Kevin Smith Finishes His ‘Red State’ Script

Posted by Neil Miller (neil@filmschoolrejects.com) on August 30, 2007

It feels as though I could begin writing a weekly column just to keep you abreast of what is going on in the wonderful world of Kevin Smith. The original “film school reject” himself has been busy, busy, busy. We last saw him at Comic Con, where he was fighting off hecklers, promoting his pilot of “Reaper” for the CW and talking about his involvement in the upcoming “Heroes” spin-off “Heroes: Origins”. But did you know, Mr. Smith also has a few movies in development? I know, we were shocked as well.

Smith has two particularly interesting projects on the horizon. As we reported when we talked to him a few months ago prior to the release of Live Free or Die Hard, he has put his raunchy comedy Zach and Miri Make a Porno at the top of his to-do list. Last night we got a little tip from News Askew, the home to all things that are newsworthy in the View “Askewniverse” (and one of my personal daily reads), that Kevin has finished writing what will be his 9th film, Red State.

Here is a quote directly from Kevin, via News Askew:

It is written.

Finished “Red State” today.

Shortest flick (in terms of page count) that I ever wrote. Least amount of dialogue, too (not to say there’s no dialogue; just that there’s about half as much as I normally write).

Unlike any other script I’ve ever authored, to say the least. Very fucked up. If I’d never said anything about it in the press and put it out under a pseudonym, I doubt anyone would ever connect me with it.

Can’t wait to shoot it.

Unlike anything he has ever done. Nice. The last time we heard this from Kevin, we got Jersey Girl, which I still believe to be his most honest and well made movie. Yes, I cried at the end because of George Carlin. Sure, the mass populous never got tuned into Jersey Girl as I did, but I think that was all just part of a mass anti-Affleck conspiracy.

What Jersey Girl proved was that there is much more to the talent of Kevin Smith than some dick and fart jokes. Like Chasing Amy before it, the film went out on a limb and delivered, undeniably. And if you don’t agree with that, you will obviously be given yet another chance to see Kevin Smith show off his versatility with Red State. That is, after we get a few more dick and fart jokes.

On the Side: Kevin Smith will not use the opening credit “A Kevin Smith Film” because he believes a film is the work of ALL the people involved, not just the director. He’s just good people like that.

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