Posted by Ming at bgp571923bgs.eatntn01.nj.comcast.net on January 09, 2002 at 16:39:22:
'Vulgarthon' Fans Enjoy 2 Days in the Dark
By Mark Voger
Staff Writer - Asbury Park Press
RED BANK - "Thank you for coming out. We're going to spend a great
day in the
dark together."
With those words from filmmaker Kevin Smith, the lights dimmed and
fans from all
over the country and the world witnesses "Vulgarthon 2002," a
12-hour orgy of
independent films sponsored by View Askew, Smith's Red Bank
based production company.
"V2K2" was held Monday and yesterday at Clearview Cinemas on
White Street.
Since the $60 tickets were sold on the Internet, filmgoers traveled as
far as Scotland,
Ireland, England, Alaska, California, Louisiana, Tennessee, and
Florida.
As the event began late yesterday morning, fans stood politely in line
in the cold sun,
many clutching doughnuts, coffee and View Askew merchandise
such as comic books, posters,
DVDs and toys. Smith stood at the theater entrance greeting ticket
holders and posing for photos.
About 800 fans attended the two-day event. many said they made
pilgrimmages to local
spots seen in Smith's films "Clerks," "Mallrats," "Chasing Amy,"
"Dogma" and "Jay and Silent
Bob Strike Back," such as the Quick Stop convenience store and RST
Video in Middletown,
and Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash, Smith's comic shop on Broad
Street.
"I got a week off from school to come here," said Glen McConnell of
Leamington Spa,
England.
"I had to take a loan out from the bank," said John Balfe of Dublin,
Ireland. "Completely
worth it," he added.
Once inside, fans witnessed the American premiere of "Vulgar,"
Bryan Johnson's disturbing black
comedy about a birthday party clown who is gang-raped.
The program also included "Now You Know" by Jeff Anderson
(remembered as Randal in "Clerks");
"Big Helium Dog" by Brian Lynch, which Smith called "the 'Kentucky
Fried Movie' of the new
millennium"; Smith's summer hit "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back"
and the animated short
"Angry Naked Pat."
Smith, Johnson, Anderson and Lynch introduced their respective
films. Also on hand were
"Vulgar" star Brian Christopher O'Halloran and Smith's wife Jennifer
Schwalbach Smith
(who played a comely jewel thief in "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back").
Johnson, who said Lion's Gate Entertainment will release "Vulgar" in
late February or early
March, was happy with the screenings.
"People really dug the movie," he said. "We had a few people crying.
One person got really
mad because I think it was a little bit too much for them."
O'Halloran said it wasn't easy watching himself in "Vulgar."
"There are moments where I do get upset with what's going on with
that character," the actor said.
"This one was a tough one."
Not all V2K2-related activities were so focused on film appreciation,
though. During a
question-and-answer session, Smith joked about the partying that
went on Monday night.
Said the filmmaker: "We'll have to change the name to 'Silly
Drunks-a-Thon.'"