, along with praise for the director via the cast and crew solidified the fact that the screening would be a huge hit.




San Diego had another surprise in store as well: During the “Heroes” panel, Kevin made a surprise appearance to announce he’d be directing an episode of the forthcoming “Heroes” spinoff titled “Heroes: Origins”. His TV empire was growing. By the end of the year, due to the writer’s strike, the show would be postponed.

In DVD news, Malcolm Ingram’s “Small Town, Gay Bar”, a View Askew documentary, was set for release in early August. We also learned that the long-awaited “Chasing Amy X” DVD would arrive in Summer 2008 as a supplemental disc to the already perfect Criterion Collection. Rather than buy the movie again, fans will simply be able to add this disc into their collection to gather up all the great new extras, which will include a reuinion Q&A filmed at the LA Vulgarthon film festival.

AUGUST



Kevin’s big 37th birthday bash week began with a sold out Q&A session at Red Bank’s historic Count Basie theater. The performance was professionally recorded, supervised by Clerks II documentary filmmaker Zak Knutson. A DVD of the night, “Kevin Smith: Sold Out”, is coming in 2008 and will undoubtedly feature the centerpice of the night – Kevin’s tale on working with Bruce Willis on “Live Free or Die Hard”. Quite possibly, our favorite tale ever told by the man. The following weekend, a handful of lucky fans attended the View Askew prom, where they joined Kevin and Jen for a night of food, drink, dancing, and socializing.

After a memorable week of celebration, things took a slight downturn, as news broke that, due to scheduling conficts with another film, Rosario Dawson would have to turn down the role of “Miri”. By the end of the year, the film would have a new leading lady.

First “Reaper”, then “Heroes”, now…“Battlestar Galactica”? Could it be that Kevin would direct an episode of the best show on television? News leaked that the man waa attached to the show, and it turns out, this was ALMOST true — Kevin would later reveal that on two occasions, he was on the slate to oversee an episode of the show’s final upcoming season. However, due to scheduling uncertainties, both opportunities pass him by.

Following the flurry of the birthday celebration and “Miri” casting surprise, the remainder of August brought more good press. “Small Town, Gay Bar” continued to celebrate positive reviews on its DVD release. Meanwhile, websites continued to call “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” one of the most anticipated films of 2008.

And then…To put a nice bow on the month, Kevin finished writing “Red State”. Kevin calls the script so twisted that, “If I’d never said anything about it in the press and put it out under a pseudonym, I doubt anyone would ever connect me with it.” With the major writing done, Kevin also promised fans a return to a more regular schedule at his online blog sites.

SEPTEMBER

With “Red State” now circling among friends, the script became a hot topic for the first part of September. Friends and colleagues all called the script such a harsh depature that it was indistinguishable from Kevin’s other (might lighter) fare. Folks were calling it one of those bleak scripts that just stays with you, and provokes thought and unsettlement. While short on dialogue, Kevin anticipated around 2 hour running time for the film. At only 89 pages, it’s the shortest feature script he’s ever written. Harvey Weinstein would go on to call the script “Disturbing and challenging”.

With a shrinking DVD window upon us, we also quickly learned details on the eventual home video release for “Live Free or Die Hard”. Among the goodies would be an exclusive video game on the Bluray disc featuring “The Warlock”, as well as an extended, unrated cut of the film itself.


Two scripts in the books, next on the agenda was promotion for “My Boring-Ass Life: The Uncomfortably Candid Diary of Kevin Smith”. The book, which collected previous blog posts and other writings in one place, including the touching “Me and My Shadow” saga, would go on to be the most successful book of Kevin’s career (so far). The book tour would span the US and Canada in both press and signing appearances, then move into the UK in October.

Then, a bit more somber news — Stash West, Kevin’s comic book store located in Westwood, CA, was due to close its doors the following month. The shop’s final event will be a book signing in early October.

Later in September, “Reaper” debuted on the CW to more critical acclaim and praise. Ratings were solid, prompting the show to retain its timeslot throughout its initial first run. Due to the writer’s strike, it’s a 50/50 shot on new episodes of the show being shot for the “back half” of Season one. This writer’s strike is affecting a LOT of stuff, Kevin projects included. A tough year to break into the TV biz.




While celebrating success with two theatrical turns in 2007 with “Catch and Release” and “Live Free or Die Hard”, Kevin also filmed a cameo in a film from Richard Kelly called “Southland Tales”. In the film, Kevin was highly costumed in makeup for his character. After hearing about it all year, we finally saw a photo of how Kevin would appear in the final product. His role would be downsized for time reasons, according to the director, but be definitely restored in full for the DVD release of the epic flick.

