Kevin Smith is Mad at "Red State" Independent Spirit Awards Snub

[JamesG]

Kevin Smith's Red State Closer to Reality?
Source: Den of Geek
October 8, 2009

Appears so.
The Kevin Smith-penned horror film may finally come to fruition.

If you recall, the Chasing Amy and Clerks helmer wanted to take a jaunt through the horror genre with a film of his own. He wrote a script, entitled Red State, and when he handed it over to the Weinstein brothers, Harvey and Bob, they passed.


Red State was without a home.


Den of Geek, however, caught up to Smith in England and the director informed them that it looks like he's finally got the money to make the film happen. Actually, his exact words were: "I think we've got the money for 'Red State'."


The film could be building some momentum now, so we'll keep you posted on further developments.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=12208

[JamesG]

Kevin Smith Ponders Horror Flick Red State As Halloween Approaches, Only On MTV
by Adam Rosenberg

One of the Kevin Smith projects that's been percolating for awhile is a horror movie he's been referring to as "Red State."

It would be a considerable change of pace for the filmmaker, who is known best for his sharp dialogue and geek-pleasing cultural references.

How big a change, you ask? "The dream would be to have people watch the movie and flat out not believe that I made it," he told MTV in an interview last year.

With Halloween coming up, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall couldn't help but ask Smith for an update on the progress of the project in a recent interview, which you can check out in the video below.




"'Red State' has been tough to find f---ing money for," he said, in his typically profane manner.

"Finding cash has been difficult. It's not a commercial movie by any stretch of the imagination." This isn't to say that big money is necessarily required to make "Red State" happen. In fact, some of the obstacles Smith's encountered have been internal.

"I was lobbying for a cheaper movie," he explained.

"One of the guys... who was making the flick with me was lobbying for a more expensive version of the movie. We weren't going to find [the larger] budget in a zillion years, so I went off and made 'A Couple of Dicks,' came back and said 'let's re-concentrate our efforts.'"


The new focus? Back to the original plan: make a good movie out of a good idea for not so much money.

"Instead of pie-in-the-sky, just down-and-dirty. I made f---ing 'Clerks' for crissakes. I can't be the guy who's like, 'well I can't make a movie for less than $15 million.' I started my career that way and it's still how I feel."



Ultimately, it all comes back to the money for "Red State." There's nothing to pay for it, but everything else is in place. "If money comes together for it, boom," Smith said, snapping his fingers.

"We're ready to start moving forward. Script's all done, crew is on board, we just have to find our cast."


"For me, it's just like, let's find some cash, seeing if there's any cash out there for the f---ing idea, then start attaching talent to it. So that's where we are on that."

http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/10/23...s-only-on-mtv/

[JamesG]

Kevin Smith: Out of the Comfort Zone
Thursday, February 4th, 2010


Smith also has another diversion in the works in the form of a “political horror movie” called "Red State".

This will be after "Hit Somebody", a hockey dramedy that he’s planning on starting this year, but it will also be a major change for Smith. “It’s so f*cking vicious and nasty and mean and stark and it’s not funny.”

He’s been trying to make this film since before "Zack and Miri Make a Porno" was released, but he’s had trouble finding the financing. “It’s this weird f*cking dark little seventies horror movie…that nobody wants to make.”






However, Smith has found a new possible revenue source for a movie that can’t seem to attract any commercial investors.

“I think an interesting thing that may happen with it is—I was on Twitter and people are asking about "Red State", and then a dude tweeted ‘hey man, what if we pay for it?’

And all of a sudden, a bunch of people were like ‘Seriously, why not?’”



This wouldn’t be the first time that someone raised money for a project by soliciting it over the internet, but it would be the first time a filmmaker as prominent as Smith has done so.




“We’re kind of creating this website. We’re seeing if it works to set up and collect donations. It becomes a weird tax nightmare, though…It sounded like such an easy thing online…but now there’s lots of checks and balances to make sure we can do it, but if that’s the case, I would be into it, and I’ll match it. Whatever you raise on line, like f*ck it, you put it up, I’ll put it up.”






