Kevin opens with:

“At one a.m. this morning, I finally got the flick down to an even two hours (there is, however, and additional four minute epilogue that runs during the credits, but that doesn’t count at the moment). Two hours is the length I was gunning for for the boardie screening. This is not to say the theatrical running time will be two hours or anything close to it. But two hours is a good starting mark in advance of the standard test screening process. The aim is to use said boardie screening to look for other cuts - because right now, the fat’s trimmed away; any further cuts are all about story and jokes, and I’d rather a mass audience reaction let me know how much is needed/what can go.

Screening date will be chose soon.”

And now, the Q&A…

Now you have the film down to 2 hours, will that be it for editing untill the View Askew screening, or do you still feel there is more you can lose?

Kevin said: “There’s always more to lose. I’m sure I’ll cut into it again before the screening.”

Would you consider releasing at 2 hours? Or do you feel that is too long?

Kevin said: “Maybe… maybe… two hours with credits.”

How long would the film be if you left all the deleted scenes in?

Kevin said: “Over two and a half, I believe.”

All this talk about running time leads me to wonder when you wrote the initial script for Z&M, how long did you think it was going to be using the 1 page = 1 minute rule (if such rule actually applies)?”

Kevin said: “Shooting draft was 110 pages.”

Will you show it to anyone prior to the screening? If so, who and would you edit it further based on their comments?

Kevin said: “Sure. Carla and Scott will watch it today. Marketing people watch it Monday (though more for their print campaign than to offer cut suggestions).”

In regards to Mewes, did you write the character specifically for him, or did he have to “earn” it?

Kevin said: “I wrote it for Mewes. It was actually the role Mewes was born to play, in a weird way. Even moreso than Jay.”

Any idea when a poster may be lurking its way around display cases in movie theaters?

Kevin said: “Poster shoot for Rogen and Banks in mid-April (everyone else has been shot already, while we were still in production). I imagine the poster will be up by June/July.”

Who’s doing the FX?

Kevin said: “Joe Grossberg - the guy who did our CG on “Jay and Silent Bob” and “Clerks II”.”


How dependent on the success of “Pineapple Express are you as far as marketing budget, screen count, etc.?”

Kevin said: “Obviously, it’s good for us if that flick does well. But as for being dependent on it, as regards marketing budget/screen count? Not at all. Those figures will have been decided on long before “Express” hits theaters.”

I wonder if Katie Morgan will get some more mainstream films because of Z&M?

Kevin said: “I’d be surprised if she didn’t. She’s pretty funny in the flick. When Harvey watched the first few cut scenes and met Katie, he said “Holy shit, she’s Judy Holliday.”"

When do commentary tracks usually get recorded? Before release? Who’s your ideal team for this commentary track (or which teams if you plan more than one)?

Kevin said: “All involved would be nice.”

Will you have the Commentary Video recorded like with Clerks X? That was one of my favorite parts.

Kevin said: “Maybe. Depends if I’m feeling too fat that day.”

More tidbits from the man as they come in.

Josh recommends making reservations, especially for the Pittsburgh club, as the place is small and they’ll sell out. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the upcoming shows:

WED 3/26 10:00 PM - New York, NY - Under St. Marks Theatre - $10 plus free booze!
FRI 3/28 10:00 PM - Meadville, PA - Allegheny College, FREE SHOW!
SAT 3/29 8:00 PM - Pittsburgh, PA - Slapsticks Comedy Loft - $10/$12/$25
SUN 3/30 7:15 PM - Belle Vernon, PA - Rostraver Ice Garden - $10/$20
SAT 4/5 7:00 PM - Philadelphia, PA - The Urban Saloon - $15 plus free drink & food!

Stop up, say hi to Josh, wish him luck with “Zack & Miri” and tell him that News Askew sent ya!

Any chance you’d do Q&A’s at the Arclight like you did with C2 the first day(s) of release?

Kevin says: “Sure.”

But do you think after this, you’d be more willing to work with unfamilar actors as your leads? Or do you think that this movie has created a new family of people you’d want to put in movies in the future?