Winding down the month, Kevin showed more east coast love with another live appearance, this time at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The press onslaught continued, with the remainder of September finding Kevin in full-force promotional mode, spending the most part of every day conducting interviews for radio, TV and print media.

Finally, though we now know the show’s delayed until at least late next year, Kevin revealed that the “hero” he’d create for his “Heroes: Origins” episode would be a female. Her power would be something Kevin thought some would consider “lame”, but classic.

OCTOBER

In a new interview with IGN, Kevin reveals that he’d love to shoot long-in-process project “Ranger Danger and the Danger Rangers” following “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” and “Red State”.

Speaking of “Red State”, though funding for “Zack and Miri” had been secured, the horror flick was proving a tougher sell. For the first time, the brothers Weinstein politely passed on “Red State”, as Kevin and Scott expected, leaving the film open for distribution and financiers. Kevin explains that he’s now more excited than ever to make the movie, and plans to get back on it following “Zack and Miri”, where they’ll need to concentrate their efforts for the present time.

As planned, the final event for Secret Stash Westwood takes place — A historical signing of “My Boring Ass Life”, where fans lined the streets of Westwood for their look inside the coolest comic shop in the west for one last time…Though its death would prove to be short-lived. Just a few days after the doors were locked, Kevin announced the rebirth of the Stash inside “Laser Blaser”, a popular DVD store in Los Angeles.

With location scouting just around a month away, we hear news that makes us east-coasters happy once again — “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” will shoot in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, returning crew Askew to the city for the first time since “Dogma” almost 10 years ago. Filming will begin in January of 2008, and run for 40 days.

After just a month of release, Kevin’s new book has appeared on the coveted New York Times’ Best Seller list — Hitting the non-fiction paperback charts. Kevin’s honored, calling it “something I never expected to be”.

At the end of the month, Ben Affleck’s “Gone Baby, Gone” finally hits theaters. Critics and audiences continue to rave about the film.

NOVEMBER



With the shelving of the “Heroes: Origin” project now a reality, Kevin confirms he’d had 3/4 of the script done, and would be ready to complete it should the show come back around. In other TV news, “Reaper” continues to get good buzz and becomes available for online purchase on iTunes.

Swag’s back in the news again, where we learn those Clerks II inaction figures have been set for a street date of Spring 2008. While the wait has been long, we’re sure it will be worth it.

SModcast continues going strong, presenting its landmark 37th episode online. The show remains absolutely free, and available for exclusive download via the Quick Stop Entertainment web portal, run by View Askew.




On November 16th, what many called the biggest news of the year in View Askew broke — The 2 leads for “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” were revealed. The stars of the film would be Seth Rogen and Elizabeth Banks. Both actors were hot off comedic projects over the past couple of years, so this was a major “get” for the film. In the coming days, Kevin relates his stories of chatting with Rogen and their mutual admiration. With Rogen’s fast rising star now onboard, “Zack and Miri” had just become a MAJOR film event for 2008.

DECEMBER

December would become the least eventful month of View Askew’s year, at least from a news perspective. While Kevin is notoriously vocal during the filming process, the pre-production work tends to be a quieter, busier time.

In an interview with MTV, Kevin reveals that the long-in-waiting animated film “Clerks: Sell Out” will most likely never be, due to rights issues. However, since he does retain the rights to Jay and Silent Bob, he speculates there may be hope for a future animated project with the duo or their counterparts, Bluntman & Chronic.

With the casting annoucements making the rounds, major media outlets begin writing coverage for “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. The news is positive, especially considering filming has yet to begin. It’s always a good sign to have the media interested in View Askew flicks early on, and this film will be no exception.




While several opportunities had taken place over 2007, December brings the biggest and best crop of auctioned memorabilia that we’ve ever seen. Partnering with an online auction service, many one-of-a-kind icons from past View Askew projects go on sale, eagerly grabbed up by fans.

Following the success with “Dogma”, Kevin once again puts the call out for fans (and local Pittsburgh residents), giving them the chance to appear onscreen as an extra (or “backgound actor” as they sometimes like to be called) for “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. Fans rejoice and begin clearing their winter schedules should the call come down to appear.

Though incredibly busy, having relocated to Pittsburgh for preproduction, Kevin and Scott manage to record the 42nd episode of SModcast, keeping them right on track with new episodes and gifting fans with a Christmas day present for the ears.

