Jersey Girl pushed back to 2004 because of the Matrix?

[John Crichton]

http://aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=15369

Um, huh?

I can see wanting to get a bigger audience for this film and I love Kevin Smith to death but I wonder who's call it was to push this movie back to 2004. And I wonder if Matrix Revolutions & Return of the King really do have anything to do with it...

 

[Mark]

Are some of the production team also involved in those other films somehow? Maybe there's a conflict in the schedules that couldn't be resolved and Smith's film has to take a post-production backseat in deference to the other films but no one wants to reveal that information so Smith can save face.

Recent times have suggested that tying a film up in post-production doesn't necessarily have to hurt a film (Gangs of New York for example) and if they don't make the box office large enough to offset Affleck and Lopez's salaries, the backlash on Smith might harm his slow but promising rise as a director/producer. Let's face it, as much as Smith's films have been touted as cult favorites and avante garde, I don't think anyone has considered him A-List...yet...

 

[Alzrius]

I wonder what the deal is with Smith and delays. I mean, first some of the comic series he's working on get held up, now this...he's just stumbling across the board.

 

[John Crichton]

Smith is not stumbling to me. I can't think of anyone who is directly involved in as many different media products as he is. Movies, comics, for a while TV. And the quality level is still there in all of them. The only ones I can think of that come close are Joss Whedon and JMS. The sick part about Smith is that he manages to get out a film (each one building on the previous, IMO) every 2-3 years and finds time to write comics and work on other projects. He is as active as anyone in the business.

I'm just wondering if this actually has anything to do with the massive blockbusters that are sure to hit at year's end. I also know that Affleck usually does Smith movies for next to nothing compared to what he brings in on other gigs. On the other hand, I have no idea what J. Lo is making on this one. I'm not really worried about the delay as I am willing to wait for him to get it right. However, I have a feeling that Smith isn't the cause of this delay. I can't wait to read about the saga of making this film in a future web column, DVD interview or otherwise. His revealings of past movie dealings on the "Interview with Kevin Smith" were hilarious.

Also, I guess that other Affleck/Lopez flick is coming out later this year as well so maybe they are trying for some more distance between those films for the obvious reasons (unless both are really good).

No big either way, I am just looking for feedback from other Smith fans around here.

 

[Alzrius]

Smith is not stumbling to me. I can't think of anyone who is directly involved in as many different media products as he is. Movies, comics, for a while TV. And the quality level is still there in all of them.

No arguement there; I love his work. What I meant was that maybe he's bitten off just a little more than he could chew. Sometimes we all overburden ourselves just a little too much, or something happens (it doesn't have to be major, or personal) that makes the workload heavier. That's what I meant to say.

 

[John Crichton]

No arguement there; I love his work. What I meant was that maybe he's bitten off just a little more than he could chew. Sometimes we all overburden ourselves just a little too much, or something happens (it doesn't have to be major, or personal) that makes the workload heavier. That's what I meant to say.

Ah, no big. It is possible that he has done what I believe Joss did a year ago by taking on 3 shows at once. But this feels more like a studio thing than a Smith thing.

Side note: If he is doing too much right now I really hope he's got the Fletch movies rolling.

 

[Henry]

Kevin has publically admitted he can sometimes bite off me than he can chew - anyone know his "Prince" story in his Kevin Smith Interviews DVD? Good Lord, that was weird.

For those who don't know - Kevin revealed that about two years ago, he shot a whole documentary for Prince, for no pay, that will never be seen. He went into the project based on his admiration for Prince, and it screwed him over in the end. The story itself - is odd. I highly recommend tracking it down to hear it.

 

[Mallus]

...snip... and if they don't make the box office large enough to offset Affleck and Lopez's salaries, the backlash on Smith might harm his slow but promising rise as a director/producer. Let's face it, as much as Smith's films have been touted as cult favorites and avante garde, I don't think anyone has considered him A-List...yet...

I'm betting that neither Affleck or Lopez were paid anywhere near the salaries that they usually get and that they worked for less out of admiration/friendship w/Smith.

J. Lo. alone would have busted Smith's bank.

Smith isn't A-list, but he does have a rabidly loyal group of fans. And "avant garde" does really fit him, he's just a flimaker with an authentic voice {which isn't to say good, though I think he is} who actaully gets studio money to make movies. Which is something of a minor miracle these days {compare the subjects of his films with the stuff that runs on IFC and Sundance}.

 

[John Crichton]

Kevin has publically admitted he can sometimes bite off me than he can chew - anyone know his "Prince" story in his Kevin Smith Interviews DVD? Good Lord, that was weird.

For those who don't know - Kevin revealed that about two years ago, he shot a whole documentary for Prince, for no pay, that will never be seen. He went into the project based on his admiration for Prince, and it screwed him over in the end. The story itself - is odd. I highly recommend tracking it down to hear it.

Yeah, that story as well as his Superman script saga are on the "Evening with Kevin Smith" DVD's which were a great watch. Great for a rental at the least.