Hey folks, Harry here still hobbling about, hallucinating about those pink coconut marshy squishy things that you stuff 3 of in your mouth at a time and swallow whole, that have a tad of chocolate in them. When not on a diet I liked to pop those and raw bacon strips for every paragraph break in a Mysterio Interview piece, but now... Now, I have to settle for WATER. Sigh. Cruel cruel world. How come all the best stuff kills ya? Well, here's the details on the benefit Austin screening of JAY & SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK that the Austin Film Society is throwing! And in addition, there's a groovy Jason Lee interview by Mysterio. So I nominate Jason Lee in the remake of GLEAMING THE CUBE!!!!!
The screening will take place at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave, on August 13, 2001 at 8pm. Kevin Smith will be attending the screening, participating in a Q&A after the screening and attending a post-screening party at Antone‚s (5th and Lavaca).
Tickets are available through the Paramount Box Office, Monday through Saturday from 12am until 5:30pm; or call Star Tickets at 469-SHOW (1-800-966-SHOW), Monday through Friday from 10am-9pm, Saturday from 10am-5pm and Sunday from 12am-5pm. Ticket prices are $30 non-members/$25 AFS members for Orchestra seating and $15 non-members/$10 AFS members for Balcony and Mezzanine seating. Orchestra level tickets include admission to the after-screening party. In order to receive the AFS member discount you must purchase your tickets in-person at the Paramount Box Office or Star Ticket Outlets. For information on becoming a member of AFS, contact 322-0145. Guests needing accommodations should contact the AFS office by August 8th.
"Would You Like A Chocolate-covered Pretzel?"
Kickin it "Reynold’s style" with ‘CHASING AMY’s JASON LEE
"He epitomizes the seventies actor. The seventies smooth, Hollywood actor and I find a lot of humor in that and in an odd way a lot of class. It’s become this sort of thing where everybody, you know on the board (http://www.viewaskew.com), knows about Burt Reynolds and the whole thing with me." --- Jason Lee (on seventies icon, actor Burt Reynolds)
Smooth, humor and class are words that actor, Jason Lee chooses to describe one of Hollywood’s biggest and most bankable actors of the seventies. Those words might also apply in describing Jason Lee himself, who in just six years has clearly made an impression in just about every film he’s been in. Beginning with his auspicious, star-turning debut in MALLRATS to his current film, JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK in which he reprises two of the very roles that gave him both recognition as an actor with an obvious gift for comedic timing and one which later would earn him an Independent Spirit Award for best supporting actor for his role as "Banky Edwards" in writer/director Kevin Smith’s most earnest and honest film to date, CHASING AMY.
His acting career has been on the fast track ever since and shows no signs of slowing down for Lee, who astonishingly has only been acting professionally since 1995. Aside from continuing to act in other View Askew Productions, such as A BETTER PLACE and DRAWING FLIES, Lee’s also turned in some scene stealing performances in such studio films as Cameron Crowe’s ALMOST FAMOUS, to holding his own opposite Tom Cruise in the upcoming VANILLA SKY to finally graduating to lead actor in next year’s comedy, THE PROMISE alongside Tom Green.
But Lee hasn’t "sold out" as he explains when asked by some fans on the subject.
"Are you likely to forgo Indie flicks in favor of mainstream works? And what signs you up to a film first: the director, script, DP, co-stars, location, money, the award-winning potential or the opportunity to work with fun people?" – Aussiegirl
Jason Lee: Oh, screenplay, director, actors… mainstream or independent, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re into the material, you do it. I don’t think anybody ever really tries to be the "indie-actor", it just sort of happens that way.
"Since you have been in 3 out of the already 4 released pictures directed by the great Kevin Smith and now that your stock is rising with a SAG nomination and Blockbuster Award and having done movies with the likes of Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman, are you still going to remain faithful to our favorite director?" – Irelandsfinestbx
Jason Lee: Always. I’ll always stick by Kevin.