Kevin says: “Yes and yes.”

Will there be a San Diego Screening like the C2 Q&A and screening there was a couple years back?

Kevin says: “Doubtful that we’ll have a whole screening there.”

About the footage you spoke about on smodcast, (the one that had a mark on it) did you ever decide what to do about it?

Kevin says: “Fixing it digitally was gonna be too expensive, so we found a little time during the last two weeks and just re-shot it.”

I remember listening to O & A on 92.3 while you were shooting the movie and you were supposed to call in and talk about Jim Nortons performance…may I ask How Mr. Norton did?

Kevin says: “It’s only a cameo, but he knocked it out of the park.”

And there ya have it! More direct answers from Kevin Smith as they arrive.

Release dates are subject to change, and this is WAY early and not officially confirmed. Some sites are speculating they don’t like the idea of having to compete with horror. However, horror fare hasn’t been doing too well in the season at the box office these days. Heck, they moved Rob Zombie’s “Halloween” way OFF the actual holiday weekend last year. And have you watched the latest “Saw” offerings? Ouch. Auds may be up for something different, especially young couples looking for date nights. Rogen, Banks, and the Smith name should prove a big draw on any weekend, including this one.

All that said, having run this site for over ten years now, we’ve seen View Askew flicks move more than once before hitting theaters. So, for now, PENCIL this one in, and we’ll of course keep you posted on any changes (or if the date starts looking even more official). Other sites sharing the excitement over having a date to look forward to include Geek Force Five, Cinemablend, and /Film. If Kevin confirms or denies the date, we’ll tell ya here.

on average, how many hours a day were you working on Z&M during the shoot?

Kevin says: “Around nineteen/twenty hours a day. Seriously.”

What was it like working with Tyler Labine again? How big a role does he have in Z&M if you can equate it to screen time?

Kevin says: “It’s only a few, but very memorable, minutes.”

Will Jeff Anderson be playing the smart arse funny friend role, similar to Randal’s charcter?”

Kevin says: “His character can be a smart-ass, and in the flick, he is a friend; yet I’d be hard-pressed to describe his role as the smart-ass funny friend. I don’t know how I’d describe him in the flick, except to say he’s one of the wack pack.”

Are there any other actresses from the adult industry in this film besides Traci Lords and Katie Morgan?

Kevin says: “Nope - just Katie (Traci hasn’t made an adult film in twenty years).”

I am wondering if you will cameo in this flick.

Kevin says: “I do not cameo in the flick. Neither does Mos.”

Will you use porn style music or existing songs?

Kevin says: “Both.”

What’s the next step after you have a rough cut of the film ready?

Kevin says: “Start showing the shit out of it: to the cast, the marketing people, the publicity folks, the chairman(men), etc. - all in an effort to make sure it’s down to the fighting weight before we start testing it.”

You said it won’t be ou tin the UK till christmas maybe after? Why so long? Have you considered a world wide release date to counter the DVD pirates?

Kevin says: “I’ve got no control over overseas release dates; never have, never will. But based on past experience, the UK release always seems to happen months after the domestic release. So I’m thinking you guys won’t get it ’til after Christmas. I really hope I’m wrong.”

You think you might cut a ‘net teaser a la Clerks II?

Kevin says: “Naturally. A few, I’m thinking.”

Is Z&M getting a Weinstein Co release or a Dimension?

Kevin says: “Last I heard, it was both.”

Thanks again to Mr. Smith for taking the time to get back in touch with the fans after what sounded like an incredibly busy couple of months. It’s nice to see the posts back, and we’re of course eagerly anticipating the triumphant return of SModcast, perhaps as early as next week!

Film Notes: After filming here, breaking up hard to do for ‘Zack’ gang

The cocoon, plus the cast and crew for Kevin Smith’s “Zack & Miri Make a Porno,” are gone.

“The whole show, we’ve been kind of in a cocoon and not really talking to anybody,” the writer-director said earlier this week in Monroeville as filming wrapped. “But it was incredibly productive for us to work that way.”

