SModcast 45: The End of the SMod-fast

In which our heroes finally appease the hunger with chatter about where they’ve been, what they’d do if they were “Lost”, and how they ride their mellow.

Don’t miss the return of SModcast, available for immediate, free download exclusively at Quick Stop Entertainment.

Also, a sidenote - For those of you who traditionally got the feed automatically via iTunes, that feed will no longer update until Friday. This is to allow faster downloading for those of you who want the show right away, and less slowage on Monday mornings when everyone was doing a direct download AND an iTunes download at the same time. Makes sense, right? Welcome back, Scott & Kevin!

Quick Stop Entertainment will have its very own panel at this year’s NEW YORK COMIC-CON, packed with plenty of surprises, prizes, reveals, and even a live performance from cyber-troubadors Jonathan Coulton and Paul & Storm.

Join us for an exclusive preview of Kevin Smith’s upcoming ZACK & MIRI MAKE A PORNO,starring Seth Rogen & Elizabeth Banks, as well as a few additional surprises sure to wow you, straight from the fine folks at QuickStopEntertainment.com.

Be there…

Where? New York Comic-Con, at the Javits Center
Room: 1E16

When? Saturday, April 19
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Will you personally do a lot of interviews and so on to promote this film or will it be more the actors for interviews etc?

Kevin said: “I imagine I’ll be out there doing interviews to promote the flick, as per usual.”

When do you have to have the movie ‘locked’?

Kevin said: “Like, the day before it hits theaters (some folks make changes right up until then). But we’re scheduled to be done by second week of September.”

Any talk on Z&M being part of any of the film festivals this year?

Kevin said: “The only fest it’d be eligible for, schedule-wise, would be Toronto. But there’s been no talk about doing any fest screenings, really.”

Are you working on Z&M daily right now? What I mean is there something that needs doing every day?

Kevin said: “Today, we broke the film down into reels to send to the composer so he can get to work on some cues, then laid in some CG shots. Earlier this morning, I was cutting the ‘net teasers.”

Any chance if the test screenings go well that the release date might be bumped up to late summer/early fall?

Kevin said: “Nope. Too crowded there.”

Will you publish the script? No, I’m not looking to read it before it comes out, I mean “eventually”.

Kevin said:: “I’m game to do so.”

How did the Weinstein co. set your budget? Did you say “I need $25 Million” or did they just toss a briefcase at you full of cash?

Kevin said: “Scott and Laura budgeted the flick based on five day work weeks and salary projections, and we arrived at $25mil (which is actually kinda cheap).”

Why is this budget set so much higher than your previous films (excluding Jersey Girl)? Did the Weinstein Co. like the script more, or did you know you would need more money than on previous films?

Kevin said: “To be fair, it’s only five mil more than “Jay and Silent Bob” (and ten million less than “Jersey Girl”). And most of that price difference, as you might imagine, has more to do with salaries than anything else.

“Clerks II” cost five million largely because a) we were in one location the whole time, with limited movement, and b) nobody really got paid (I did the movie for free, when all was said and done). This flick’s a bit more complicated than that flick, and it stars a guy who gets more than scale at this point, so the budget’s bound to be bigger.”

What ever happened to the Chasing Amy 10th Anniversary DVD?

Kevin said: “The Disney/Weinstein rift happened. We were game, but the folks at Disney Home Video slowed it all to a stand-still. Jerks.”

So, Kevin’s got the internet teasers for the film cut, which is exciting — We bet those drop on us sometime in April, as it’s going to be tough to keep them from the world, we’re guessing.

As for the Chasing Amy 10th Anniversary DVD project, we’re still hopeful that Kevin finds a way to release just the supplemental DVD to go with the original Criterion disc, as once planned. The reuinion Q&A is something we know you’d all enjoy, along with enough other new stuff to make what many argue is the best View Askewniverse film of the bunch even sweeter for home viewing. We’ll keep our eyes open on that project, and of course be back with you as more news on “Zack And Miri Make a Porno” breaks.

Visit the official View Askew and Zack & Miri sites to see for yourself. We’ve also added copies of these images here, and to the Multimedia area of our production site for the film.

Q: At this point when you are making cuts? Is it a case of a second here and 2 seconds there? Or is it more about cutting lines of dialogue?

Kevin said: “A little of both.”

Q: Do you think it would be likely at some point to add cut footage back in or can you only imagine the film getting shorter from here?

Kevin said: “Nah. In this process, the clock supposed to go one way only: down.”

Q: So, who has seen it so far? Who’s next?

Kevin said: From end-to-end, in the last two weeks: Scott, Carla (our exec), Seth, Jeff, Jon (our old exec), Phil (agent), The guys working on the poster (from the marketing firm).”


Q: You think you’ll stop at 1:45 for now?

Kevin said: “I do. This is what we’ll test at.”

