passion = truth

TGIF! presents....Keith and "Wicked As It Seems"!

2012-01-27T08:35:00.001-06:00

Brucemore...The Big House.

2012-01-22T17:36:00.000-06:00

Songs, monologues....a thoroughly entertained crowd (plus wine, appetizers, champagne and desserts). That's "A Modern Salon" 2012. Hosted by Brucemore Mansion, a Queen-Anne home on 26 acres built between 1884-1886, preserved by the National Trust and listed on the National Register for Historic Places. 3 more shows next weekend. A sold-out, 3-week run. Special thanks to Jane Pini, Janelle Lauer, Doug Elliott and Gerard Estella of SPT Theatre for inviting me to be this year's special guest artist. Also thanks to David Janssen, executive director of Brucemore for allowing us to perform in this unique venue.

The formal gardens.

The stables transformed into offices, museum and gift shop. For more information, check out Brucemore's site here and the wikipedia link.

TGIF! presents...Happy Birthday, Shelley Fabares & "Johnny Angel"!

2012-01-20T01:00:00.003-06:00

One of my all-time favorites (Shelley). Her hit, "Johnny Angel" , was a #1 US Billboard Hot 100 chart topper in 1962, selling over a million copies. AND the ONLY woman to star in three Elvis movies.

The Really Funny Horny Goat International Short Film Festival.

2012-01-17T20:06:00.004-06:00

DRINK FILMS. WATCH BEERS. The Really Funny Horny Goat International Short Film Festival!

Do you like films? Short films? Comedy – do you like to laugh? How about short, comedy films your mother wouldn't even let you see?

Brought to you by The Horny Goat Hideaway, WMSE 91.7 FM Frontier Radio, Three Olives Vodka and Babbling Bohemian Productions.

13 international award-winning, comedy shorts you can’t see anywhere else! Direct from film festivals around the world…brought to you under the B.F.T.!

Plus…Vee Valentine from Brew City Bombshells Burlesque, The Flaming Hula Hoops, a plethora of giveaways and more!

$10 tickets per night – come either night, March 2 and 3, screenings begin promptly at 8 p.m. (same films shown each night) Private & Confidential. You can purchase at the door OR online here -

The Horny Goat Hideaway is located at 2011 South 1st Street, Milwaukee, WI 53207-1101
(414) 482-4628

A Modern Salon opening weekend @ Brucemore!

2012-01-16T22:32:00.000-06:00

Great opening weekend. Appreciative crowds. And the folks I'm performing with are outstanding. Love it at Brucemore - The Big House. 2 shows down, 5 to go.

"Sorry, Aaron, it's true."

2012-01-16T22:20:00.001-06:00

Finally something Milwaukee's SportsRadio 1250 and I agree on. Packers got their cheese unexpectedly curdled yesterday in the divisional match-up with the New York Giants - NY 37, GB 20. Season over - first time in NFL history a 15-1 team went one and done.

Read Josh Vernier's blog post here.

Rehearsing for A Modern Salon 2012 @ Brucemore.

2012-01-14T11:33:00.000-06:00

Left to right: Jane Pini, Doug Elliott and Janelle Lauer. Opening night (last night) went well. A few tweeks and we'll be ready for tonight's show. If you're in Cedar Rapids this evening, stop by (although I think we're sold out).

TGIF! presents...Mary Hopkins' "Those Were the Days"!

2012-01-13T01:00:00.000-06:00

For Gerard, Jane, Janelle, Doug and all my friends in Iowa.

"Thank you, thank you very much. I'll be appearing at the Brucemore Estate..."

2012-01-06T16:26:00.003-06:00

...in A Modern Salon! This is my first time performing in Iowa since December 1997 ("Jack and Jill" at Riverside Theater in Iowa City) and the first time performing in Cedar Rapids since "A Chorus Line" in....I think it was the summer of 1997.

