Post by MALCOLM XERXES™ on Nov 20, 2004 23:33:33 GMT -5
SAT. NOV. 20/2004/24:36 E.S.T.
It happened that I was patronising THE SILVER SNAILTM Comic Shop on Queen Street West in Toronto, earlier this afternoon (WED. NOV. 17/2004), which happened to be MR. KEVIN SMITH'S day off from the 2-part episode of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATIONTM that he & MR. JASON MEWES are filming here.
The shop was unusually quiet for a Wednesday afternoon (New Comics Day!), so when I was asked by the owner's son whether I knew who KEVIN SMITH was, I replied in the affirmative, to which he responded:
"Well, he's @ the back of the store; why don't you go talk to him?"
Naturally, I was gobsmacked, but resolved to "play it cool", lest my "inner FANBOYTM" get the better of me.
I approached the new comics racks, on the other side of which I heard a youth being interviewed by MR. SMITH about the former's (homo)sexuality.
Noting the level of rapt attention that was being paid to the proceedings, I jockeyed for a position which allowed me to see & hear MR. SMITH clearly & without bothering anyone else who had gathered for like purpose.
As I stood there, I was approached by a crewmember with a sheaf of COLUMBIA TRI-STARTM release forms & a blue pen in his hands:
"Would you like to talk to KEVIN on camera?"
(He might as well have asked me whether I would like to go down on MS. JANEANE GAROFALO!)
"Yes, please."
"Sign here, then...."
I was handed a pen & contract, which I read thoroughly, then signed, before resuming my spectating of the next interview of 3 blokes about subjects as diverse as The Zanzibar TavernTM & Canadian Bacon.
Throughout, a crewmember commented to another about how tired MR. SMITH was getting, & that this would likely be the last interview, so I was prepared for disappointment.
Also, MR. JASON MEWES approached me & nodded, so I nodded back.
I was astonished by how much more healthy & handsome (almost pretty in a boyish sort of way) he appeared in person than he does on film, a fact that I attributed to his having become Clean & SoberTM of heroin usage.
I was especially surprised to see that MR. MEWES was sporting a PRINCE VALIANTTM-type haircut, & that it was very dark brown, rather than somewhat blond, as I had become accustomed to seeing it look on film.
When the other blokes' interview was concluded, I fully expected I would have to seize the opportunity to request MESSRS. SMITH'S & MEWES'S autographs before their handlers could balk me, but instead, MR. SMITH decided that he would "do 1 more", so we all adjourned upstairs to the poster & model section of the shop.
There, the cameras (1 for him, 1 for me) were positioned so that the large mirror would not reflect glare from the lights, & MR. SMITH introduced himself & shook my hand, explaining that the interviews were being conducted with an eye toward their inclusion on the sequel DVD release of AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITHTM that would be filmed in Toronto.
When MR. SMITH learned my name, he said that he recognised it & that he had seen & enjoyed my episode of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATIONTM, as well as recognising me from his own forum.
The interview went rather well, methought, particularly when I requested his permission to insert a non sequitur by giving a "shout-out to the old school NAF-fers" (with especial mention of BGA, naturally!), which thrilled him, causing him to ask how I had learned of the forum, & apologising for his exclusive patronage of That Other Domain, but I assured him that no such apology was necessary (although it was appreciated), since it was well-known that when it came to his online web presence, MR. KEVIN SMITH was known to serve only 1 master.
When the interview was concluded, MR. SMITH shook my hand again, thanking me & asking whether I would be @ his show in Toronto, to which I replied that I would be there if I could get tickets, as I had failed to do so this time, just as I had last time.
We were approached by MR. MARK ASKWITH of SPACE: THE IMAGINATION STATIONTM (who hailed me by name!) as MR. SMITH was autographing the back of my BLADE: TRINITYTM poster, then I thanked MR. SMITH again, & left for a pint of BODDINGTON'STM with MR. ASKWITH (who drank a beer of his own choosing).
On every level, MR. KEVIN SMITH was what I expected & hoped he would be, on the basis of his online & television presentation & representation, & I hope that I shall have the honour of working with him 1 day soon, whether on an episode of FINNEGAN'S SQUADTM or a film written & directed by MR. SMITH, himself.