With 2007 behind us, and “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” just two short weeks away from filming its first frames, we close the books on this year of history, and start anew once again. Here comes 2008.

And that, folks, is your 2007 – The Year in Askew. We once again thank you for your support this year, and look forward to spending another exciting one here with you. With one film already rolling, and potentially another to come, not to mention the growing interest in acting and television direction, we’re betting that 2008 will top things yet again. Happy New Year!

JANUARY



Hot off another jam-packed DVD, full of personal attention from the director and stars, “Clerks II” was the first big news of 2007. The film and DVD appeared on many critic’s lists, citing it as one of the best of the year. “Clerks II” became the best-reviewed View Askew production of all time. Clerks II also became the first View Askew film to appear in the new HD-DVD format this month. By the end of 2007, HD-DVD would be a big news item, fighting competitor Blu-Ray for market share, in a battle many are likening to the famous VHS/Beta battles of the 1980’s.



Kevin continued his foray into broadcast journalism with show-length radio appearances on area radio stations in California, as well as sit-ins on XM satellite radio’s “Opie & Anthony”. Little did we know, this was a stepping stone into something much greater from the fan’s perspective. In other appearance news, Kevin’s appearance at the massive MacWorld conference would be one of the most talked-about of the show. Since as far back as we can recall, he’s been a longtime supporter of Apple’s products. Apple would go on to have potentially their most successful year so far.



Excitement grew as small details began to leak out regarding Kevin’s involvement in the big summer release “Live Free or Die Hard”. This would mark the largest-budgeted film in which he would appear in his career, so far. In other movie news, we saw photos of the Kevin-voiced character that would make a small appearance in the new “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” CGI film this year.



This month, the View Askew project being most buzzed about was an unititled horror film. Kevin started sharing a few hints at his plan, though revealed surprisingly little else. At this time, this was planned as the next theatrical release, though no deals had been inked.



January capped with the theatrical bow of “Catch and Release”, Kevin’s largest acting role to date. He would go on to steal every scene in which he appeared, and celebrate a great deal of screen time alongside stars Jennifer Garner and Tim Olyphant (who would also appear in “Live Free or Die Hard”). “Catch” got the coveted “Two Thumbs Up” score from At The Movies and celebrated universal praise for Kevin’s performance.
Two final footnotes for the month — We learned that RST Video, the video store made famous in “Clerks”, was forever shutting its doors to customers. Also, Kevin proclaimed his love for the footage he saw from “Manchild”, the pilot he acted in for Showtime television. The pilot would, sadly, never see the light of day, despite positive reviews from the lucky who saw it.

FEBRUARY

February kicked off with even more praise for “Clerks II”, as the biggest review site on the web, “Rotten Tomatoes” cited the film as the 9th best reviewed of the year (collecting web and press reviews). Given all the films that arrive in a calendar year, this was quite a big deal.



The biggest news of the month arrived with the culmination of Kevin’s broadcasting experiences — SModcast. The show would become the first ever podcast attempted by View Askew, consisting of hosts Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier. Instead of taking the expected route and simply chatting about the business and self-promoting, the guys took an unexpected path with a freeform discussion on anything that was on their minds – Pop culture, current events, sex, their childhoods, and so much more. This uncensored, candid discussion would become a weekly event and quickly one of the most listened-to broadcasts on the internet.

Thinking we’d already seen and heard it all, we were thrown for yet another loop when more news broke — Kevin would be directing his first television episode. A pilot titled “Reaper” for the CW network, which would be a mix of suspense and comedy. This would mark the first time that he’d direct anything that wasn’t also written by his own hand.



In confirming “Reaper”, Kevin also dropped more big news — He was currently writing not one, but TWO new films which he would shoot in Fall/Winter of 2007/2008.



February capped with Kevin’s first public appearance in quite some time — The New York Comic Con. Not only did he host one of his lively Q&A sessions; He also acted as moderator for the Battlestar Galactica panel, a show which we think is the best on TV right now. Clips from these appearances are, thankfully, available if you missed them.

MARCH

With all of the major television and podcasting news, we’d almost forgotten that Kevin ALSO still had two films on his radar. As of early March, the plan remained the same — Film the horror film first, and the second film, a comedy (planned to star Rosario Dawson) to follow.



Due to high demand, Kevin returned to the college circuit this month, hosting yet another packed Q&A session — This time, in Akron, Ohio. This was one of the first shows conducted after the “Evening Harder” DVD release in 2006, so it marked the debut of some new tales. Hot on the heels of this announcement, a major one came for fans in the UK – Kevin would be making two rare appearances there next month. Both appearances would sell out in mere days.