In its 9th year, A Modern Salon takes its inspiration from the Parisian salons of the early first half of the 20th century, offering an evening of great music, lively stories, and engaging conversation. Not only will I be performing in the company of such talented theater friends - (left to right in picture above) Jane Pini, Janelle Lauer, Doug Elliott and Gerard Estella - but I get to perform at Brucemore, the 128-year-old Queen Anne mansion preserved by the National Trust and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Here's an interactive look at Brucemore - feel free to peruse the entire website. We'll be performing in the Great Hall (2nd picture of the Mansion Tour section) Also, here's an article on A Modern Salon, along with an interview Diana Nollen did with me on being chosen as the show's special guest artist.

Three weekends. Six shows - and we're sold out. They've added a 1/26 show but I would give Brucemore a call pronto for availability. CURTAIN UP!

TGIF! presents....The Chieftains' "Walsh's Hornpip!"

2012-01-06T10:29:00.000-06:00

I'm feeling rather Celtic this morning.

Dear Asshole...

2012-01-02T21:56:00.000-06:00

Dear Asshole Who Didn't Clean Up After Their Dog,

I don't know what you've been feeding that pet of yours, but it left a pile of human-sized turds in the middle of the sidewalk. Guess what? This isn't Fido's personal toilet, you asshole! It's a public sidewalk and no one in the neighborhhod wants to walk by, inhale, step in, or otherwise interact with his shit. It's time for you to embrace the responsibilites of pet ownnership. Attach some plastic baggies to your hand. Buy yourself a pooper scooper. Anything. Because the next time you fail to clean up after your dog's dump, I'm going to follow you home and smear it on your pillow. Comprende?

Smooches.

PS Cesar Millan called. He said you were an asshole.

Someone stole my idea. Dang! And, it's written by two women! Nice. Hey assholes, next time your write a book, try including page numbers.

TCM Remembers....

2011-12-31T08:00:00.002-06:00

"Like warm apple pie."

2011-12-30T18:59:00.002-06:00

3:15 p.m. Silhouette.

2011-12-30T18:24:00.000-06:00

Yesterday. Glen Mar.

Avril Lavigne's just asking for a beating.

2011-12-26T21:23:00.003-06:00

Wait - I guess 5 people already did that. Read about it here. See what her face looked like post beating here.

Singer Avril Lavigne graced the November 2010 Maxim cover and the picture above was one of the featured shots of Lavigne inside. The story of Avril's ass being kicked - and this pictorial - are old news. However, someone posted this article from NPR today, discussing the wave of profanity in songs this past year and I thought the article tied in nicely with the Avril-flipping-the-bird-picture + her getting beat up in Hollywood.

Rock and Roll has always had its bad asses. Elvis, The Stones, The Sex Pistols, The Who, Def Leppard, Grace Slick, whatever. That's nothing new.

This flipping the bird shit with celebs. I don't get it. Am I supposed to feel threatened by Lavigne? Am I supposed to respect her more because she's a "bad ass"? Or like her more? Or go buy her albums because she's "cool"? I understand Lavigne's concerts and albums have been in decline. Maybe that's why she's upped the badness.

I'm not impressed. A small child can be taught to flip his or finger up. People who are "bad" don't have to be overt about it. They don't have to flip you off or use profane language. When Avril and her boytoy, Brody Jenner, got their asses kicked earlier this year, maybe Avril flipped the wrong people off and pissed them off. Maybe the "bad ass" got her ass kicked by the real bad asses.

She makes me laugh.

Merry Christmas from Greendale, Wisconsin!

2011-12-25T15:25:00.004-06:00

Seasons Greetings! Click on READ MORE and come in for a visit...

Christmas Eve. Owner. Green Bay Packers.

2011-12-25T09:11:00.002-06:00

My brother and I purchased a one stock ownership in the Green Bay Packers NFL football franchise for my father. He is now an owner of the Green Bay Packers. He was thrilled.

Christmas has an evil side. Krampus.

2011-12-24T10:35:00.001-06:00

Meet Santa's helper here.