When I first spoke to Jason about doing this interview for AICN, he was like, "Oh, Aint-It-Cool! I know that site!" And when propositioned if he’d be willing to answer some questions from the fans, he, without the least bit of hesitation, excitedly said, "Yeah, absolutely! I’d love to."
Not only does Lee show huge amounts of gratitude and loyalty to the director who had the faith to cast him in his first big role, but Lee also shows the same gratitude and loyalty to his fans that have stuck by him and continue doing so since his days cruising the malls.
So now you asked, and Lee answered. Let’s see what he had to say.
"How and when did you decide to audition for the role of "Brodie Bruce" in MALLRATS and what initiated you to go for that role?" – Denis Svob
Jason Lee: I decided that I wanted to take a stab at movie-making, acting, whatever you want to call it. A few months before I found out about that audition I got in through somebody I know who is now my manager and I auditioned like everybody else. So I wasn’t getting more out of skateboarding, and wanted to try something new and decided I wanted to try acting.
"Are you anything like Brodie or any of the other characters you play?" – Dave Panseri
Jason Lee: (Lee takes a long draw from his water bottle as he ponders his answer to this) Sounds like an easy response but there’s a little bit of me in everything because I’m playing these roles. I’d like to think I have somewhat of a decent sense of humor, so I goof off a lot. I can be a wise-ass like Brodie, but I don’t really hang out at the mall all the time. Or like Banky, if my best friend wanted to date a girl who had a bad history, I would listen to him about it. I wouldn’t try to break them up, in a very, sort of ignorant manner. So there are things that you can relate to and things that have nothing to do with who you are.
"Which View Askew character was your favorite to play?" – Heath Freeman
Jason Lee: Brodie. And a lot of that is because it was my first movie too.
"Are you excited to be playing the characters again?" – Anthony Copenace
Jason Lee: Yeah, I was very nervous at first. My first day on the set as Banky I was really nervous.
Jason Lee (con’t): I came from working on another movie (VANILLA SKY) that I’m still working on now (it’s since wrapped) so I was kind of out of the loop, and didn’t really know anybody and was really uncomfortable and worried that I wouldn’t be able to do after six years. But then yesterday, when I had more dialogue and I was around everybody all day I felt comfortable. So I was nervous at first but definitely excited to see how it would turn out.
Mysterio: Yeah, because I remember that day, down at the El Rey shoot when I first met you…
Jason Lee: Uh-huh.
Mysterio: …and Kevin first brought you up onto the stage in full Banky attire, the fans just went apeshit!
Jason Lee: That was awesome! Because like you stated, I had on the whole Banky getup onstage – the original hat, the jacket everything…
Mysterio: The same outfit you’re wearing right now!
Jason Lee: Yeah, the exact hat! This is the very hat I wore in CHASING AMY.
Mysterio: And there’s only one of those in existence.
Jason Lee: Only one. And I have it! I keep it in my closet at home.
Mysterio: That hat’s been a long sought after item among fans. How much do you think you could get for it on E-Bay or E-Jay?
Jason Lee: Ah, probably a lot!
"How did you approach playing Banky differently than Brodie? And as you grow as an actor, does your preparation for a movie change? Any tricks you might’ve learned?" – Michael Edmond
Jason Lee: Um, not so much tricks, but with each film, your confidence increases and with Banky I had to think about it more where with Brodie most of the focus is on the dialogue; that being my first film was what I was used to. So Kevin pulled me aside one day on the set of CHASING AMY and said, "You know were gonna have to put more thought into this and take it one step further because there’s a lot more going on. It’s not just wise-cracking Brodie Bruce at the mall." And that’s when I got my first taste of having to really think about it and, "…oh, that makes sense and that’s why I have to do this…" and that kind of started that for me.