Smith has always been a gracious personality towards his fans and it shows in his words as well as his demeanor.

“We’re gonna make it. It’s gonna happen. First up is that hockey movie, though, because that’s where I am right now. Right after that, though, by hook or by crook, with my pennies or the pennies of the audience. God bless them.

Motherf*ckers want to see the movie so badly that they’re willing to pay for it with their own money? Absolutely, put their name in the credits and that movie will be a reality.”

http://cinssu.ca/blog/?p=610


- The above article is cut to only focus on "Red State".

[JamesG]

Is Kevin Smith's Red State on a Roll?
Source: Kevin Smith
March 23, 2010


With Cop Out behind him, Kevin Smith is gearing up for his next film: The long-mooted horror film Red State.


"I talk about lots of stuff I wanna do that either happens years later or never happens at all. Happy to report "Red State" is not the latter," he says via his Twitter account.

"First draft was dated 9/5/07. Looks like we start shooting this July. Took nearly three years, but we're finally gonna roll on "Red"."

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=14577

[JamesG]

Smith Likens Red State to Race With the Devil
Source: Film School Rejects
April 13, 2010


Kevin Smith is gabbing a bit about Red State, a horror film he's finally moving on. To rouse my curiosity further, the director refrains from spilling any plot details, but he does draw a comparison to one of my favorites.



"It's very reminiscent of "Race with the Devil"," Smith tells Film School Rejects.

"That's such a favorite movie of mine. When I was a kid it was just such a terrifying notion. It's where you're on vacation and you just happen to see some mother f*ckers sacrificing a virgin, they kill your dog, and the chase you in your winnebago. There’s nothing more horrifying than that! You can keep your f*cking thirty-foot shark, that’s terrifying!

It’s certainly not that, but it’s very much in that spirit of people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Instead of going with devil worship we’re going the other direction. It deals with intense religious worship. It’s religious fundamentalism."

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=14855

[JamesG]

First Casting News for Kevin Smith's Red State
Source: Shock Till You Drop
July 26, 2010


Kevin Smith is switching gears for a horror film entitled Red State.



The plot is unknown and Smith had a helluva time getting financing off the ground - the story is a reported button-pusher loosely inspired by the Westboro Baptist Church - but principal photography is starting very soon. Smith announced to Comic-Con attendees during a panel over the weekend the first actor to join the cast.

Michael Parks.




Parks is a cinema vet who leaped into pop culture territory when he was cast in Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk Till Dawn and has appeared in other Rodriguez/Tarantino productions, i.e. Kill Bill and Grindhouse.

Stay tuned for more updates as they come in.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=16002

[JamesG]

We've Got a Logline for Kevin Smith's Red State
Source: Shock Till You Drop
August 10, 2010


The Kevin Smith-directed horror film Red State is crewing up and getting ready to begin principle photography.


Plot details have been kept on the down low for some time - with details squeaking out here and there as to what's to come - but we've secured a logline that doesn't tell all, however, it gives you an idea where Smith is going with this one.


A group of kids encounters a crazed preacher (based on Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church) who gives a whole new meaning to the term "extreme fundamentalism."





The cast reported to be in talks for various roles are:

Kyle Gallner
Melissa Leo
Dermot Mulroney
Michael Angarano
Steven Root


Michael Parks is the only confirmed cast member so far.
Shooting begins later this month.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=16145

[JamesG]

Possible New Casting Addition to Smith's Red State
Source: Kevin Pollak
September 14, 2010


There might be a new addition to the cast of Kevin Smith's horror film Red State.

Kevin Pollak revealed on his Twitter account that he's circling a role.

http://www.shocktillyoudrop.com/news...s.php?id=16528

[JamesG]

John Goodman Joins Kevin Smith's Red State!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
By: MrDisgusting


Writer-director Kevin Smith was recently a guest on Ralph Garman's Hollywood Babble-On show where he revealed that John Goodman has signed on to star in Smith's Red State.