We debuted a feature of our own here at News Askew in March – Special correspondant Chris Graves joined us with the first of what would turn out to be 20 exclusive interviews with voices from View Askew past and present.

Without a peep from Kevin, we also learned, via an Amazon.com preorder page, that Kevin had a new book planned — “My Boring-Ass Life” was set for a September 2007 release. We’d learn much more about this project as the year went on.

By the end of March, SModcast had celebrated seven episodes, and had become the #5 ranked podcast on the internet. Not too shabby for a program that had just started one month ago.

APRIL



April kicked off in an exciting way, as we were blessed with the first footage from “Live Free or Die Hard”, in a trailer that not only kicked major butt, but also showcased quite a few of Kevin’s funny quips from the film. Those that were worried about the film were immediately silenced, as there was no denying that the trailer was fun and very action-packed. We prayed for an R-rating, but would have to wait for the eventual DVD to see an uncut version of the film.

Still riding the wave of joy from seeing Kevin trade jabs with Bruce Willis in the trailer, more big news broke just days after — The until-then untitled horror project now had a name: “Red State”. Quite a few more details leaked on the film as well, centering on the fact that this would be a BLEAK u-turn from Kevin’s previous work. The film was planned for a late 2007 shoot.

Rumors began to trickle down that the then untitled comedy, known only as the “Untitled Kevin Smith Minnesota Project”, might film first.

Mid-month, fans around the world were excited to learn that Kevin would celebrate his upcoming 37th birthday in a special way — An authentic “prom” would take place this summer, where couples could attend alongside of Kevin and Jen to celebrate this major event. It would mark 20 years from the age which Kevin boycotted his actual senior prom.

News of new projects for actor and longtime Askew favorite Jason Mewes began to spread across the web — Two horror themed flicks took top billing – David Arquette’s “The Tripper”, and a vampire flick called “Netherbeast, Inc.”. Another “Clerks” vet, Brian O’Halloran, announced an indie horror project of his own – “Brutal Massarce”, which was filming and in search of extras late in the month.

For the first time, Kevin writes that following “Red State” and the new comedy, which will be films 8 and 9 for him, that he and producer Scott Mosier have a special, non-Askewniverse 10th film in mind.



On the month’s final day, News Askew celebrated the 10th anniverary of our first ever post – The debut of “Drinks Askew”, when this very site featured nothing but a few drinking games for Kevin’s films (all of which remain here, now and always).

MAY



Possibly the most anticipated bit of merchandise for us remains the upcoming inaction figures based on Clerks II. May brought us the first look at the unpainted prototypes of these items, which featured a dancing Dante & Becky and a great pose of Elias. Long delayed, these items are still on the schedule for sometime in the first half of 2008.

Making the pilgrimage to Red Bank in August even a MORE must-do, Kevin announced that he would appear for a one-night-only show the day of his birthday, the same week that his View Askew Prom would happen. This event, at the huge Count Basie theater, would be recorded for an eventual DVD release in 2008, titled “Kevin Smith: Sold Out”.

Just over a week into the month, Kevin announced that the first draft of the upcoming comedy film was completed, at a hefty 146 pages. It would quickly be pared down to 120 pages, roughly a 2 hour running time onscreen. The “Red State” script would come next.

As the month rolled on, the script made its way into the hands of friends, agents, and co-workers. Loved by all, it began to seem even more likely that this film would be put on the fast track, moving “Red State” to the proverbial back burner.

The good news didn’t stop there, though. While many pilots filmed never air, it was revealed that the CW loved the “Reaper” pilot so much that they placed an order for 12 episodes, due in the Fall. As this was Kevin’s first-ever stint directing someone else’s material, and for television no less, “Reaper” was a highlight. Kevin would remain on a series consultant for the series, though did not return to write, direct, or appear in 2007.

JUNE

With “Reaper” and the comedy script creating quite a bit of buzz in the industry, it wasn’t long before the title of said comedy was revealed — But exclusively to the Los Angeles Times.

While fans eagerly awaited, more teasing began, as word of screener copies of the “Reaper” pilot began hitting the web — The show began that of industry legend, one of those programs so good that folks were passing it around to their friends, writing highly positive reviews, and, eventually, leaking the pilot onto many of the net’s underground bittorrent file sharing websites.

