Kevin Smith released a terrible fucking movie this year called “Cop Out.” Critics rightly took him to task for that pile of garbage and ever since, Smith has been bitching and moaning like a little girl about how the press never reports anything accurately, should be forced to pay to review films and in general, is a dirty industry, with lazy people who don’t care about anything. Yawn.
Anyway, as you might know, the director is preparing to debut his latest film, the low-budget horror flick, “Red State.” And with it being Christmas season and all, Smith is one again talking about how he doesn’t want to do an extensive press jaunt for his film because writers won’t dedicate 24 hours a day to studying every single thing he says or farts on Twitter. God forbid that writers actually have other news and films to cover. His advice? Listen to his ridiculously long podcasts to get all the info you need and for us “lazy” press folk, he’ll even provide transcripts. Aw, isn’t that nice? Read his full statement below:
I’m not press-junketing at all, anywhere. In fact, I’m not doing any press outside of maybe a business piece or 2 to help sell the flick if needed, & radio (LOTS of radio). That’s what http://smodcast.com/redstate/ is about: I’m providing all the information needed to write a story, if that’s what you’re looking to do. It’s INSANELY detailed, and by the time we’re done, I’ll have pre-answered all questions about RedState – thus negating the need to speak with me about it. From nearly 20 yrs experience, I know this much: folks are gonna write WHATEVER they want, whether I sit down with them or not. So I’ll just furnish all the information I’d normally serve up one at a time to a small, jaded audience that doesn’t really give a shit unless there’s someone famous in the room, to a much larger, APPRECIATIVE audience that would actually enjoy & benefit from hearing the same information. And thus far, it’s been working out great. Folks that wanna write about RedState pull from the podcasts, folks that don’t wanna but have to (so as not to seem behind the curve or a day late & dollar short in this information-is-currency culture) are doing what they lazily always do: pulling from the OTHER blogs that actually did their homework. Sometimes, their Google searches take ‘em back to the earliest stories (like back when DermotMulroney was sort of briefly mentioned once) & it shows up in their current posting, exposing their sloppy work ethic (which, they’ll accuse me of having in MY work, without a hint of irony). So rather than subject all involved to a painful waste of resources, time & money, I’m doing the RedStateOfTheUnion Q&A’s. It’s kind of like an audio press kit. We’re even transcribing them now, for the SUPER lazy writers who’ve already bitched about having to wade through 12 hours of audio so they can write knowledgeably about a subject. Nobody needs to talk to me anymore anyway, as anyone who’s curious can always know what I’m thinking 24/7 right here on Twitter. Besides – the REALLY interesting story in RedState isn’t me; it’s MichaelParks. Or JohnGoodman. Or MelissaLeo. Or the ENTIRE cast. Or s’about how @ThatDavidKlein CRUSHED it.
Blah, blah, blah. Kevin Smith continues to shoot himself in the foot by targeting the media and frankly, the tone is becoming a little tedious. But we’ll give them this, he’s sticking to his guns. “Red State” will have two public screenings at Sundance but no press screenings, so for anyone up in Park City hoping to review the film, you’ll have to get in line. Smith is probably pleased as punch he pulled that off because it means dedicated fanboys will make sure the film gets positive word while more discerning critics might be left out in the cold.
As for the March release that was hinted at the end of his teaser trailer, Smith says that’s when he hopes to release the film but obviously, without a distributor in place yet, it remains to be seen if it will stick. He also doesn’t want to release a full length trailer for the film, preferring to keep the details in the dark, but again, that will be up to whatever distributor takes on the film.
Frankly, Kevin Smith can say whatever the fuck he wants. Our feelings aren’t hurt, we pretty much don’t really care, and it only continues to reflect badly on himself. And if continues with this screed into the new year, he risks making the big story about “Red State” not about the quality of the film (which looks like a solid change of pace for the director) but more about his continued resentment toward the very people who, early in his career, made him who he is. [/Film]
\”The reason Smith is doing this is entirely because of the negative reaction to copout that came from every corner of the press, media, critics, etc.
That’s why Smith is doing this. It is within that context, that his last film had very bad press and he started lashing out at the press in response (after a decade and a half as a self-admitted media whore), that he has decided to do this. It’s highly relevant and the appropriate context to include in a story about how he’s handling Red State’s publicity in the aftermath.\”
That\’s speculation. Where did Smith mention this as his reason? Smith never once mentioned Cop Out because Cop Out has nothing to do with Red State. This writer\’s OPINION of Cop Out has EVEN LESS to do with Red State, or it\’s press screenings.
The reason Smith is doing this is entirely because of the negative reaction to copout that came from every corner of the press, media, critics, etc.
That\’s why Smith is doing this. It is within that context, that his last film had very bad press and he started lashing out at the press in response (after a decade and a half as a self-admitted media whore), that he has decided to do this. It\’s highly relevant and the appropriate context to include in a story about how he\’s handling Red State\’s publicity in the aftermath.
\”Noting that Smith’s stance is a result of his shitty film Cop Out getting appropriately shitty reviews isn’t skewing the story, it’s providing appropriate context.\”
This would be true if Cop Out had anything to do with the context.