Q: I heard a little while back that Regal theaters was going to start showing Redband trailers before all their (R rated?) flicks. If so, will you be shooting for a redband before Pineapple Express, or will you still save it for the ‘net?

Kevin said: “We’ll be shooting for a redband trailer, for sure. Where it winds up is anybody’s guess (although, it’ll be before an R rated flick, to be sure).”

Q: I wonder if you felt that by stopping Seth ad-libbing it would harm his performance, it would, in a way, constrain him?

Kevin said: “Nah. I just always figured “It can’t hurt, and if it does, I can just cut it out.” Dude’s amazing at it, though, so it was never a tough decision.”

Q: Now that your nearing your final cut, has much of the ad-libbed material remained in the flick?

Kevin said: “About five/ten percent. The cut flick stays pretty true to the script.”

Q: Knowing that Z&M will be a sex comedy with heart like your previous flicks, how much further do you feel Z&M will push the limits than your previous movies have done?

Kevin said: “Remember the donkey show? Child’s play, in comparison.”

Q: Gerry Bednob is listed in the cast list on the IMDb page. How big is his part in the film - just a cameo or a more significant role?

Kevin said: “He’s in three scenes, in varying degrees of screen time.”

Q: Did you write the character with him in mind?

Kevin said: “Yes.”Q: How did you come to cast him?

Kevin said: “Role called for an Indian. Not only was he the only Indian I knew of who was age-appropriate, but he’s also insanely funny (as a stand-up, he used to go by the stage name of “The Turban Cowboy”).”

Q: Did you cast Tom Savini in the flick because of the story’s location or did it have anything to do with his visit to the Dogma set ten years ago?

Kevin said: “We were in Pittsburgh, he was in Pittsburgh. It just worked out.”

Q: Was special make up effects a field you were interested in before writing/directing?

Kevin said: “When I was twelve/thirteen, yeah. I was a big splatter fan.”


Q: So while you were working with Tom Savini on Zack and Miri, did you happen to mention “Red State” to him?

Kevin said: “Never occurred to me to do so.”


Q: Any chance that Bob Hawk will preview the movie?

Kevin said: “Very good chance, actually.”

Q: Any idea yet about how wide of a release (How many screens) Z+M will get?

Kevin said: “I’m thinking a bunch.”

Q: Do you think this movie would’ve turned out the same, had you not made Clerks II?

Kevin said: “Good question. No - not at all. The “Clerks II” and “Reaper” shoots really informed the look of this new flick.”

Q: Is Miri short for anything?

Kevin said: “Miriam.”

Q: Is the “rated X” logo as seen on the website going to be the official film logo or is it just something knocked up to use in the interim?




Kevin said: “It was the production logo: on all the stationary, the chair-backs, the slate. Doubt it’ll be used for the poster or anything.”

Found another three minutes. As of 3/29, the flick is now 1 hour, 45 minutes long - eight minutes longer than “Clerks II” but at least five minutes shorter than “Chasing Amy” (once the credits are added in).

And now, the Q&A:

Any plans on a series of Z&M Inaction Figures down the road a piece? Or is this Classified?

Kevin said: “I don’t see it happening.”

Will Z&M be the first VA film to be released on Blu-Ray?

Kevin said: “No clue, sir.”

At this stage, is your next project (I presume “Red State”) becoming more paramount in your mind?

Kevin said: “Nah. It’ll be “Zack and Miri” for some time.”

How much of what you cut will you keep for an extended/Directors cut? And will you show it at Vulgarthon 2010?

Kevin said: “I won’t reinstate the cut stuff back into the flick. It’ll just wind up in the deleted scenes section of the DVD.”

Hey Kevin. I know that you closed the book on the Askewniverse. I’m curious if any of the new movies–Zack and Miri/Red State/etc.–will have any links with each other going forward? Not in a way that they’re all in their own world, but perhaps incidential things.

Kevin said: “Nope.”

Do you have any say in what creative group or company works on your films?

Kevin said: “Of course.”

How much collaboration do you have with the marketing people?

Kevin said: “This time, much much more than last time.”

I felt underwhelmed by the spots produced for C2. I know it’s a difficult job with only 30-60 seconds but they all felt rushed and really missed the essence of what the movie was all about.

Kevin said: “I agree. That won’t happen again.”

Will you be pursuing a podcast commentary, since this should be bigger than Clerks II?

Kevin said: “I think we’ll do it unofficially - like via SModcast, or something.”

Thanks once again, fans, for the good questions, and of course to Kevin for taking the time to answer. With this flick, it looks like a determined turn away from the Askewniverse, as well as a new way to market — We’re very excited to see how this one plays out. Of course, we’ll be there the whole way.

As of this writing, I was able to chop out an additional twelve minutes. Current running time is 1:48. I think that’ll be it ’til after the screening - which is now looking to be late April, as we wanna have Jim (Venable) do a few score cues (rather than temp-track in music from some other flick).