On June 6th, the LA Times story broke, and we finally had a title. And boy, WHAT a title. “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”. Easily, the most telling and controversial title in View Askew history. A title, we’re told, which had Harvey Weinstein onboard with financing even before the script was finished. “It’s…dirty, with nudity,” said Kevin. “But funny nudity, not gratuitous nudity.”

In a further board post, Kevin wrote: “If you were gonna do that movie-description thing, I’d say it’s like Chasing Amy meets Clerks II, with a dash each of Boogie Nights and Bowfinger tossed in.”



WIth “Zack and Miri” fever now taking over, it was hard to believe that Kevin was about to appear onscreen in a major film. Due for worldwide release on June 27th, “Live Free or Die Hard” would feature him as “The Warlock”, a hacker who lived in his mom’s basement. Prior to the film’s release, footage of a backlot conversation/interview between star Bruce Willis and Smith appeared online. The full version of this casual sit-down would become a part of the eventual DVD.



Just before the big “Die Hard” debut, “Zack and Miri Make a Porno” scored its most visible and famous press yet — Entertainment Weekly Magazine ran an actual (censored) page of dialogue from Kevin’s script.

The first half of 2007 ended with both Smith and Willis celebrating favorable critic reviews for “Live Free or Die Hard”. Kevin also confirmed that, due to all of the positive buzz surrounding “Zack and Miri Make a Porno”, that it was official — This one would come BEFORE “Red State”.

But wait…The year is only HALF OVER! Watch this space for Part II, the conclusion of 2007: The Year In Askew.

AN INTERVIEW WITH BETTY ABERLIN

BY CHRIS GRAVES

CHRIS GRAVES: For those who do not know, what is your background and how were you introduced to the world of View Askew and Kevin Smith?

BETTY ABERLIN: I’ve got a resume out:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0008640/resume

That kind of shows you, acting-wise. I started out during the McCarthy years in a ‘folk-opera’ about Sandhogs, when I was ten. Studied ballet and modern jazz dance, got into Performing Arts for drama and Music and Art for art; always read, wrote, sang, thought life was going to be like musical theater. I studied acting with Jeremy Piven’s father, the wonderful Byrne Piven, and toured with his straw hat summer New England circuit of West Side Story as Anybodys (got to dance with the boys!) when I was sixteen. Went to Bennington College, thesis in short stories, and acted in plays at Williams College. Played in the NYC satirical revues (with Madeline Kahn) that preceeded the Laugh-In & SNL shows. Studied Improv, and other fine acting teachers were Harold Clurman in LA and Vivian Nathan of Actors’ Studio.

That’s a great question: because I can’t remember how I found CLERKS, but when I saw it I was like: YES!!!!!!!!!!! I have loved to make people laugh; tend to nod and say ‘that’s funny’ when something is really, really funny. Kevin’s writing made me laugh out loud. Most rare. (I would completely have bought his original ending for Clerks 1, btw.) His fusion of wit & pathos are EXACTLY my cup of tea. His courage.

CG: Can you describe your Dogma experience? How was it acting opposite Matt Damon?

BA: I loved the script – loved it. In my mind, I had already cast Ben Affleck as Loki and Matt Damon as Bartleby, so I was preparing to do my scene with Affleck, and until the call sheet for my shooting day slid under the hotel door, I did not know I’d be working with Matt. I owed both of them tremendous gratitude because of a line (‘It’s not your fault!’) repeated in GOOD WILL HUNTING, which echoed initials (‘i.n.y.f.’)I had been writing on all correspondence to my nephew (the so-called ‘savior child’, whose charge upon birth was taking care forevermore of his older brother, born with every damage conceivable. Because of the family anguish, he was continually apologizing, as though the family strife, and his brother’s handicaps, were somehow his fault. And I took pains to remind him so often of i.n.y.f. – that his at-war parents got together long enough to forbid my reminders. When he had gone to see Good Will Hunting, the message had broken through again despite these prohibitions.) Now picture Matt with a truckload of lines before him in the long walk down the airport corridor, not knowing me from Eve, as I took my place beside him and poured out my incoherent and heartfelt gratitudes, as quickly as I could. He was totally gracious. I had asked him to please slap me if he caught me acting. And off we went. In our sit-down scene, Matt threw me a great curve which cracked my nervousness about ‘doing well’, so I owe him for it. My little nun in the background of the moving elevator scene was supposed to drink beer with a lighted cigarette in her mouth, and since I don’t drink and have asthma, I thought sure that Kevin would never use me again, when I begged to be allowed to do something else. I rediscovered joy itself in DOGMA – and realized by contrast how for-real confining and constrained the unremitting child-development disciplines and prohibitions had been in the t.v. work I had been committed to for so long. Joy. Fun. Comedic freedom. Being part of something both profound and funny.

