Hey folks, Harry here. Ol Blender Brain here has been working up this as a regular report beat for quite some time now. Seems he's been calling me about it for 3 or 5 years now, at least half a year. Now Mysterio is a huge Kevin Smith fan, and basically offered all sorts of things that his parents would be ashamed of him for, to get on set during this historic shoot. The last VIEW ASKEW flick. But my biggest concern about the report was SPOILERS. You see, for me, the concept of being onset for basically the entire shoot of a COMEDY, is a bit tough because... in a way... as a writer describing what you are seeing on a comedy film is gonna come out as describing jokes as they are played out piece by piece over and over and over and over and over again. Also, I know Kevin is doing his darnedest to not let this script get out (believe me, I know) and here is AICN's leading script monster, sitting in his house reading the damn thing. Well, the purpose of Mysterio's reports is not to spoil the whole film for you, but rather... to document and relate what it is like to be there as this film is going down. It'll be about placing you there in the dailies room, behind a monitor, at lunch, in that cardboard box in the alley with the teenag.... Well he's there to give you the vibe and the soul of what's going on with JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, and he'll be there every week.... Here's Mysterio..... Enjoy.....
‘JAY and SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK’ – Pre-Production Report
** AND CASTING NEWS FOR THOSE EXTRAS WHO APPLIED FOR 1/25 @
THE EL REY THEATRE **
‘CHASING KEVIN…’
Before we get into it, let me briefly re-cap with you how we got to this point. Back in January of 2000, I had met with Kevin Smith during a comic-con convention out here in L.A. to promote the ‘Clerks’ animated series. My motive was simple at the time – having had seen and read his ‘Daredevil’ comic run, I was a bit surprised to see that he chose to use me in his story arc, primarily with issues 6 & 7.
Although at first somewhat flattered, then a bit concerned with Quesada & Palmiotti’s pencil and tracing (oh, I’m sorry INKING) rendering of my facial features underneath (which didn’t do my mug much justice), I was also made aware of something called "likeness rights" which never much concerned me until I heard the numbers.
So with that in mind, I tracked Smith down and confronted him on the issue. We spoke for a while and came to an agreement in lieu of a cash settlement, that we’d do an exclusive interview together for AICN down the line. Something for the kids I thought, why not. I’m a charitable enough guy.
So comes April, where I call his office in to schedule the interview, to where it gets re-scheduled into May. May comes and just as we’re about to do it, Smith tells me that our own Elston Gunn surprisingly dropped into his comic book store, Jay & Silent Bob’s Secret Stash, in Red Bank, NJ. and drilled him with some questions to which he obliged and answered. The interview was then soon posted on the site. In fairness though, Elston did not know of our arrangement, and Smith dually apologized, and suggested that we still do the interview, but this time instead of over the phone, we do an on-set interview, near year’s end, when there’s a bit more to talk about during the course of filming "View Askew 5" (as it was back then still being referred to).
An intriguing offer I thought, and since Gunn’s questions we’re only a small piece of what I was planning to discuss, I considered it. But to go to Jersey for a couple days, deemed less likely and appealing to me as I’d have to shell out of pocket expenses for travel, room and food, and freeze my ass off in the course of doing so. Not to mention time lost from ventures needed to support my various gadget habits and myself.
Fast-forward to October, where Smith let’s me know that he’s in town casting the flick and scouting locations for a week. "Locations?" Apparently Smith tells me now they’re thinking of shooting a week of the production out here in LA-LA Land, and that I should give him a shout at the Four Seasons and get together with him for lunch during the week in between casting.
Note: for Smith’s own thoughts on the casting process, check out his ‘Psycomics’ column at NewsAskew.Com
in the archives section.
We do brunch mid-week, and have a nice one-on-one chat about the project (to which he reveals the plot to me), casting and locations - to where he now drops this little piece of info on me, "Looks like we’re gonna shoot the flick out here, and do the last week in New Jersey."
"A View Askew flick being filmed in Los Angeles?" I pondered.
Now all the sudden this piece is sounding a bit more enticing. No travel, no hotels, typical L.A. winter weather, the whole damn View Askew team in my backyard… but wait, I still, before committing to such a project, must of course read the script before I deem my time spent on this project worth covering. I mean if the script sucks, I’ll probably just do a day on-set get the interview and go. BUT… if it’s as promising as Smith is leading me to believe and the cast involved, then it’s definitely something worthy of covering for Smith fans (notice how I say ‘fans’) on AICN.
Jump to January 6th, this year. Smith and company are well into taking up residence in the valley, and this is the day that Smith invites me over to the house so that we can discuss coverage of the film, interviews and where I can read the latest draft of the script. I arrange to meet him at the house at 4pm that Saturday.
The house is but a mere 10 minute drive from my quarters, and once I arrive, I’m greeted by Kev’s lovely wife, Jennifer who shows me upstairs to where Kev is just finishing up getting hair extensions put in for ‘Silent Bob’. As I stand watching, no sooner do I turn around do I find Jason (‘Jay’) Mewes standing in the doorway behind me. Jen introduces me to Jay, and tells me that he’s staying with them in the guesthouse in the back. I ask Jay how long he’s been in town for and how rehearsals have been so far, and we briefly converse until Kev wraps up and Jay steps in for a hair trim. He expresses concern that Kev doesn’t have too much cut from the back, as he’s let his hair grow out for about a year.