We’re already looking forward to not only the movie, but seeing all this deleted stuff on the DVD! And now, today’s round of Q&A:

ZACK AND MIRI MAKE A PORNO

Any ounce of possibility that Z&M could feed into another flick (sequel or related “world” in the View Askewniverse vein)?

Kevin said: “None.”

I’m just wondering what it’s been like for you, as Jay’s friend, his director, and his co-star, to watch him progress from the energetic but nervous kid in Clerks to the scene-stealing dialogue-machine that is Jay in Dogma and J&SBSB?

Kevin said: “It’s been great. I feel like a proud parent.”

How do you feel he’s progressed from Clerks 2 to Z&M?

Kevin said: “He’s a real, live actor now (contrary to what Neil Patrick Harris may feel). I don’t have to rehearse him to death to get his tone/inflection right anymore; he just gets it now.”

Aside from Rogen and Banks, who gets the most screen time in Z&M?

Kevin said: “Craig.”

It’s pretty excellent news that Elizabeth has been cast as W’s wife isn’t it? Did you know during filming Z & M that she was up for the role?

Kevin said: “The day I got back to L.A., she texted me to say she’d gotten the part. I’m ecstatic for her, as I (mostly) love Stone.”

Do show your friends the entire movie every time you do edits, or just those certain scenes?

Kevin said: “It depends. Mos is the only one who watches the flick with any regularity, but since he’s watched it from end-to-end recently, he’ll just look at stuff I cut down or re-cut now.”

Have you approached any artists yet to put their music in the flick?

Kevin said: “Not yet.”

I was just wondering when we may see some Z&M merchandise available?

Kevin said: “I dunno, but don’t expect a shit-ton.”

Would there be any chance of footage being shown at ComiCon in Hall H?

Kevin said: “Probably a scene or two.”

Were you conciously not trying to include many actors from your previous films as this is a movie set outside the J&SB universe?

Kevin said: “Yes.”

How big of a part does Tom Savini have in the film? And how was it to work with him?

Kevin said: “One scene. It was cool. He’s a nice guy.”

Do you plan to show any other filmmakers the movie for outside professional feedback, like you did Rob Rod and Quentin?

Kevin said: “Edgar [Wright] and Richard [Kelly] would probably be up first, I’d imagine.”

Did you shoot alternate coverage for an alternative PG/non-cable version of the movie?

Kevin said: “Nope.”

Are all of the character names accurate on the IMDB page?

Kevin said: “There is no “Mall Maniac.” And the guy listed as playing him isn’t familiar to me at all, either.”

Is it significant that Jason’s and Traci’s are “unknown”?

Kevin said: “Not really. They just haven’t gotten out yet, I guess.”

Does this early buzz encourage you to step further away from the your past films and open you up to more possibilities for the future?

Kevin said: “The Askewniverse films are done, sir. I’ve no choice at this point but to step away. Next flick’s a big, big step away.”

RED STATE

Did working on this movie give you any ideas for Red State? Maybe cast/crew members, locations, etc. that might work for that movie?

Kevin said: “Kenny, our effects guy, told me that Iowa was instating a 50% tax rebate.”

So, there ya have it! A View Askew production possibly coming to IOWA? Plus, a low swag count for the new flick seeming to go along with Kevin’s credo of taking a different road as far as promotions this time. We’ll be back with more news as it breaks — Kudos to the fans for their continued great questions, and to Kevin for the insightful, spoiler-free answers.

Check out articles from The Hollywood Reporter, Video ETA, Coming Soon, and Empire Online for the evidence.

Big congrats to Ms. Banks for this great achievement. After seeing her past success and hearing all the great buzz from the “Zack & Miri” camp, we’re sure she’ll knock this out out of the park. Banks sure is becoming an “It” girl in Hollywood these days, signing onto more projects all the time — Kevin and his colleagues sure can spot talent, can’t they?

Everybody is asking about Rogen and possible future roles, but what about Elizabeth Banks. Did you enjoy working with her?

Kevin said: “She’s, hands-down, the best actress I’ve ever worked with.”

Hey kevin how was it working with Seth?

Kevin said: “Always a pleasure. Many days, I’d be on the verge of throwing out a suggestion from the monitor, and he’d suddenly do what I was thinking, without me uttering a word. Love that guy.”

Would you say this is one of his best performances?

Kevin said: “I would, yes.”

Kevin said: “You start seeing him in the flick from about the half hour mark on. And yes - I wrote it with him in mind.”

Kevin, do you also have a lot of say on the theatrical trailer and TV spots for “Zack and Miri”?


Kevin said: “Sadly, not as much say as the test audiences. Yes - studios even test their trailers and TV spots.”

The wait seems forever, but each each passing day, the latest View Askew feature from Kevin Smith gets closer. We’ll keep ya tuned in.