The first day of Tampa MegaCon 2017 started with the living legend, Stan Lee. The former driving force behind Marvel answered questions for about 40 minutes except for an interruption or two, like the gentleman proposing to his girlfriend.
“Come one, get on with it. He seems a nice enough fellow,” said Lee when she took a little long with her answer. “She said ‘yes’, Excelsior!”
“I don’t know how we can follow that. Does anyone want to get a divorce?” Lee joked, returning to his chair. “If anyone wants to get married, I’m authorized to do it.”
One of the new tidbits Lee revealed is that Stan Lee’s Lucky Man is finally being released in the United States. The British series follows a man (James Nesbitt) whose super power is luck. It has been very successful for Sky1 and is filming its 3rd season. Fans in the U.S. will get a legal chance to see it on DVD on December 19.
Anderson and Lee
After Lee discussed his favorite cameo (Avengers: Age of Ultron), his manager, Max Anderson, interjected, “Wait until you see the new Thor. That one is probably the best of all of them because they let him be himself.”
“All the movie stars must hate me because all my cameos are all people talk about,” Lee joked.
Stan Lee had announced a tapered retirement from conventions and his appearance last May in Orlando was supposed to be the last chance for Floridians. Then, Hurricane Irma happened.
The hurricane ravaged Florida; killing 72 people and leaving 2.6 million without power at some point. While the situation pales in comparison to Puerto Rico, even nearly three weeks later many Floridians still lack shelter, power and/or the economic means to pay their bills. Now countless people fleeing from Hurricane Maria or its aftermath are staying in Florida with relatives or friends. Feeding Florida is a network of food banks that work together with restaurants, food suppliers and others to provide food for those in need. They’re a Partner State Association of Feeding America; a national organization of food banks. Lee wanted to help however he could.
“We’re all neighbors living in this country. We’re all neighbors. Why wouldn’t you want to help out in some way?”
Lee and his company, Stan Lee Collectibles, put together five items for auction. Then, two secret prizes were added that night by Lee and surprise auctioneer, Kevin Smith.
Smith and Lee
“Sometimes, things happen and you’re like, Where? Russia? Fuck that but I know Florida,” Smith said. His mother resides in Central Florida and he spoke about his fear for her safety when the weathermen were saying the worst.
Smith and Lee have a friendship stretching back over 20 years.
“One of the nicest and most talented guys in show business” is how Lee described Smith.
“He’s contractually obliged to say that,” Smith retorted. Later, he revealed that Lee likes to diss him in a loving way.
“Kevin, have you ever seen my box office? I’m bigger than Will Smith. Do you know my lowest grossing film? Mallrats.”
Stan Lee in Mallrats
Lee’s small role in Smith’s 1995 film was how they first met.
The first four auction items included a poster, skateboard and two comics that were turned into three. Bidding came from all sides of the room as the prices climbed higher and higher. At one point, Smith described a bid as “like an Ebay sniper, he came out of nowhere!”
The fifth prize was dinner on Saturday night in Tampa with Stan Lee at the restaurant of the winning bidder’s choice. Then, there were two surprise items: a cameo in Kevin Smith’s next film, Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, and an all expense paid trip to Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con with VIP access including a Black Eyed Peas concert and dinner with Stan Lee. These went for $6,000 and $10,000 respectively. In all, $24,600 was raised from the auction and convention organizer’s also donated $10,000.
Kevin Smith and Stan Lee with Winning Bidders
Jay and Silent Bob Reboot films in Louisiana in mid-late January and Stan Lee will be there.
“Only if I get a starring role,” Lee joked when Smith revealed this news.
“You have the starring role,” Smith said back. Another confirmed role in the new film is the winning bid from the auction which turned out to be a couple. Jason Mewes asked about that and whether anything might happen in front of the camera.
“I’d pay them. I love amateur porn,” Smith said before recapping Mewes with more of what happened earlier that evening, including the auction. Their appearance started a little later than the 9:00 PM scheduled time due to the auction. What appeared to be an ordinary panel was actually their live weekly podcast, Jay & Silent Bob Get Old.
Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes
“What would you do if you show up to dinner and he (Stan Lee) says, For five more Gs, you can watch me jerk off?'”
For the next two and a half hours, Smith and Mewes said about anything and everything that came to their mind. Naturally, the discussion turned to television and Mewes mentioned DC Comics series on CW.
“Dude, you’re telling me. I was up there directing shit,” Smith reminded him. He went on to explain how directing episodes for the various series is a very different experience than a feature film with a lot less work.
“I just keep everyone’s energy up,” Smith said, describing his directing style an upcoming Supergirl he finished last month. In order to get the best performances from his actors, he gave the best performance of each scene a sticker. When he promised a puffy sticker for one scene, Chyler Leigh (Alex) told Melissa Benoist (Kara), “I’m going to murder you.”
Smith also mentioned directing a pool scene between Benoist and Odette Annable who plays this season’s villain but early on, she still seems nice and Kara assumes they will become best friends.
Smith returns to Vancouver in early-mid January for another Flash episode. However, he’s no longer allowed to drive off the set to A&W for 50 mama burgers, 20 fries and 10 rings like he did for the Supergirl episode. “Everyone gained seven pounds” and “those costumes are unforgiving.”
Kevin Smith Uses Jason Mewes to Demonstrate a Sexual Position
To see what a whole show is like, including the game involving fake sex with Jason Mewes, full episodes are available here:
http://www.smodcast.com/channel/jaysilentbobgetold?audio=202
More information on Feeding Florida, including how to give or receive help is here:
https://www.feedingflorida.org