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We Were Definitely Supposed to Be There Today: Clerks Come to GalaxyCon Richmond

Ash Griffith | March 20, 2020

Topics: Brian O'Halloran, Clerks, Clerks 3, GalaxyCon, GalaxyCon 2020, Greater Richmond Convention Center, Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson, Kevin Smith, National Film Registry, View Askew

Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson of Clerks were in town for GalaxyCon, and RVA Mag’s Ash Griffith was on hand to ask the question on everyone’s mind: Will there be a Clerks 3? They talked about a bunch of other stuff too.

Of all the weekends to be at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, we were definitely supposed to be there during the weekend of GalaxyCon. While the unofficial theme for the weekend was reunion, as celebrities and creators from many franchises flocked to the convention for the weekend, one reunion in particular was the most anticipated for fans of Kevin Smith’s iconic View Askewniverse film series.

Dante Hicks and Randal Graves of Clerks, aka the film that started it all, made their grand long awaited debut together. Actors Brian O’Halloran and Jeff Anderson (who played Dante and Randal, respectively) were available during the weekend to not only meet fans and take pictures, but also for a very special question and answer panel that Saturday night.

Clerks has been an iconic film in the indie comedy lexicon for a long time. As a matter of fact, it is coming up on 26 years. Last year the film that changed Smith and his friends’ lives forever not only turned 25 years old, it was also inducted into the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress for being culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.

“Filmmaker Christopher Downie, who made a biopic about Kevin called ‘Shooting Clerks,’ actually led that effort,” said O’Halloran. “He went on the fanboards of Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter and mentioned ‘Hey, [the National Film Registry] is taking suggestions,’ and since we are old enough to qualify, he went on this grassroots effort and the fans rallied behind him. We were really the number one [suggested film] of the inductees that year. We are incredibly flattered.”

Rest easy, brigadier, that when we are all underground in our bunker, at least we will have Clerks to keep us entertained in the after days. You can only watch Titanic but so many times.

O’Halloran himself does conventions relatively regularly, but also used to attend them as an ordinary fan when he was younger. While he is always excited to meet the fans of his work, as a fan one of the things that he loves about attending conventions is getting to meet creators from works that he loves as well.

“I like meeting the fans because they keep me sharp, they keep me on my toes about what they loved and what they didn’t love and things like that,” said O’Halloran. “But I also love coming to cons because I get to meet the other casts. I’m very fortunate to have a table to meet fans and stuff, but I used to go to cons as a younger man, and the fact that I get to meet some really great people is awesome. You’ve got people like Barry Bostwick, Brian Blessed, Michael Rooker, and Sean Gunn. I mean, those are the types of things that are really neat.”

Specifically, he praised GalaxyCon itself for their ability to bring in people of a variety of fandoms under one roof, allowing access to a variety of people that otherwise you may not have been able to meet at the same time.

“What’s great about GalaxyCon specifically is they really are good at programming,” said O’Halloran. “They know how to program quite a few guests in a variety of genres, from classic sci-fi kind of shows to the newest web series people are going crazy for. They have tons of programming [including] all kinds of interesting topics of panels, a video game room,  table gaming rooms… They have really taken the time to think about how to take care of the fans.”

One thing that is difficult to miss regardless of whether or not you are a fan of Smith’s work is his tendency to work with a similar rotating cast through his films. While this is, of course, not something unique to his work — directors like Martin Scorsese and Tim Burton tend to do this as well — it’s a tactic that works for a reason.

“It’s the familiarity of working together,” said O’Halloran. “It’s that kind of camaraderie. I always tell people, my family never sent me to summer camp, but I assume it would be like going to summer camp. Kids from all different schools, making different projects, and then after four weeks you go home and tell everyone how much fun you had. Kevin is a very chill and low key director on set, [Jason] Mewes is a hilarious riot of fun, and then we all go home. And instead of bracelets we made a film.”

Anderson himself is very new to the convention circuit. In fact, his appearance at GalaxyCon Richmond was his second of all time, the first being at Astronomicon in Michigan a week or two prior. The fact that Clerks is coming up on its 26th anniversary, and how quickly time has gone by, was just as much of a shock for him as it was O’Halloran. 