Dickens' "Fred" & "Bess" have nothin' on these two!

2011-12-24T10:22:00.003-06:00

Barry MacKay and Lynne Carver portrayed Fred (Scrooge's nephew) and Bess (Fred's betrothed) in the 1938 A Christmas Carol. Definitely the hottest "Fred" and "Bess" of all the Christmas Carol movies.

Beauty isn't always within.

2011-12-22T15:30:00.002-06:00

Whatever the gift or bauble you've made or purchased for that special someone this Christmas season, let me say that the extra care you take in the presentation of said gift goes a long way. I learned this from three people: my mother, the bitch I worked for in Bel Air and my best friend from h.s. (and a few gay friends). Take it from experience, a well conceived, thoughtful wrapping job like this will go the extra mile in making you look like a knight.

Or a sir. It's not a "womanly" thing, guys. Give it a try.

The Nowak's....Grafton, Wisconsin!

2011-12-22T14:00:00.000-06:00

My dad's youngest sister and her family.

The Schmidt's...New Berlin, Wisconsin!

2011-12-22T13:59:00.000-06:00

The Santaland Diaries.

2011-12-22T10:16:00.002-06:00

Heard a snippet of this on NPR Saturday. Listen here. Sedaris spent some time as a department store elf. This is his account of "that incident".

I had two people say that to me today: 'I'm going to have you fired.' Go ahead, be my guest. I'm wearing a green velvet costume. It doesn't get any worse than this. Who do these people think they are? 'I'm going to have you fired'...I want to lean over and say, 'I'm going to have you killed.'

The Favre's...Hattiesburg, MS!

2011-12-22T07:58:00.001-06:00

The Kazar's....Wheaton, IL!

2011-12-22T07:50:00.004-06:00

Separated at Birth? Me & Justin Timberlake?

2011-12-22T07:32:00.000-06:00

What? Are you fucking stupid? No. This post never happened. DISLIKE.

"A Christmas Story" original theatrical trailer.

2011-12-21T10:12:00.001-06:00

A Christmas classic. Visit the original, rennovated home of Ralphie here.

Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] NOW it was serious. A double-dog-dare. What else was there but a "triple dare you"? And then, the coup de grace of all dares, the sinister triple-dog-dare.

Schwartz: I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!

Ralphie as Adult: [narrating] Schwartz created a slight breach of etiquette by skipping the triple dare and going right for the throat!

Ode to Christmas...by Chuck Kramer

2011-12-20T08:43:00.001-06:00

NPR's been playing this for 20 years. Kramer changes it from time to time to reflect the pop culture of that particular season.

Lord …and Taylor. Anne Taylor. Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, Cuisinart, Wal-Mart, cotton-polyester, budget stretcher, store-wide, half-off, all sales final, simulated wood-grain vinyl. 12 months interest-free, HD, 3D, 4G, Blue-Ray, Bluetooth, LCD, LED, WiFi, hot-spot, buy a Kindle, or a Nook. Nintendo, Guitar Hero, waterproof, oven-proof, shockproof, 90-proof, down the hatch, dollar-a-batch, doesn’t match, helter-skelter, Alka-Seltzer. Amazon, BestBuy, eBay, Abercrombie, shopping zombie, UPS, CVS, JVC, DVD, GE, GI Joe, Axe, Fax, TJ Maxx, Timex, FedEx, AmEx, Gortex, X-Box, Reeboks, Ink-Jet, Polartec, J Crew, Jean Nate, Cachet, Faberge, Gourmet, Old Spice, LL Bean, I-Pad, I-Pod, I-Zod, Egad! Polo, Play-Doh, Lego, Tickle Me Elmo, Casio, Hasbro, Tyco, Tonka, Barbie, Dolby, Duracell, Eveready, rechargeable, returnable, recordable, portable, digital, trivial pursuit. London Fog, Canadian Club, Scotch Tape, Irish Mist, English Leather, Russian Vodka, Stolichnaya, Sterling Silver, Lady Schick, sure-stick, non-stick, Water-Pik, Shreve, Crump, Low watt, crock, pot. Cotton Dockers? Guess. One Day Sale, Buy Two, Three-speed, Four-slice, Saks Fifth Ave, Windows 7, Nine-volt, Ten-speed, 12-cup, Building 19, 1-800, kilo, mega, giga, tera, byte, white sale, infra-red, Walgreens, Black Friday. Black and Decker, Spelling checker, What the heck, Deck the halls with Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Sansui, Fuji, Sony, Seiko, Samsung, Panasonic, instant classic, automatic, anti-static, alkaline, online, nine to nine, Calvin Klein, Anne Klein, Anne & Hope, Anne Taylor, Lord & Taylor. Good Lord. What have we done to Christmas?