"Had you any previous acting training or are you just that damn good on your own with inherit talent?" – Steve Choi
Jason Lee: Well years ago, years before MALLRATS, I had taken an acting class for six months with some of friends that were actors. I was still skateboarding, still heavily involved in skateboarding and I wanted to try it out ‘cause I wanted to have a place to go where I could be funny. That being all I had in mind, I didn’t really learn anything or understand it, I just wanted to get up onstage and be goofy. So I missed a lot. I didn’t put anything into it, so I didn’t really get anything out of it and I just stopped and continued with skateboarding and then did the whole MALLRATS thing.
Mysterio: And that’s where you picked up on most of your acting experience is learning from Kevin?
Jason Lee: Yeah, the best acting class is on-set working with different directors and actors.
Mysterio: I’d say that would almost go for any film class too; I mean just doing it – doing the job.
Jason Lee: Yeah, Kevin just did it.
Mysterio: And there’s only so much you can learn from a book.
Jason Lee: Yeah, you just have to do it.
"Do fanboys totally expect you to be as smooth as the characters Banky and Brodie all the time, and does it get on your nerves?" – Lorenzo Encomienda
Jason Lee: Ummm… no and no.
"Who are your influences as far as other actors go, and what is your favorite non-Askew movie of all time?" – Jeff Wasson
Jason Lee: Favorite non-Askew movie of all time would have to be AMADEUS. That’s a weird answer and I’ve said that before but for some reason that’s just my all-time favorite movie. Influences? My influences are pretty varied. Will Ferrell is actually one of big influences.
Mysterio: Really? And you’re working together with Will on this film.
Jason Lee: Yeah, and Jimmy Fallon and all the SNL cast members. I love comedies. Chris Farley… Bill Murray is an idol to me.
Mysterio: So essentially, would you say that most of your influences stem from more comedic actors?
Jason Lee: Yeah, but then also when I saw TRAFFIC, which is a movie that I didn’t love, but when I saw Benicio Del Toro’s performance I was fucking blown away. It was amazing to me.
Mysterio: Yeah. It was a standout performance wasn’t it?
Jason Lee: Oh god yeah, it was phenomenal. He made that whole movie for me.
Mysterio: And it’s in his character that I think leaves you feeling affected the most in understanding the context of the drug war portrayed in that film.
Jason Lee: Yeah.
"I thought you were excellent in ALMOST FAMOUS – why did you do the film and how was it different (in working with director, Cameron Crowe) to working with Kevin?" – James Smythe
Jason Lee: Why did I do the film?
Mysterio: Uh-huh.
Jason Lee: Who wouldn’t want to work with Cameron Crowe (Lee’s got a good point here).
[We’re suddenly interrupted by the presence of Will Ferrell. Jason asks me to turn off the tape, as he then urges me to, "Tell Will. Tell Will what I just said." Will asks "What?" "Jason named you as one of his influences." I say. Will looks surprised. "I’ve got it on tape. He did." I say. Jason looks from me to Will and just beams. Will expresses his flattery towards Jason and his comment and we all chat a bit more before Will leaves us to continue with our interview.]
"So now with regards to the cinematic adaptation of Gregory McDonald’s book, FLETCH WON…"
Jason Lee: Wait! We didn’t finish the ALMOST FAMOUS one!
Mysterio: Ok.
Jason Lee: I’m sorry, what was the question again?
[I repeat the previous question to Jason].
Jason Lee: Different in that, Cameron takes a lot longer to cover scenes, but similar in that he takes a similar approach with delivery as Kevin, which was kind of cool and made me feel comfortable from the beginning.
Mysterio: It’s my understanding that Cameron’s also a big fan of Kevin.
Jason Lee: Yep, yep. Absolutely. And they’re both writers/directors so they’re both very confident and know what they want.
"With regards to the cinematic adaptation of Gregory McDonald’s book, FLETCH WON, and the potential casting of you wedded with the direction and writing of Kevin Smith seems to be a union too good to be true. What is the likelihood to such a project reaching fruition?" – Robert Goodwin
Jason Lee: If I do it, Kevin will do it. If Kevin does it, I’ll do it.