When asked how it feels to carry Randal with him for so long, his immediate reaction was pure nostalgia. 

“Every time stuff like that comes up, it brings me right back to shooting it,” said Anderson. “We were in this crappy store in Jersey doing this stuff, and reading these filthy words. I never thought anyone would see this movie. I literally thought nobody was going to watch it except for us that were in the movie.”

Of all the places to show the film when it was first released, Anderson recalled the stark contrast of showing it at The MoMA in New York. Imagine a room full of well-dressed people sitting down to watch Randal Graves discuss Dante’s current panic attack over learning that his girlfriend had given 37 blow jobs before meeting him. What kind of hors d’oeuvres do you serve for that exactly? 

With his first convention appearance under his belt, Anderson admitted that he was still a little nervous about his second appearance at at GalaxyCon Richmond. 

“I wasn’t sure what to expect,” he said. “I know these things go on, and I know Jason and Brian and all these guys do it, and they always talk very highly about it, but I just never worked up the courage to do it.  I have to say I had the best time [at Astronomicon], and I’m really looking forward to GalaxyCon.”

Much like O’Halloran, Anderson was most excited for two things – meeting the fans and meeting the cast of things he’s a fan of, such as AMC’s The Walking Dead. 

“Meeting people and hearing their perspective of the movie and hearing about their favorite parts, or the first time they saw it is really kind of fun,” said Anderson. “[Also] I wanna do everything Walking Dead. Actually, Michael Rooker who did [Mallrats with Kevin Smith], which I was not in, but he and I are represented by the same person, so I’m looking forward to meeting him.”

Of all of the memories he has of filming with the View Askew team, his favorites surround filming Clerks 2, mostly because he started to feel a little more comfortable in front of the camera. Anderson admits that he is generally more comfortable writing and directing, but for fans who have seen both films — and Randal’s small appearance in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back — it’s clear that Anderson made strides in the popular sequel.

“I had a harder time with the original Clerks, because I wasn’t an actor and I didn’t know what the heck I was doing,” said Anderson. “Being in front of the camera was all new and scary to me. Doing Clerks 2 is definitely a little brighter – I felt more comfortable, and we had an amazing time while filming it.”

He laughed while fondly remembering Rosario Dawson bringing back a haul from Target to decorate her room at the Days Inn where they stayed during filming, and playing poker until the late hours of the night. He remembers it feeling like a little community.

In regard to the question that was undoubtedly going to circle around the convention – is Clerks 3 finally a go? Anderson says the answer is a hard yes.

“I’d say it’s going to happen,” laughed Anderson. “I wouldn’t be going to these cons if Clerks 3 wasn’t going to happen, because I’d probably get beat up by the fans. I agreed to do Clerks 3 before going on this con tour. I shouldn’t say it’s most definitely going to happen because things happen, but from where I sit it’s a definite go.”

The seating for the Q&A panel was already starting to fill while the previous panel on the lineup was still in session, would-be audience members quietly sneaking in and grabbing what empty seats they could. The panel room quickly filled once the previous panel was over, excited fans already lining up behind the microphone to ask O’Halloran and Anderson their pressing questions.

Most audience members asked about their favorite memories while filming, many of which happened to center around the filming of Clerks 2. O’Halloran laughed as he recalled asking “the handler [of the donkey during the filming of Clerks 2] what the donkey’s name was, and he said Asphalt. I remember asking, like the road, or…?” [One hopes the pun was intended -ed.]

Other questions included what it was like to work with Smith and most of the other actors who reoccur in the View Askewniverse films. Naturally Clerks 3 was brought up once again, and both O’Halloran and Anderson confirmed that it is a go, and just waiting on Smith to finish up a draft of the script for the cast to look at.

The Q&A also featured a surprise sneak-attack appearance by Jason Mewes, who O’Halloran had earlier picked on for not being in the Clerks Q&A panel. Mewes dropped by just to say hello to the audience, and apparently to pay back O’Halloran. No better time than during a Q&A of course. Other questions dealt with the short-lived Clerks: The Animated Series; I even took a turn to inquire if Anderson believed Randal still held a vendetta against Bea Arthur and the other Golden Girls.