The McCann-Glover's...Tunjuna, California!

2011-12-20T08:00:00.002-06:00

My goddaughter, Gwyneth (left) and Grace and Donovan & Maria.

Merry Christmas, God Bless & Happy New Year!

2011-12-19T09:09:00.000-06:00

The Perkins' Family...Cedar Rapids, Iowa!

2011-12-19T06:00:00.006-06:00

Nick, Angela and Ava.

A Civil Wars' Christmas tune.

2011-12-18T21:00:00.003-06:00

TGIF! presents....Deano and Frankie's "Marshmellow World"!

2011-12-16T06:50:00.000-06:00

I miss them. Especially Dean Martin, my favorite all-around entertainer. Very few entertainers out there today that can hold a candle to them.

Reward Walker!

2011-12-12T10:01:00.002-06:00

Acer saccharum...a living memorial.

2011-12-11T13:25:00.001-06:00

I finally got a print made of this grand sugar maple in Western Wisconsin where my brother and I tap and make maple syrup. Below is a better look at the photograph. Trying to think of a title for this...maybe Acer saccharum? I have a number of original photographs I want to frame and hang in my house, as well as matte and sell. Whatdaya think?

Milwaukee North Side gang bangers?

2011-12-11T12:46:00.001-06:00

No - but they might as well be. Gates (top) and Guyn are fellow teammates on the University of Cincinnati basketball team. They got into it with players from rival Xavier and the shit hits the fan. As you watch the video, you'll see that an Xavier player does retaliate against Guyn, but Guyn threw the first punch. Not as much of a whallop as Gates' punch, but a punch nevertheless. Plus, Guyn's altercation/punch started the whole mess.

Gates for sure will be suspended. He should be arrested for assault and tossed out of college hoops for good. And the Xavier players involved should also be disciplined.

Perkins' Christmas Tree 2011!

2011-12-09T13:47:00.001-06:00

Nick, Angela and Ava doin' it up 60's style in Cedar Rapids. This is in the basement...the main tree is upstairs. One tree per blog post, Mista!

TGIF! presents...Peat cutting in Ireland!

2011-12-09T08:11:00.000-06:00

The Irish goverment, it seems, will be clamping down on these peat cutters. There are laws in place to limit the amount of peat harvesting - for ecological purposes - that one can do but the restrictions have never been enforced. Bastards!

The King Who Never Smiles. Buy it. You'll smile.

2011-12-08T13:57:00.000-06:00

Just don't blog about it because the Thai government says its "unauthorized" and that you'd be committing a crime by doing so IF you're of Thai origin. You can buy it here. In two related articles, an American-born Taiwanese is jailed for two years and Taiwan's crack-down on the king's online critics.

My 3,000th post...and a fitting farewell to Harry Morgan.

2011-12-07T19:41:00.000-06:00

Harry Morgan played Colonel Potter on MASH. He passed away today. This is one of my favorite MASH scenes and thought this would be wonderful tribute for my 3,000th post on PASSION = TRUTH. Watch through 'til the end, for Mr. Morgan.

Badgers Rose Bowl Bound...again!