As Jay gets worked on, Kev and I decide to take a walk around the ‘hood and talk. It’s during this walk that I express concern that we’re just one mere week away from shooting and that I still need to read the script that he’s been promising me for the past weeks. He tells me the reason I haven’t yet read it is that he’s been re-writing it up to this point and wants me to see what will essentially be the shooting draft.
READING THE SCRIPT…
Once we get back to the house, Kev sits me down and hands me the script, freshly dated January 4, 2001, coming in at a lean 91 pages.
Now as I read, Kev makes a run to the store and later comes in to check on my reading process. "What page you on brother?" he remarks. "41", I say. "That’s all?" Kev says. To which I try and explain that comedy scripts are the most difficult to read since a lot depends on timing, and that I’m trying to visualize Jay’s line readings and such.
I later finish, and take the draft with me into the kitchen where Kev is sitting. I sit the script down in front of him, and he motions me to follow him outside onto the front porch were we sit and talk about my thoughts and his on the script.
It’s clear from reading the script as to why Kev wants to keep as much of the script and plot under wraps as possible, and I whole-heartedly agree. In some ways I myself regret having read it, but since Kev is giving myself and AICN exclusive all-access on set, its inevitable to have some part of the project spoiled if you’re on-set everyday. It just goes with covering so much territory as this.
I assure Kev that in my reports not to discuss plot details or spoilers in my coverage for now. I also discuss this issue over with Harry and we all reach the conclusion that since I alone am the only one directly outside of production that has indeed read the script (and even Harry has not), that it is best not talked about in detail at this point.
But c’mon ya know I have to at least mention something about the script! So here’s what little I can divulge about it.
Is the script any good?
Yes, it is.
Does this script indeed end the ‘Jersey-saga’?
Yes, I’m afraid it does.
What else does the script entail that is on par with
Smith’s past films?
Well, pretty much everything is thrown in here but the kitchen sink. It is sure to please die-hard Smith fans that’ve waited to Smith to return to his comedy roots of ‘CLERKS’ and ‘MALLRATS’. One thing I can add about this flick is that it is indeed raunchier than anything he’s written or done before, and the comedy and plot much broader. And there’s not one serious note in it. It’s clearly steadfast in funny-country here kids. So if this is what you’re looking for, then fear not, it’s all in here.
Are past character and other trademarks represented in the
script?
Um, yes, of course. But while this film is sure to please most fans, there will always be those few that’ll find some beef against it. There always are. And just a note, Kev does and has kept the fans in mind when writing this flick, and it is indeed hopefully going to be a lasting gift to those that have stuck by him since those ‘CLERKS’ days not-so-long ago.
But seeing the casting of this, it seems almost like a
recipe for disaster. I mean he’s got SNL people, the
"American Pie" cast, and WB people in it. He’s sold out
hasn’t he?
No. Absolutely not. Sure there are mutual concessions and arguments made when you’re dealing with the studios, but Kev has stuck by his guns and is REAL happy with the cast that he has, and trust me or not, when the film opens August 10th, you’ll see why. Besides I’m sure these same doubts were raised when Kev cast Jeremy London, Shannon Doherty, Jason Lee and Ben Affleck in ‘MALLRATS’ too. And one wonders where the likes of Affleck and Lee are today.
So with the script looking to be in good shape, and production moving steadily forward, we begin "pre-shoots" next Saturday, before officially lensing on the 17th.
WHAT’S LEFT TO TALK ABOUT IN FUTURE INSTALLMENTS…
Now if I can’t talk about the script or plot now, what else can I talk about on future production reports to come?
Well that’s going to be the real challenge here. How do you talk about something you basically can’t talk about? Well I’m sure there will be plenty of behind-the-scenes stuff to cover, as well as hopefully some off the hook, on-set interviews with some of the cast and crew (schedules providing of course), and exclusive pictures that’ll show up. But it’s a 10-week shoot and there’s a lot of time left where pretty much anything can happen. So with weekly coverage’s (hopefully every Monday) in mind for the next 9-10 weeks, check back here to see all that’s happening and what it entails to bring ‘Jay and Silent Bob’ to life on the big screen. Who knows, you might also just learn a thing or too about what REALLY goes on behind the scenes!
-Mysterio
Reach Blender Brain (aka Mysterio) by clicking here... and no matter how much you beg or offer in cash he won't tell you a thing about the script!
** EXTRAS CASTING INFO ** (just added 1/22/01):
OK, it seems that a lot of you have questions about just what the hell’s going on with the casting situation for this Thursday at the EL REY Theatre in Los Angeles.
You’ve called the aforementioned number, submitted your photo, and have waited patiently and now rather impatiently by the phone to hear if you’ve made the cut. Well I took this concern straight to the man himself tonight, and he took the questions at hand directly to the extras casting director and came back to me with this answer.
Basically if you’ve submitted your photo and called during the time the phone number for extras casting was posted, it’s a pretty safe bet you’re in. Now sure pretty safe may not sound much like a "for sure" right now, but Kev has assured me that you folks WILL be getting called; probably as early as tomorrow with the details.
So sit tight for just a bit longer, and breathe a short sigh of relief in knowing that you all have not been forgotten.
-Mysterio
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