“Absolutely,” Anderson laughed. 

So many questions are in the air, as to what further ground could be covered in a new Clerks sequel that sees the bromance of Dante and Randal exploring life as adults in their forties. Did Dante hire anyone else at the Quick Stop? Has RST finally moved to a streaming service? Will Randal ever get a girlfriend (or a cat)?

Who knows, but regardless, here is to 37 26 more years of laughs and inspiring future filmmakers and storytellers around the world. We’re so glad that you weren’t even supposed to be here today.

Photos by Ash Griffith

RVA Comics X-Change: Issue 38 (GalaxyCon 2020 Preview Edition)

Ash Griffith | February 25, 2020

Topics: Aladdin, All-Star Superman, Amy Mebberson, Avengers: Endgame, Becky Cloonan, Brian O'Halloran, Christopher Priest, Clerks, Clue: Candlestick, comics, comics conventions, Comics X-Change, Dash Shaw, Disney Princess Comic Strips, Emi Lenox, Emitown, GalaxyCon, Gilbert Gottfried, Gotham Academy, Green Lantern: Sleepers, Guardians of the Galaxy, Invader Zim, Jason Mewes, Jeff Anderson, Linda Larkin, Michael Rooker, Michael Rosenbaum, Richard Horvitz, Ricki Simmons, Scott Weinger, Sean Gunn, Smallville, the walking dead, Tom Welling

Happiest of Tuesdays, comic fans! Welcome back to your Richmond Comics X-Change: GalaxyCon 2020 Preview Edition. This week we see the opening of GalaxyCon in Richmond, and for year two, we are going to get you prepared just in time to meet all of your favorite actors, comic book authors, and — for the auto nerds out there — even a few of your favorite sci-fi and fantasy vehicles that will be in attendance this year, as well.

February 28th marks not only the opening of GalaxyCon’s Richmond dates, but the second year of GalaxyCon making its appearance in the River City. GalaxyCon has been a gem for central Virginia for many reasons, but undeniably because of the guests. GalaxyCon has brought in a variety of people from various films, television series, comics, and even anime that fans in Virginia otherwise would not have a chance to encounter without traveling quite a distance.

As we inch ever closer to the big event, we at RVA Magazine have compiled a to-do list of comics we recommend you check out before this weekend — or if time is not your friend, in some cases a film or two — just to catch you up to speed. While this is by no means a complete list of all of the guests in attendance, it should be sufficient enough to have you ready to walk in to the convention center to take on anything. Let’s dive in.

Gotham Academy Vol. 1, by Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl

Only in Gotham City can a prestigious prep school for the elite be so much more, and so much weirder than it looks. Gotham Academy is a monthly teen drama featuring occasional appearances by, naturally, Bruce Wayne (who is a benefactor of the school) and many secret ties to old Gotham. Cloonan will be in attendance at this weekend’s festivities and is best known as, among other things, the first woman to draw Batman for DC comics. 

Clerks. The Comic Books, by Kevin Smith, Jim Mahfood, Phil Hester, and Ande Parks

Smith didn’t just manage to catch lightning in a bottle when he created the iconic comedy Clerks, he dumped it all over the place in what resulted in the View Askewniverse franchise (named after his production company, View Askew, which he owns with longtime friend and business partner Scott Mosier). As the story goes, one of the ways Smith financed the production of the film was by selling off his comic book collection; in the end, it only makes sense that his magnum opus received the comics treatment as well. The series features the ongoing stories of the main characters from the film — Dante Hicks, Randal Graves, Jay, and Silent Bob (snootch). Brian O’Halloran, Jeff Anderson, and Jason Mewes (who played Dante, Randal, and Jay respectively) will all be in attendance this weekend along with Shannon Elizabeth (who was in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back as Justice, Jay’s love interest). 
Related Film Recommendation: Clerks (of course), and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot.