CG: What was your reaction to the film’s controversy?

BA: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. The enemy is doing push-ups and Pilates in the next room. Great progress, great opposition. I don’t think Kevin in any way courts it – if he wrote dead-in-the-shallow-water movies, there would be no opposition. He is an original – this is threatening to group=think, whether the thoughtforms of ‘Orthodoxy’ or the buck$-stop-here audience surveys of The Suits.

Too bad the Catholic League was instrumental in cutting out Bethany’s Boo-Hoo scene (see Extras), for me the secret heart of hearts: I have held that the best way to watch DOGMA is with a pregnant teenager to one’s right, and a veteran of abortion to one’s left. Or vice versa. And bring the Kleenex. Kevin’s idea of a God merciful beyond comprehension…..! Oh yes! And the Alanis song: ‘Still’. Heavenly ditto.

CG: Jersey Girl was a fantastic film that got some negative publicity due to the real life romance between Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez. How was the environment like on that set? What did you think of the finished film and how it was treated?

BA: You really want to hear Betty’s Little Conspiracy Theory? All That? I did my homework, I watched Gigli – because short of Heaven’s Gate, I had never ever seen such lavish excoriation of a film, and I marveled at the venom of it. How bad could it be? Was Lopez’s beauty and strength, and Affleck’s gentle character THAT threatening to the audience? Was it the fluidity of sexual identity that threatened? What? P.S. I thought Lanie Kazan and Christopher Walken were especially funny in it, and in hindsight, the scene of Lopez & Affleck in bed – the tenderness of it – was, to me, beautiful. This love, by the time of JERSEY GIRL’s shoot was a palpable spirit of joy and union that permeated the shoot, certainly in my brief time there. The perfection of the casting and the beautiful nature and talents of Raquel Castro – their imaginary child – was part of the magic. Offscreen Ben and Jennifer were damned if they did and damned if they didn’t – whether they flaunted their union, or sought a morsel of privacy within the circus. Ben had spoken of political aspirations, and I thought: WOW! What a team they would make! What power to unite us in the direction of all good things – a for-real rather than the spun-myth of Kennedy/Camelot! I think, apart from Gigli, the idea of their potential power, the sheer moxie of a woman who had been with Puff Daddy and was now flaunting her happy confidence with a white Boston guy who was at once handsome and smart/funny – was a red flag, and the media assassination velocity stepped up, and the beauty of their work in JG was eclipsed times three. By the ill and extraneous linking of JG with their previous movie together, by their zenith ‘hot’ factor (set them up to knock them down), and by a simmering anti-JLo & let’s raise Matt and mock Ben current.

I read the original script of JG. I did not know whether I was laughing through my tears, or crying through my belly-laughs. I know how good it is, and I have seen the director’s cut – even though my cluelessness – I had to ask Kevin ‘what does T.L.F mean?’ – might have made for an unnecessary change (mea culpa) in the message painted in the new home of Ollie & Gert, in the savagely cut Part One of JG. When test audiences responded to the survey questions (I saw the questionaire – it really ought to be posted on viewaskew!) I believe that there was such tremendous anti-JLo & Ben feeling at the time that the first half of the film was bloody sacrificed to focus on the second half. It is how I got to be in the first scene, however.

Furthermore the NYTimes reviewer is not to put it mildly a family man, and trashed every woman in the film, and was the expressly dead wrong person to write on it. I am a fatherless one. I stop in the street when I see little girls with their fathers. Every widower and every child who has not been given to know her parent – would have found goodness in this film. Word will get around. Affleck’s comedic chops and his wonderful scenes with Raquel were completely ignored. That does not mean they are not there. The-side-by-side scene with Will Smith speaks of the nature of fatherhood itself. The love that Bennifer had for each other within the media circus is there, if ‘only’ on film. It is there. It can be felt. When the People magazines are being used to light firewood, if the grid itself doesn’t go down, the love will be there to see.

Aren’t you glad you asked that question? Ask me what time it is – I’ll tell you how to make a swiss watch. Apologies.

CG: You played Lady Aberlin on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for many years. How did you get involved with that show and what did you learn from working with Fred Rogers?