Mysterio: How badly do you want to take over the FLETCH franchise with Kevin?
Jason Lee: I’d love too, absolutely. I think that would be awesome!
Mysterio: Have the two of you discussed it yet in terms of character and scripting stages?
Jason Lee: No, not yet.
Mysterio: Would you still do it, even if Kevin decided not to do it?
Jason Lee: No.
Mysterio: What can you say about Cameron Crowe’s next, VANILLA SKY and the character you play?
Jason Lee: (Lee’s a bit cautious not to reveal too much here) I play a writer living in New York. I play Tom Cruise’s character’s best friend of many years… and that’s about it for now.
Mysterio: Did Cameron have all of you watch the Spanish film, OPEN YOUR EYES (the film that VANILLA SKY is reportedly based on) before shooting?
Jason Lee: No. He didn’t say anything about it one way or the other. And I didn’t want to watch it just because I didn’t want to get thrown off in any way.
Mysterio: It seems like you’re in to have a helluva year my friend. You’ve got 4 to 5 films set to be released this year and early next year beginning with the already released HEARTBREAKERS, the upcoming JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK, followed up with BIG TROUBLE, VANILLA SKY and STEALING STANFORD (which has now been changed to THE PROMISE) with Tom Green.
Jason Lee: Yeah, I’m getting tired.
Mysterio: Why fill your plate this much?
Jason Lee: It just sort of happens that way and then you get that much work done and then you can take a nice, looong break and just sort of relax.
Mysterio: So you do plan on taking a break?
Jason Lee: After STEALING STANFORD (aka, THE PROMISE) I’ll probably take anywhere from 9 to 12 months off.
Mysterio: I think after your non-stop working schedule, it’s plenty well deserved.
Jason Lee: On STEALING STANFORD, I think I’m only going to have two days off the whole shoot.
Mysterio: Now this is the first film to have you as its lead isn’t it?
Jason Lee: Yep.
Mysterio: Now what attracted you to that project?
Jason Lee: The script. I read the script three or four years ago and was so impressed with it; with the dialogue and how subtle it was and how sort of twisted it was and I called my agent and she said, "nothing happening with this." Then I guess Tom Green attached himself and helped get it made and then Bruce McCullough came on board and then Imagine Entertainment and so on an so forth. So this many years later I finally attached myself to it.
[Note: The script has also since been polished by CLERKS: The Animated Series and SEINFELD scribe, Dave Mandel].
Mysterio: Sounds like your looking forward to it?
Jason Lee: Yeah!
Mysterio: You also spin records don’t you? What music do you like to play when you do DJ?
Jason Lee: I haven’t DJ’ed in a long time because I’ve been working so much, being out of town but anything with a beat: old soul, funk, old hip-hop, a lot of down tempo music – nothing really techno or anything like that. Not really into that - more kind of lounge, kind of beat-orientated music.
Mysterio: What do you listen to when you’re not DJ’ing?
Jason Lee: Everything from Johnny Cash to Radiohead to Beck, Bjork, jazz, blues, classical… everything.
Mysterio: So it seems you’re pretty into music. How much did Cameron Crowe school you in music while making ALMOST FAMOUS?
Jason Lee: Well, he was "the guy!" Any question, you would go to Cameron. He told us a lot of stories, related a lot of his own life to the story and helped us along the way to understand what he went through. And apparently he has A LOT of records from the Seventies. God, he knows everything about music. So it was just fascinating hearing things from him and of course it helped.
Mysterio: I can imagine. You played Stillwater lead singer, Jeff Bebe in ALMOST FAMOUS, but you’ve also got your own band in real life. What’s your band called and are you the lead singer?
Jason Lee: Not the lead singer. We don’t have a name, it’s not really a band at this point; we just hang out and record music in my studio.
Mysterio: Any plans to release a studio album in the future?
Jason Lee: Um, yeah, very low-key - probably by the end of the year.
Mysterio: Before all this, you dropped out of high school to tour the skating circuit, making good money as a well-recognized pro skater in your days spanning over eight years. You even had a shoe named after you. So where do you go from there?