2011-12-06T10:10:00.000-06:00

In a rematch against Michigan St. at the inaugural Big Ten Championship game, the Wisconsin Badgers prevailed, beating Michigan St.. 42-39 in a nailbiter. Wisconsin will face Oregon at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Cali on January 2 and the Badgers are the underdog.

My "porn star" wish list.

2011-12-05T10:36:00.002-06:00

You might know know this but many porn stars have "wish lists" on their websites (a friend of mine told me about it). Whatever they don't have, they get their fans to buy it for them. I suppose if the fans are that dumb, why not.

The new biography on Spencer Tracy is out. It's like $50. The two-time Oscar winner and native Milwaukeean has always intrigued me...not just his movies but his personal life (his affair with Katherine Hepburn while never divorcing his wife...that sort of shit).

I'm not a porn star. But if someone buys this for me I'll give you an autographed picture of my breast. It's a start, right?

Happy Birthday, Denny!

2011-12-05T07:11:00.001-06:00

Dennis' birthday was yesterday. One of the Wilson brothers who founded The Beach Boys, Dennis passed away in 1983, not quite 40. The blond in the video is his wife at the time, model/actress Karen Lamm. She passed away in 2001 of heart failure. I knew her the last year of her life. She once said to me flirtingly, "back in the day, I would've went after you" . Meaning me. One of the most flattering comments I've ever heard.

"River Song" is from Dennis' solo album, Pacific Ocean Blue. It's been reissued and it is excellent.

Heady Hedy. Pretty...and smart.

2011-12-02T08:50:00.000-06:00

Not only was actress Hedy Lamarr gorgeous, she starred in the first nude scene in motion picture history (Ecstasy, 1933), as well as the first on-screen orgasm. And - Hedy is the co-inventor of the fequency-hopping spread-spectrum. Without it, you wouldn't be reading this right now.

Hedy and her assets in Ecstasy.

Christmas TGIF! presents...CBS Christmas message!

2011-12-02T07:25:00.000-06:00

december 1. frozen.

2011-12-01T16:55:00.000-06:00

"Soon shall the winter’s foil be here;

Soon shall these icy ligatures unbind and melt — A little while..."

excerpt from, "Soon Shall the Winter's Foil Be Here",
by Walt Whitman, from Leaves of Grass, 1888.

Nova Scotia Balsam. Model #2011.

2011-11-30T20:18:00.001-06:00

Last year's Christmas tree (after I tossed her outside) didn't start turning brown until May. Really. I love real trees. It's Celtic, primative...and she smells good.

Separated at Birth? Dominic Cooper & any pug.

2011-11-30T18:33:00.001-06:00

Saw Dominic Cooper in My Week with Marilyn. The pug? Well, it's a pug.

Tullamore Dew. Drink up, laddies!

2011-11-29T00:04:00.000-06:00

And lasses. My friend, Marisa, graces one of Tullamore's print ads in their latest advertising campaign. You can read more about it here. I'm jealous - if you know me well than you know of my affinity for anything Irish.

That's Marisa and I at the Los Angeles ShortsFest in July for the film I wrote. See...I told you it's her mug in that ad. DRINK TULLAMORE DEW WHISKEY!

DeSean Jackson's a dick. Part Deux.

2011-11-27T17:05:00.000-06:00

I blogged about this douche bag back in 2009. Some people don't change their stripes. Watch this video from last week's game against the Giants. He INT'd the ball and ran 50 yards - not sure if he was tackled or scored a TD - only to have his run negated because he was called for taunting.

He's done this before (read the blog link from 2009). He's been in trouble with his coach for recently missing meetings. He's a bad seed. I hope he rips his Achilles tendon for good. The NFL doesn't need assholes like him.

Mission rocker.

2011-11-27T16:22:00.000-06:00

Scored this mofo from an antique dealer in Marion, Iowa. Could be a Stickley but no identifying tags or stickers. It's Arts and Crafts, that's for sure and I'm guessing at least 70-years-old. Anyone know an antique appraiser? I've been looking for one for a while. $179. Then I hemmed and hawed about whether it would fit in my car and she took another $20 off.