BA: Followed a funny song (‘Boy From’) written for THE MAD SHOW under a pseudonym by Stephen Sondheim (only I didn’t know that – just HAD to sing it) – to Pittsburgh, where I met Fred Rogers and began to talk to Daniel Striped Tiger at the first Public TV station there. His Lady Judy Knaiz had just left Pittsburgh for New York, and I had made the opposite trip, and he needed a ‘Lady’ character, having dropped Josie Carey, the woman with whom he had first created The Children’s Corner (but I didn’t know about her either.) Don Francks (see one of the boxcar hobos in ‘I’m Not There’, see FINIAN’S RAINBOW, film version) had sung two wonderful songs in his Village club act, and I had asked about them, and they were by Fred Rogers – Don had played Mister Anybodys in the Canadian beginning of what was to become Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. But I digress.

I learned, in the Mel Brooks phrase, that ‘it’s good to be the King.’ I learned that the very rich are not like you and me. I learned the power of television for good and for intimacy. I learned to focus on one thing at a time. I learned that you can introduce a lot of good ideas as long as you don’t need to take credit for them. I learned that people by and large underestimate the skills and intelligence both of children and of so-called ‘children’s performers’. I learned that I might be typecast for life. I learned the power of faith and the discipline of commitment to an ideal. I learned how blessed I was to be working with others, I learned the dangers of believing in one’s own finite identity, and I learned over and over and over again to answer the question ‘What’s Fred Rogers really like?’

CG: Did you ever interact with a young Michael Keaton? I heard he got his start on that show.

BA: Michael ran the trolley for a while, and was also a member of the Flying Zookini (sp?) Brothers, the funniest members of which were actually on the floor crew of the Neighborhood (the unsung Niki The Frog Prince may be on Zack & Miri, for all I know – these were the guys that would wedge newspaper in Fred’s shoes while he was trying to locate his loafers and sing the Tomorrow song inside the final time crunch). Michael went to LA – where I played with him in an improv class taught by Betty Thomas (Hill St. Blues, directed the Howard Stern movie Private Parts) an alumni of Second Ciuty, Chi. Her idea of putting a cap on a scene was to get naked upside down in a folding chair.

A shorter answer to your questions would have been: yes & yes.

CG: What was your reaction when Michael became Batman?

BA: Glad for him, glad for the ‘son of Pittsburgh makes good’ angle. Pondered for a split-second the distance it might put between him and his former buddies, as ‘success’ often does. Kevin’s m.o. is most remarkable in this respect. Of course, Captain Marvel (‘SHAZAM!’), not Batman, was my fave. And Wonder Woman. I did form the idea that a Betty would usually lose to a Veronica…. Our mother had forbidden us comics, so we had to sneak off to read them at a friend’s house.

CG: Can you tell me about your new book, ‘The Diary of an Old Soul & The White Page Poems’? When and where will it be available?

BA: It’s two books in one. The idea of it is to read his, read mine, and to write yours. I believe it’ll be out first of 2008. There is a description of the book here…



It’s been a kind of 5 year detour/meditation. George MacDonald (check out a ‘children’s’ book called THE LIGHT PRINCESS) was C.S. Lewis’ spiritual mentor. In 1880 he self-published a book called ‘A Book of Strife in the form of The Diary of an Old Soul’ – a poem for every day of the year. On the opposite side of his poems, he set a blank white page, and the following Dedication invitation:

‘Sweet friends, receive my offering. You will find Against each worded page a white page set: – This is the mirror of each friendly mind Reflecting that. In this book we are met. Make it, dear hearts, of worth to you indeed: – Let your white page be ground, my print be seed, Growing to golden ears, that faith and hope shall feed.’

The dedication was only ever printed in this first edition. At the tail end of 2002 a member of the Wingfold cyber-group posted the original, and I began to answer a poem a day, for a year & 5 months. This is that book. Published strictly by grace.

CG: How easy a transition was it working for years on a children’s television show to the more adult oriented world of View Askew? Did some of the dialogue take getting used to?

BA: Bliss. It was like going from a cardboard playhouse that had gotten a little smaller every year – into the realm described in the song ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ – Viewaskew is the home I was born a tad too early to avail myself of, but by – what’s the term for the special loophole in DOGMA? – again, grace, I although relatively elder, get to be here. Here, where absolutely everything can be talked about – here, where the humor and language is commensurate in power with the incomprehensible state of ‘Reality’ we are asked in these times to attempt to absorb. It’s tonic.

CG: Do you have any new projects coming up?

BA: (prayerful silence)

CG: What is your favorite View Askew / Kevin Smith flick (Dogma / Jersey Girl excluded)?