Jason Lee: Um, there may be a film late next year or the year after that we’re working on that I may be directing. Branch out into the kind of production company that produces films for writers and directors that would otherwise have a difficult time with the studio system and what not.
Mysterio: So a more real "independent" kind of production company then, working outside the major studio system?
Jason Lee: Kind of. You know, it depends maybe if we can find a cool relationship with a company that’ll give us freedom. So that would be next.
Mysterio: Any plans for yourself to write as well as direct?
Jason Lee: Probably, yeah; or producing or maybe directing other people’s screenplays.
Mysterio: Could you still do the "360-flip" that you’ve made famous on the skating circuit, today?
Jason Lee: Gimme a couple days.
Mysterio: What’s the worst skating injury you’ve suffered from?
Jason Lee: Broken wrist, chipped pelvis, sprained ankles…
Mysterio: And the worst acting incident you’ve suffered from?
Jason Lee: Nothing.
Mysterio: What was it like for you to win the Independent Spirit Award for best supporting actor in CHASING AMY?
Jason Lee: Next to landing the role of Brodie Bruce in MALLRATS – the greatest day as an actor I’ve ever had.
Mysterio: How proud are you if that film?
Jason Lee: Very, very.
Mysterio: So what prevented you from taking on the role of "Loki" in DOGMA?
Jason Lee: Scheduling conflicts; Matt Damon filled the role, but it actually turned out for the best in the end because playing "Azrael" allowed me to do something different in a Kevin Smith film. Had I played Loki, it would’ve been different in ways than Banky and Brodie, but it would’ve been, again, the kind of sidekick.
Mysterio: Were you as disappointed as I was that ALMOST FAMOUS didn’t receive as much recognition from the Academy as it should have?
Jason Lee: Don’t get me started…
Mysterio: Fair enough. What are your feelings about the way the characters of Brodie and Banky have progressed from MALLRATS and CHASING AMY to now in JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK?
Jason Lee: Just amazing. While shooting those films, it’s just where you thought they would be.
Mysterio: How do you feel about Kevin’s closure of sorts with Banky in this film?
Jason Lee: I think it’s hilarious.
Mysterio: And it ends a lot of speculation.
Jason Lee: Yeah, it ends a lot of speculation and it’s hilarious to kind of see this hard guy, this shit talker come out.
Mysterio: So you’re a fan of the Internet. How long ago did you discover it, and what do you feel is the best and worst thing about it?
Jason Lee: I don’t think there’s really anything bad about it. Even though there’s a lot of weird shit on there that you can download, but you have to be into that kind of shit to download it anyway. I mainly use the Internet for searching - things I need to find out about, Kevin’s board and E-Bay. I’m on E-Bay everyday… and Cosmo.com, which is the greatest invention I think we’ve ever had. You know what Cosmo.com is?
Mysterio: Can’t say I’m familiar with it.
Jason Lee: You get like shit delivered to you.
Mysterio: What? Like groceries, booze, pork rinds and rubbers?
Jason Lee: No, that’s like… you can place an order for toilet paper, DVD’s, cigarettes, bottles of water and a cigarette lighter and they deliver it to your house in under an hour!
Mysterio: Wow, Pink Dot look out!
Jason Lee: It’s amazing!
[At this time, Lee glides into the make-up chair for some quick touch ups, and the make-up artist is quick to say to Jason, "I loved ALMOST FAMOUS’ to which Lee coolly replies, "Ah, cool movie huh?" "Loved it." She says. "Very cool." Adds Lee.]
Mysterio: So speaking of ALMOST FAMOUS are you planning on doing anything special with Cameron Crowe for the inevitable Special Edition DVD release, such as commentary?
Jason Lee: I don’t know, that’s a good question. I’d love to, but I haven’t heard anything yet. But there is going to be a Special Edition DVD.
