Hello Red Bank!

It looks like I have a fan in Red Bank, NJ. I won't assume its you, Mr. Smith, but someone from your home town is poking in taking a look-see. So, shout-out to Red Bank! HELLO NEW JERSEY!

Sir, I'll be in L.A. again in two weeks. Would love for a quick sit down with you, Mr. Kevin Smith. Will totally understand if you aren't available.

Speaking of events (ok, so that was a VERY sloppy transition). This coming Friday we're hosting a family and friends picnic for the entire film industry in good old Phoenix, Arizona. Looks to be more than 100 people in attendence. That is if everyone that RSVP'd actually makes it. If they don't show... well, we know where you are people. Besides, what else are you doing on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We all know the shopping is on Friday. Football isn't until Sunday. And you can watch Ninja Assassin after lunch, so come on out to Encanto Park, 11 to 3pm. Its a pot luck, so bring something to share!

Hello sir!

Yes, its been too fuckin' long since I last dropped you a note again. Been busy, but wanted to update you.

My last film, Star Quest, released across the U.S. earlier this November. It's a campy little homage to Star Trek. Nothing special, but it did hit U.S. shelves just six months after we finished the sound design. Quick and dirty and successful. Screw the haters out there. Like your films its already been profitable.

I still feel you should look at creating a View-Askew distribution company (see previous posting). It was in answer to your "What Makes you a film maker" interview back in May.

And I'm still waiting to hear from your lusty bride about that film she always wanted to see (click here and here).

Well, good day to you, sir. Can't wait to hear from you.

There goes the summer...

Well, there went the summer, sir. Spent the whole time, it seems going back and forth to LA and the most work completed ended up happening here in freakin Phoenix, AZ. Yeah hot as hell and more work done here than in the movie capital... Or is that Iowa?

Anyway, watchin the tweetfest today and realized I haven't dropped you a line in a while. As I said, business is picking up. Presold a slate of films to Asia and working on closing that deal along with a possible TV show that would be simply fucking amazing if you'd do a little cameo on. Consider it, sir.

Kevin Smith - Distributors?

Mr. Smith, sir, just saw your interview with Gavin Michael Booth and his "How Many Days" project (see below).

You ask a very important question in your interview "In this economy, who's going to start up a distribution company?" The answer seems obvious, "You." A boutique distribution company with your name on it would move many an independent film. Your name would open doors, even if you had nothing to do with the day to day operations.

Heck, my day job these days (besides setting up The Evil Dead Breakfast Club [see Trailer here]) is in distribution. I could definately give you a hand (drop me a line at info [at] infspec [dot] com). Heck, I'll even be in LA all this week, but you're probably in Cannes with the rest of my company.

There are many, many, distributors out there, though. The problem with a lot of independent film is either:

1) Not quality
2) Not marketable in a foreign market.

Quality is partially relative, but you still need good sound, in focus visual, and a good SOLID story. In this day where everyone can pick up a digital camera and make a movie, you need to get your ducks in a row. You are competing against MILLIONS of film makers worldwide. Do your homework. Develop your project. Put together a great, top notch team, make something everyone will want to see and be proud of.

As to marketability, this doesn't have to mean selling out or not working on your art, but a talking head drama will not do well in foreign markets because they will have to read a lot or listen to a bad voice over. Middle America doesn't love reading a movie, what makes you think Germany, France, or Thailand does? By incorporating good story, visual, action, and FX you give them something to enjoy and they won't mind the occasional subtitle or bad sync'd dialog. And comedy? Just remember, not everyone in the world has your sense of humor. In fact somethings funny here aren't in other cultures.

Keep it all in mind. Talk to distributors before you even start making your film. Put some business in the art and see what happens.

Happy Holidays to Kevin Smith

To Kevin Smith at Viewaskew:

Happy Holidays, sir. Here's to hoping you have some wonderful family time with the wife and rugrat.

It's been quite the year, eh? You had a feature come out. I had a feature come out. You had a birthday. I had a birthday. So many parallels.

I'm starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel, sir. Not sure if its a train barreling in my direction, but I don't hear a whistle yet.

I was just approached yesterday to direct a little direct to video project. I'll add that to the stack of stuff on my plate and I might have a good year:

1) Evil Dead Breakfast Club the movie. Yes, the movie. Our little web series has garnered some attention as is the hilarious script. It's definitely an R-rated comedy. Here's the trailer for the webseries.


2) The Cleaning Crew. This is the script I offered you last year. More precisely offered your bride, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith:

Jennifer, your lovely bride, takes a crack at producing a movie she said she always wants to see and never finds. One that reminds her of Alias and the reason she fell in love with that series.

A strong, take no prisoners, female action movie with humor and heart. A story about a widowed soccer mom who, struggling to make ends meet, turns to the only line of work she has ever been any good at: contract killer. And then top it all off with the fact that her deceased ex-husband turns out to be not-quite-so, kidnaps their daughter, and forces mom to fight for the daughter's life.

Throw into the mix lots of hilarity, some keystone criminals, and kick ass action... what more could you want?

Well, it has gotten some traction this week as well. Had potential investors talk to me at a networking event. Sending a top sheet their way, but there's still time for you to invest some Zack and Miri dollars in it.

Oh, and I heard you finally contacted Gavin Michael Booth! So I do know you really exist and are not just some actor hired by Hollywood to promote movies.

Happy Holidays!
Jon Bonnell

Dear Kevin Smith,

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We did, but had an even better time since.

First, MATCH.DEAD has been sold. Seven months from production to sale... and we kept to the budget the whole way. Now it's sold and I can almost walk away from it and just collect the checks. Yeah, right.

Second, we shot a web series back in October. You might have read about it: The Evil Dead Breakfast Club. Well, the trailer is out now. Check it out. We hope you like it:



Let me know, one way or the other, sir.

How can you stand LA?

Kevin,

Wow, after just two days in town I don't know how you can stand it. Where you're from in Jersey just can't be replicated in LA.

And the traffic and conjestion and...

That said, its where business gets done. Two days in LA and I walk away with a green light, so it's not all bad.

Great place to visit, but I couldn't live there without some major incentive... ;)