Moviegoers and members of the media generally left the production alone, even though some knew about locations or spotted tell-tale trucks around places like Monroeville, McKeesport, McKees Rocks and Hazelwood.

“Everyone was really nice about it. If we were shooting any place else, we wouldn’t have gotten the kind of privacy that a movie like this kind of requires. There are a lot of naked people walking around.”

Still, Smith added, “Some people think it’s a nonstop party, but you’re talking about 12-, 15-hour days that take their toll. You’ve got a lot to accomplish in a very short window.”

Nevertheless, he managed to finish two days ahead of schedule, which prompted Seth Rogen to chime in: “All I keep thinking is I wish I did more takes. That’s about a thousand more jokes.”

He and Elizabeth Banks star in the comedy — dirty, sexy but sweet, Smith promises — about two friends who decide to make a porn movie for the money but discover they have feelings for each other.

Rogen was a trouper, returning to Pittsburgh the day after he was a presenter with fellow funnyman Jonah Hill at the 80th Academy Awards. “It was a little hectic, schedule-wise, because I had to fly out of here and fly back and I worked on Monday, but not till the afternoon.”

Smith said Rogen could have insisted he pick another scene to shoot that day, but he didn’t. “He was a true champion, man,” the director said.

As for Rogen’s red-carpet and Oscar experience: “It was really weird. It was a lot of fun. I kept expecting someone to ask me to leave. It was great, I was shocked that they asked us to do it. The whole thing was just kind of thrilling, it was really cool. … It was great watching Philip Seymour Hoffman not laugh at my jokes.”

Oscar-winner Hoffman, a nominee for “Charlie Wilson’s War,” was among the A-listers in the front rows of the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood. “Never before have I not made such famous people laugh,” Rogen quipped.

Smith and the table of Pittsburghers had no trouble laughing. In fact, the director said of Rogen and Banks: “Both of them were, hands down, the two best actors I’ve ever worked with. I know you’re supposed to say that cause it’s the current movie but I’ve worked with [expletive] Matt Damon.”

Not to mention the likes of Alan Rickman, Rogen volunteered. “Make a list of all the people we’re better than,” he said, laughing. (Barbara Vancheri, Post-Gazette movie editor)

Want more press, photos, and multimedia from “Zack & Miri Make a Porno”? Don’t miss our production site for the film, where we continue to archive every article, post, picture, and more.

Kevin,you planning on taking this film to Sundance or Cannes?

Kevin says: “If we come out in the fall, it’ll be too early to take it to Sundance. And I can’t imagine it going to Cannes in May (next May), as we will have already been released domestically seven/eight months prior.”

Kevin, I asked in another tread, but you might have missed it– any plans on being at Wizard World Chicago in June? Seems like prime time and place for a Z&M Q&A.

Kevin says: “Maybe. Too early to tell.”

If someone booked you for a speaking appearance before Z&M got released would you be able to bring it and show it?

Kevin says: “In this, the age of easily affordable video cameras and cell phones that shoot media, I doubt I’d bring the whole movie. Maybe a clip.”

I guess I should ask it as: Can someone book an appearance of you and Z&M before it’s release date?

Kevin says: “Me? Sure. I’m doing a Q&A in North Jersey in early May. The movie? No.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen you do a Q&A where you’ve brought clips or anything, with the exception of V’thons.

Kevin says: “In the old days, I used to do it a lot. But even as recently as “Clerks II”, I brought a clip to various cons in advance of the flick.”

Is there going to be an NY screening like C2?

Kevin says: “Not likely. We only did that because Harvey wasn’t at that first L.A. screening. We won’t make that mistake this time.”

Probably too early to ask (and it’s probably been asked before too), but what are the odds of a Vulgarthon or similar this year with Z+M playing? What about a Vulgarthon without Z+M?

Kevin says: “Doubtful.” and “Not likely.”

Question about the LA screening: How long would there be between the announcement of the screening (the chance to put requests in) and the screening itself? Couple of weeks, like the ‘Clerks II’ LA one, or longer (I think it was about a month), like the NY ‘Clerks II’ showing?