Mysterio: Sa-weet! Let’s talk about what projects and hobbies you have outside of acting. I hear you have a precision racing driving school that you’ve founded with your co-partner, Jordan D’Alessio?
Jason Lee: It’s called ROAD ONE RACING. We organize performance-driving schools for people that have sports cars where they want to learn how to drive. Every three months, at racetracks, we put those on and we also race cars – vintage racing.
Mysterio: So you drive yourself?
Jason Lee: Yeah.
Mysterio: Now what got you into racing cars?
Jason Lee: I’ve always love cars and I bought my sports car a while ago and I told Jordan I wanted to go out to the track and become a better driver and he organized this school and it was so successful we just had to make a company out of it; ‘cause it was a lot different than most schools that people go to. So we do that every three months, and we have a team of drivers that race for us in the vintage series, which basically means people with old BMW 2002’s, and British cars from 1972 and earlier race.
Mysterio: So are your driving classes open to anyone?
Jason Lee: Yeah, yeah! We have a website we’re building (CLICK HERE) and getting sponsors and stuff now. So that’s that. It’s very cool.
Mysterio: And you’re heavily into the arts as well. You’re even working on an arts foundation. What’s that all about?
Jason Lee: Yeah, it’s getting started. I’m coming together with a few artists to start a foundation for the arts. Basically it’s going to be in an old building in downtown L.A. and it’ll be a non-profit foundation where people can use the spaces to develop photography, edit films, record music, sculpt, paint, write, archives, resource library, internet – space to do exhibitions, fund raising dinners – basically give those opportunities to artists.
Mysterio: That is very cool. Talk about giving something back!
Jason Lee: Exactly, ‘cause I collect art, my wife (actress, Carmen Llywellyn-Lee) and I, and we’ve been doing that for about nine years. So it’s one of our passions.
Mysterio: So when this gets off the ground, will fans be aware of the events surrounding this foundation and exhibitions?
Jason Lee: Yeah, we’re going to do a press release and it’s going to be called THE INDEPENDENT MUSEUM, and or course websites and the whole thing.
Mysterio: I read somewhere that you initially turned down the role of "Dirk Diggler" in BOOGIE NIGHTS, a role that later Mark Wahlberg would step into and receive critical acclaim. I figure you, being a huge Burt Reynolds fan that you’d have jumped at the chance to act alongside Burt - any truth to this?
Jason Lee: Didn’t turn it down, didn’t even meet Paul Thomas Anderson, didn’t even finish reading the script, didn’t have a meeting; they probably didn’t even know about me at the time. But I remember reading the script and not knowing anything about Paul Thomas Anderson and the way it would turn out. I just thought (based on the material in the script) it was really hardcore; like god, I could never do that!
Mysterio: So when you finally saw the movie, then what did you think of it?
Jason Lee: Love it! It’s one of my favorites.
Mysterio: Speaking of Reynolds, ever since MALLRATS, there has always been a Reynolds reference made by you in the following films you’ve done with Kevin. Any Reynolds references to look forward to in JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK?
Jason Lee: Oh no, there isn’t! We need to throw something in!
Mysterio: It was one of the things I mentioned was missing from the draft I read back in January, and it sounds like he might’ve still forgotten to reference it back in. I think you should definitely talk to Kevin about this ASAP!
Jason Lee: Yeah, I will!
[Will tradition be kept? Will Lee again utter yet another great Reynold’s reference in ‘JAY AND SILENT BOB STRIKE BACK’? Check out the flick when it opens nationwide on August 22nd to find out!]
Mysterio: Well I think that’s about it, so on behalf of myself and the fans I’d like to say thank you for sharing some of your time in talking with us today.
Jason Lee: Yeah, it was cool. Thank you so much.
Mysterio: No Jason Lee, thank you!
Interview conducted on the set of ‘Bluntman & Cronic’, Stage 19 on March 1st, 2001.
For more info and pics on Jason Lee, visit his fan site at LEE WORLD (CLICK HERE).
- Mysterio