Goodman has most recently been seen on HBO's "Treme" and the telefilm You Don't Know Jack.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/21752

[JamesG]

Take a Knee and Behold the First Behind-the-Scenes Look at Kevin Smith's Red State
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
By: MrDisgusting


Late last night the writer-director posted the first ever behind-the-scenes pic that takes you inside a church. What's going on is anyone's guess.

Kyle Gallner, Melissa Leo, Dermot Mulroney, Michael Angarano, Steven Root, Michael Parks, and John Goodman all star in the film that follows a group of kids who encounter a crazed preacher (based on Fred Phelps, founder of the Westboro Baptist Church).

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/21943

[JamesG]

Kevin Smith Takes Red State to Twitter, Talks Violence
Friday, October 15, 2010
By: MrDisgusting


Yesterday on Twitter writer-director Kevin Smith got his fans tweeting after posting the following about his now-filming Red State:

"In the 70's, they made exploitation flicks about devil worship. We flip it on RED STATE - so it's an exploitation flick about angel worship."



When asked by a non-militant Christian if the flick would be offensive, Smith replied:

"Christ, no - 'just a horror flick. I swear..." adding that it's "Christploitation - a concept that, sadly, extends far beyond a dopey film genre..."



As for the violence, Smith jokes: "You won't forget our first kill. Guar-an-teed..."


Shooting is underway in Los Angeles with plans on submitting to Sundance.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/22051
http://twitter.com/ThatKevinSmith

[dlemond]

Originally Posted by JamesG

Kevin Smith Takes Red State to Twitter, Talks Violence
Friday, October 15, 2010
By: MrDisgusting


Yesterday on Twitter writer-director Kevin Smith got his fans tweeting after posting the following about his now-filming Red State:

"In the 70's, they made exploitation flicks about devil worship. We flip it on RED STATE - so it's an exploitation flick about angel worship."



When asked by a non-militant Christian if the flick would be offensive, Smith replied:

"Christ, no - 'just a horror flick. I swear..." adding that it's "Christploitation - a concept that, sadly, extends far beyond a dopey film genre..."



As for the violence, Smith jokes: "You won't forget our first kill. Guar-an-teed..."


Shooting is underway in Los Angeles with plans on submitting to Sundance.

http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/22051
http://twitter.com/ThatKevinSmith

Angel worship?
What the hell is he talking about?
It certainly sounds like he his going to mock Christians - how do you escape it with a premise like that?

I could care less, make a film about whatever you want, but the whole angel thing came off pretty corny in Dogma. Probably my least favorite of his movies.
Alright, after Jersey Girl.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by dlemond

Angel worship?
What the hell is he talking about?
It certainly sounds like he his going to mock Christians - how do you escape it with a premise like that?

I could care less, make a film about whatever you want, but the whole angel thing came off pretty corny in Dogma. Probably my least favorite of his movies.
Alright, after Jersey Girl.

From what I've been hearing it looks like the film will be a "serious spoof" on Christian Fundamentalism.

It's supposed to be based on Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church and the certain Christians that promote hate and violence against those they deem as "sinners".



"Angel worship" is just a term he used to pair it against "devil worship"; like we now have those that take Christian worship to the extreme just like how the Satanists have taken devil worship to the extreme (as depicted on film).

[dlemond]

Originally Posted by JamesG

From what I've been hearing it looks like the film will be a "serious spoof" on Christian Fundamentalism.

It's supposed to be based on Rev. Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church and the certain Christians that promote hate and violence against those they deem as "sinners".



"Angel worship" is just a term he used to pair it against "devil worship"; like we now have those that take Christian worship to the extreme just like how the Satanists have taken devil worship to the extreme (as depicted on film).

I see that he is going after a certain group, but he is definitely going to get some backlash because in general it sounds like it will come across that Christians are nutty. There will absolutely be jabs at organized religion.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by dlemond

I see that he is going after a certain group, but he is definitely going to get some backlash because in general it sounds like it will come across that Christians are nutty. There will absolutely be jabs at organized religion.

I just don't see this getting as much attention as DOGMA did a decade ago.


Kevin Smith's films that aren't Jay and Silent Bob related don't seem to get as much attention. CLERKS 2 got way more notice and press compared to Jersey Girl, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, and Cop Out.