Kevin says: “Couple of weeks, I’m guessing. I’ll know more by the end of this week - as the Avid arrives tomorrow, and I can go back to editing on Tuesday. There’re only a few scenes left to put together, and from there, it’s all about fine-cutting. If the fine-cutting is taking longer than anticipated, the proposed screening won’t happen ’til May-ish, I’m thinking. Regardless, you’ll know more in a week.”

What made you think about putting Katie Morgan in a movie, other than her ties to porn?

Kevin says: “It actually had very little to do with her day job. She’s just a really funny actress.”

At risk of being Smith-smacked and running away crying, I have to ask…good sir, do you have plans to attend New York and/ord San Diego Comic Cons this year?

Kevin says: “Definitely San Diego.”

Having worked with Seth now would you change you mind about Green Hornet?

Kevin says: “He’s got the “Hornet” thing under control, sir. Certainly doesn’t need my help there.”

More news from Kevin as we see it — Keep your browsers at the ready.

Q: Will composer James Venable be doing the score?

Smith: “I think so.”

Q: Who sits with you when you edit?

Smith: “Nobody. It’s like writing, so I’m alone. Once the Avid gets back to the office, I’ll be burying myself in the editing room again, cutting and slashing and getting the flick ready to show (some of) ya’ll in April/May.”

Q: How much footage do you load into the Avid? Just what you think you’ll need, or everything that was shot?

Smith: “Selected takes from each set-up. But generally, I’ll have Patrick load everything but the takes that may have had a technical error (and I’ll even load those sometimes, if the foul-up doesn’t happen ’til midway through or something).”

Q: As you edit, are you consciously thinking about certain areas that might have problems getting the film an R by the MPAA and planning alternate edits of scenes in case they refuse that rating? Or is that something you’re not going to bother with until you submit it for a rating?

Smith: “The first big hurdle will be getting it to an acceptable running time. If there’s an MPAA battle to get into, I’ll worry about it then.”

Q: As production evolved, did the story change at all to the point where certain scenes were combined or omitted or altered just as a result of seeing things played out in person or on the Avid?

Smith: “There were two occasions when this happened…

1) We were on the first shot of what was to be a long set-up day, with another day of exterior set-ups leading into the scene in question. And the more I thought about it, it suddenly didn’t seem necessary. So one set-up into the scene, I iced it all, compressed some info, and went with something else entirely. Works much better than the other thing would’ve.

2) Right before we did the cast/crew screening, I showed the flick to some of the keys and inner circle. With the movie fast cresting toward two hours in already cut-together scenes, and two weeks or so left of shooting, I was looking for stuff to drop. Milos (our first A.D.) suggested dropping a scene that, while funny, didn’t move the plot forward one iota. It was a good cut. Instead, I wrote a much shorter scene that actually lent something to the characters’ development and dovetailed nicely into the third act.”

Q: So do you have any idea when “Zack & Miri Make a Porno” will be open to general public?

Smith: “In the fall, I think.”

Q: Any idea of when the movie will hit UK cinemas? Any chance of London Film Festival?

Smith: “Hopefully before Christmas (though I doubt it) and no clue.”

Q: Did Affleck and Lee make cameos in this one?

Smith: “Negative. There was really nothing for them to do in this one.”

Q: Did you shoot alot of stuff for DVD extras (Behind the Scenes, making of’s etc.) for when it eventually comes out on DVD?

Smith: “I didn’t, but then I never do. I shoot for the film. Whatever’s left over goes on the DVD. Joey and Zak, however, shot boatloads, I believe.”

Q: Now that Zack and Miri is completed are you going straight into Red State or will you wait a little while?

Smith: “As soon as we can scrape the budget together, I’d like to get going.”

Finally today, here’s the first of what we hope will be many more looks at the production design for the film — A logo from the “Bean-N-Gone” coffee shop where Zack works. We always dig the unique look that the design team puts into View Askew’s films, creating their own little world and making for some nice easter eggs to spot in the background. We’ll see what else shows up in the coming weeks.