The context here is this: Kevin Smith, filmmaker, has a new film coming out entitled Red State. Smith does not wish to screen his film to journalists and bloggers, for the reason that he is already providing the information on his website for any whom wish to find it.
That\’s the story, and it\’s context. How does Cop Out, or how the writer felt about Cop Out, factor?
I quite agree with nothing Lord Simen says. He has nothing insightful or interesting to say, and seems more in love with his own self-righteous indignation than Smith\’s.
Please prevent this person from commentating any further. He is ruining sensible discussion.
Lord Simen,
The subject of a news story does not need to mention something in order for a journalist or commentator to mention it. Noting that Smith\’s stance is a result of his shitty film Cop Out getting appropriately shitty reviews isn\’t skewing the story, it\’s providing appropriate context.
Uwe Boll isn\’t going to say \”I\’m a hack who makes bad movies through a tax loophole to rake in cash\” but any good writer would mention that in an article about him.
Are you serious here? You can\’t mention something in article if the subject doesn\’t? Smith is already trying to dictate and control what is said about him and his movies because he\’s insecure and you\’re trying to justify it as though the only way to be an honest journalist is to let your subject determine the terms and references you can make. I call shenanigans and Smith has devolved into a petulant, unappreciative crybaby.
Honestly your comments on Smith\’s comments were far worse than anything Smith said. Smith\’s correct – He is keeping the information out there for those who want to find it. He\’s also correct that a majority of the press are lazy fucktards who often skew information or print straight up fallacies.
This way, Smith has laid everything out on the table and there\’s no excuse for those who\’ve chosen to write about this film unless they are lazy.
In fact, this blog post right here has already attempted to skew information. You mentioned Cop Out for no other reason than to take a pot shot at Smith, when he never mentioned the film himself in anything you linked to.
\”Our feelings aren’t hurt, we pretty much don’t really care, and it only continues to reflect badly on himself.\”
It\’s often difficult to detect irony via text, is there a hint there?
It was 13 years ago, Trent.
As for Smith bitching and such. Dude, you made a third shitty movie (anything outside the Askewverse is shite). Embrace the negative feedback and come to grips with the fact Cop Out was terrible. Move on.
I say keep up with having Red Sate in the shadows, but stop being cold about it.
Smith is the most overrated hack in the industry. This whiner should be happy he still gets to make movies. Chasing Amy his best film came out like what, ten to twelve years ago.
Captain Celluloid has said everything I wanted to say. So all I want to say now is how I pretty much agree with how right he is. Bang on the money.
Kevin Smith sucks a cock! PLAYLIST FOREVER.
But seriously, Kevin, good luck on this, I think as long as you don\’t have a black black heart, and appreciate horror films, you\’d be rooting for this film.
And writing an honest review about it, whether it\’s good or bad.
PROGRESSION OF AN OPINION
1 — I pretty much agree with everything you said about Kevin Smith.
2 — I pretty much agree with everything Kevin Smith said about the media
3 — I pretty much disagree with the way both you AND Kevin Smith have chosen to express your points of view . . . . . which is to say Cattiness As Cleverness
CONCLUSION
4 — I pretty much feel that Kevin Smith has demonstrated himself to be an
interesting director more often than than THE PLAYLIST has demonstrated itself be Roger Ebert.
More humility from Mr. Smith and yourselves would be a good thing.
“The reason Smith is doing this is entirely because of the negative reaction to copout that came from every corner of the press, media, critics, etc.
That’s why Smith is doing this. It is within that context, that his last film had very bad press and he started lashing out at the press in response (after a decade and a half as a self-admitted media whore), that he has decided to do this. It’s highly relevant and the appropriate context to include in a story about how he’s handling Red State’s publicity in the aftermath.”
That’s speculation. Where did Smith mention this as his reason? Smith never once mentioned Cop Out because Cop Out has nothing to do with Red State. This writer’s OPINION of Cop Out has EVEN LESS to do with Red State, or it’s press screenings.
The reason Smith is doing this is entirely because of the negative reaction to copout that came from every corner of the press, media, critics, etc.
That’s why Smith is doing this. It is within that context, that his last film had very bad press and he started lashing out at the press in response (after a decade and a half as a self-admitted media whore), that he has decided to do this. It’s highly relevant and the appropriate context to include in a story about how he’s handling Red State’s publicity in the aftermath.
“Noting that Smith’s stance is a result of his shitty film Cop Out getting appropriately shitty reviews isn’t skewing the story, it’s providing appropriate context.”
This would be true if Cop Out had anything to do with the context.
The context here is this: Kevin Smith, filmmaker, has a new film coming out entitled Red State. Smith does not wish to screen his film to journalists and bloggers, for the reason that he is already providing the information on his website for any whom wish to find it.
That’s the story, and it’s context. How does Cop Out, or how the writer felt about Cop Out, factor?
I quite agree with nothing Lord Simen says. He has nothing insightful or interesting to say, and seems more in love with his own self-righteous indignation than Smith’s.
Please prevent this person from commentating any further. He is ruining sensible discussion.