BA: Red State. [ed. note – Interesting, as we hadn’t known she had read it — Will she potentially appear?]

CG: And finally, do you still keep in contact with anyone from View Askew?

BA: Sometimes, when the burden of gratitude gets just too heavy to bear, I’ll send a little e-mail in the direction of Holy Moobydom, and, between us? – the Buddy Christ and I are ‘like that’.

Thanks so much to Betty for her very insightful, detailed answers, and congrats to Chris on logging #20! More exclusive interviews from Chris are on the way to News Askew in 2008.

SModcast 42: SMerry Christmas –

In which our heroes ring those silver bells in celebration of the holidays, chatting up all things related to the season, from the little baby Jesus to Conan the Barbarian.

Looks like another super-sized edition of the show, free as always from Quick Stop Entertainment. Special holiday blessings to Smith and Mosier for taking the time out of their busy schedules to do what the TV networks aren’t doing — Bringing us fresh content over the holidays.

Characters speak in a stylized, heightened reality reminiscent of Kevin Smith’s mid-1990s stunners “Clerks,” “Mallrats” and “Chasing Amy.”

We’ll be back with regular updates tomorrow, including a new Chris Graves interview and more. Then, look for our “2007: The Year In Askew” wrap-up, always the largest post of the year, to arrive at the end of the week.

Thanks to all, and have a wonderful day.

In 2 weeks, it’ll be ten years since the first “Vulgarthon”.

Man, I feel old.

Check out this nearly-decade-old article on things that never really came to pass (like the View Askew Institute).

Ah, youth; where have you gone?

It’s neat looking back at articles like this, and also a fine opportunity to advertise our own News Askew archives. While there’s still some cleanup left to do on the massive archive of news we have here from the transition to the new software, you can indeed see we had the text of this sucker posted back in January of 1998. Very cool to see Ming’s stylized piece of this up with all the photos after all these years. Don’t forget, our archive search is speedier than ever and can also find you those tidbits from the past you might be looking to dig up!

Check our our own coverage of the first Vulgarthon as well, complete with our own photos and observations from that fantastic day.

CINEMABLEND – “Kevin Smith Wants You In His Next Movie”

“…It’s not clear exactly what sort of scene he’ll be using these extras in, or even how many he needs. He is pretty clear that those chosen aren’t getting more than minimum wage. He also asks that all photos included with your mail-in applications be fully clothed, so it’s probably safe to assume he doesn’t want you in the movie’s porno scenes, so… who cares why he wants you. It’s a new Kevin Smith movie, and you can be in it without showing your dick. Who the heck wouldn’t want to be a part of that? Seth Rogen wants to be in it. What, you’re better than Seth Rogen? I think not. “

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THE HOLLYWOOD NEWS – “Be In Kevin Smith’s Next Movie”

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JOBLO – “Be A Porno Extra”

Ed. note – Our pal JoBlo always comes through with the photos, this time with two very sexy shots of star Elizabeth Banks to further entice you!

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PASTE MAGAZINE – “Kevin Smith Wants You To Be In His Porno”

“…The job only pays minimum wage, but its spiritual dividends are virtually endless. Keep in mind that the filming takes place in Pittsburgh, so if you don’t live near there or have an extreme amount of free time on your hands, it’s probably not the job for you. Zack and Miri goes into production in January for a probable release in late 2008.”

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CINEMATICAL – “Who Wants To Be In A Kevin Smith Porno?”

“…Now, I’m pretty sure that they don’t need extras to be in the film’s porn, nor fluffers or anything of that sort, but if you’d like to be seen somewhere in the film, Smith is opening the floodgates. As the director says, it could be “just your shoulder, and only for a second,” but I’m sure that it would be a great experience.”

Kevin’s got the address and all the info you need at his blog. Yes, best of all, you even get PAID (our Dogma pay slips are still archived here on the site somewhere). We hope to see many a News Askew fan on the set come this January/February!

We’re sure that Marilyn and Jeremy would love to meet some of their View Askew fans and sign some stuff for you. Jason Mewes was scheduled for this at one point, but unfortunately had to cancel. We also heard rumblings of a possible Brian O’Halloran appearance, but that’s still up in the air. For a fan of the Askewniverse though, this is certainly a great chance to meet two icons from the first two flicks, and a spectacular chance to get that DVD or poster signed.

Speaking of Marilyn, her new horror film “Dead and Gone” is going through the contract stage, and set to hit video sometime in 2008. We’ll let you know when it’s available.