It happened that I was patronising THE SILVER SNAILTM Comic Shop on Queen Street West in Toronto, earlier this afternoon (WED. NOV. 17/2004), which happened to be MR. KEVIN SMITH'S day off from the 2-part episode of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATIONTM that he & MR. JASON MEWES are filming here.
The shop was unusually quiet for a Wednesday afternoon (New Comics Day!), so when I was asked by the owner's son whether I knew who KEVIN SMITH was, I replied in the affirmative, to which he responded:
"Well, he's @ the back of the store; why don't you go talk to him?"
Naturally, I was gobsmacked, but resolved to "play it cool", lest my "inner FANBOYTM" get the better of me.
I approached the new comics racks, on the other side of which I heard a youth being interviewed by MR. SMITH about the former's (homo)sexuality.
Noting the level of rapt attention that was being paid to the proceedings, I jockeyed for a position which allowed me to see & hear MR. SMITH clearly & without bothering anyone else who had gathered for like purpose.
As I stood there, I was approached by a crewmember with a sheaf of COLUMBIA TRI-STARTM release forms & a blue pen in his hands:
"Would you like to talk to KEVIN on camera?"
(He might as well have asked me whether I would like to go down on MS. JANEANE GAROFALO!)
"Yes, please."
"Sign here, then...."
I was handed a pen & contract, which I read thoroughly, then signed, before resuming my spectating of the next interview of 3 blokes about subjects as diverse as The Zanzibar TavernTM & Canadian Bacon.
Throughout, a crewmember commented to another about how tired MR. SMITH was getting, & that this would likely be the last interview, so I was prepared for disappointment.
Also, MR. JASON MEWES approached me & nodded, so I nodded back.
I was astonished by how much more healthy & handsome (almost pretty in a boyish sort of way) he appeared in person than he does on film, a fact that I attributed to his having become Clean & SoberTM of heroin usage.
I was especially surprised to see that MR. MEWES was sporting a PRINCE VALIANTTM-type haircut, & that it was very dark brown, rather than somewhat blond, as I had become accustomed to seeing it look on film.
When the other blokes' interview was concluded, I fully expected I would have to seize the opportunity to request MESSRS. SMITH'S & MEWES'S autographs before their handlers could balk me, but instead, MR. SMITH decided that he would "do 1 more", so we all adjourned upstairs to the poster & model section of the shop.
There, the cameras (1 for him, 1 for me) were positioned so that the large mirror would not reflect glare from the lights, & MR. SMITH introduced himself & shook my hand, explaining that the interviews were being conducted with an eye toward their inclusion on the sequel DVD release of AN EVENING WITH KEVIN SMITHTM that would be filmed in Toronto.
When MR. SMITH learned my name, he said that he recognised it & that he had seen & enjoyed my episode of DEGRASSI: THE NEXT GENERATIONTM, as well as recognising me from his own forum.
The interview went rather well, methought, particularly when I requested his permission to insert a non sequitur by giving a "shout-out to the old school NAF-fers" (with especial mention of BGA, naturally!), which thrilled him, causing him to ask how I had learned of the forum, & apologising for his exclusive patronage of That Other Domain, but I assured him that no such apology was necessary (although it was appreciated), since it was well-known that when it came to his online web presence, MR. KEVIN SMITH was known to serve only 1 master.
When the interview was concluded, MR. SMITH shook my hand again, thanking me & asking whether I would be @ his show in Toronto, to which I replied that I would be there if I could get tickets, as I had failed to do so this time, just as I had last time.
We were approached by MR. MARK ASKWITH of SPACE: THE IMAGINATION STATIONTM (who hailed me by name!) as MR. SMITH was autographing the back of my BLADE: TRINITYTM poster, then I thanked MR. SMITH again, & left for a pint of BODDINGTON'STM with MR. ASKWITH (who drank a beer of his own choosing).
On every level, MR. KEVIN SMITH was what I expected & hoped he would be, on the basis of his online & television presentation & representation, & I hope that I shall have the honour of working with him 1 day soon, whether on an episode of FINNEGAN'S SQUADTM or a film written & directed by MR. SMITH, himself.