Green Lantern: Sleepers: Book 1, by Christopher Priest and Mike Baron

The Green Lantern seems to have it all. He’s a member of the Justice League, and he’s the heir to the greatest weapon in the universe: the iconic Green Lantern ring. The problem? It looks like his girlfriend is in love with a normie who is about to become the most powerful villain he has ever faced. Awkward. One of writer Christopher Priest’s claims to fame is as the first African American editor in mainstream comics. The heroes he has helped shape besides Green Lantern include Black Panther and Deathstroke. Priest will be in attendance this weekend.
Related Film Recommendation: Black Panther (Let’s forget that the Ryan Reynolds Green Lantern flick ever happened). 

Clue: Candlestick #1, by Dash Shaw

Shaw, who is a Richmond native and will be making an appearance at GalaxyCon this weekend, makes his own twists and impressions on the classic mystery story by reimagining it as a psychological drama. Spoiler: It’s always Colonel Mustard. Always. 

Emitown Vol. 1, by Emi Lenox

From the comedy to the tragedy, cartoonist Emi Lenox, who will be there this weekend, drops her diary in graphics to the world. Originally starting out as a web comic, Emitown was eventually picked up by Image Publishing for publication. 

The Walking Dead: Compendium One, by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn, and Tony Moore

This iconic series needs no introduction. Originally introduced in 2003 and unexpectedly ending in July 2019, the beloved comic spawned a long-running series on AMC of the same name. GalaxyCon guest Michael Rooker played Merle Dixon (brother to Daryl) in the first three seasons of the series before meeting his demise. 
Related Television Recommendation: The Walking Dead, of course.

Invader Zim Vol. 1, by Jhonen Vasquez, Eric Trueheart, and Aaron Alexovich

The king of quirk and Hot Topic t-shirt sales, Invader Zim, is back in the last few years in the form of a comic series, though #50 will be the last before a quarterly series begins. Originally beginning as a cartoon on Nickelodeon in 2001, the show followed the misadventures of an alien named Zim looking for world domination with the help (or lack thereof) from his robot sidekick, Gir. The show was ended after two seasons, but revived in 2015 as a comic. Voice actors Richard Horvitz and Ricki Simmons (Zim and Gir respectively) will be there to fill the doom-shaped hole in your heart. 
Related Television Recommendation: Invader Zim

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1: The Final Gauntlet, by Donny Cates and Geoff Shaw

Starlord is back, the world is on fire, and Thanos is finally dead…. Kind of? Fans of the popular films will be sure to enjoy digging deeper into the universe with our favorite 80s songbird, Peter Quill, and his friends. Sean Gunn is best known as Kraglin in the series, and will be in attendance this weekend. 
Related Film Recommendation: Avengers: Endgame

All-Star Superman, by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely

In this retelling of the classic Superman mythos, our favorite hero battles Bizarro and Zibarro Superman and tackles the revenge of Lex Luthor, amongst other tales. Superman is one of the most retold stories in comics history, with one of the best interpretations undeniably being the television series, Smallville. Starring Tom Welling and Michael Rosenbaum (who will both be in attendance) as Clark and Lex respectively, the series watches the man of steel grow as a teenager and all of the pitfalls that entails. 
Related Television Recommendation: Smallville

Disney Princess Comic Strips Collections, by Amy Mebberson

In a tale as old as time, even Disney princesses get the comics treatment. While the princesses have always had their own comics, Mebberson’s touch is quirky, fun, and dressed in adorable artwork. While Mebberson will not be in attendance this weekend, we can do you three better. Linda Larkin, Scott Weinger, and Gilbert Gottfried (Princess Jasmine, Aladdin, and Iago respectively) will all be there to answer your questions about a whole new world with you. 
Film Recommendation: Aladdin (2019) – While the Disney remakes are a hot topic, this new take on the classic tale starring Will Smith brings its own touch to the classic animated film that can’t be missed. 

That does it for us this week, comic fans. We leave you today with plenty of homework ahead of you, but much like us, we bet you’re counting down the minutes until the doors open at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Friday at noon. We’ll hopefully see you this weekend at the convention! Otherwise, until next time, comic fans.

Top Photo: GalaxyCon 2019, by Ash Griffith

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