And - and even if it was a reproduction (which it isn't), you couldn't purchase it for what I paid.

Things found in a Cemetery #4.

2011-11-25T15:45:00.000-06:00

TGIF! presents...."A Christmas Carol" @ Theatre Cedar Rapids!

2011-11-25T01:00:00.002-06:00

Heading to Cedar Rapids for opening night of one my favorite stories - maybe my most favorite story of all time. Check out this preview.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:12:00.000-06:00

Be thankful. There's always someone or something who has it worse...like this turkey.

"Show It at the Beach".

2011-11-20T08:03:00.000-06:00

For those of you who think Shel Silverstein wrote only for children.

SHOW IT AT THE BEACH

Oh, they won't let us show it at the beach.

No, they won't let us sho it at the beach.

They think we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach.

And they won't let us show it at the beach.

But you... can show it in your parlor to most anyone you choose.

You can show it at a party with your second shot of booze.

You can show it on the corner wearin' overcoat and shoes,

But they won't let us show it at the beach.

No... they won't let us show it at the beach, friends.

Ah... they won't let us show it at the beach.

Oh, they're sure we're gonna grab it if it gets within our reach.

So they won't let us show it at the beach.

But you can show it at the movies on the cineramic screen.

You can show it in the most sophisticated magazine.

You can show it while you're bouncing on the high school trampoline,

But they won't let us show it at the beach.

But if you've got a gun, it's legal to display it on your hip.

You can show your butcher knives to any interested kid.

But if it's made for lovin', then you'd better keep it hid.

And they won't let us show it at the beach.

;)

2011-11-20T07:20:00.000-06:00

I think Natalie Wood's sister was the better looking one...

They love PASS THE SALT, PLEASE in St. Louey!

2011-11-19T19:58:00.000-06:00

...It was the last short and the crowd loved it. Lots of laughter and smiling faces as folks exited.

- Bill Spath, Operations Supervisor, Cinema St. Louis

If everyone reading this would give me $5....

2011-11-19T17:13:00.001-06:00

...I could produce one of my plays.

Well....if Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales can ask for money, why not me?

Happy Birthday, Gordo!

2011-11-19T10:45:00.001-06:00

Gordon Lightfoot turned 73 on Thursday. One of the greatest singer/songwriter/poets of our time. Here's a favorite Gordo tune I'm sure you've heard.

Driver disses old pal Favre? Really?

2011-11-18T19:07:00.000-06:00

In a recent interview, Green Bay Packer WR Donald Driver extolled the virtues of working with QB Aaron Rodgers - while slighting former GB QB Brett Favre.

I've played with two quarterbacks. One just went out there and did what he did, and he wasn't patient at all. But Aaron takes what the defense gives him, and that's the type of guy you want. - Donald Driver.

Driver is correct in stating that Favre wasn't as patient at Rodgers, let's say. You know, the gunslinger type. But why is a reporter pimping Driver by asking him this question now? Favre's long gone as a Packer. Talk about beating a dead horse. And Packer fans want me to "let it go"? Wonder why no journalists asked Driver this question when the Packers went 6-10 the season immediately after Favre's departure from Green Bay?

Funny...Driver never complained about Favre's style those 9 years when Brett was tossing DD the ball, mounting up all those TD's and catches, was he? Check here for Driver's stats. All 3 years Driver was selected to the Pro Bowl while playing with Favre, he never complained once about Favre's style back then. No siree.

Hmmmm...must be that Super Bowl ring. Sure it is...

TGIF! presents....The Beach Boys Acapella!

2011-11-18T06:27:00.000-06:00

Mauston. 2011.

2011-11-15T20:21:00.018-06:00

The Ircink's are a family - and an extended family - of bow hunters. My dad, brother, myself, my dad's brother - Uncle Fran - and 1st cousin, Gerry, family friends Dave & Bruce Hranicka, Gary Schmidt, Dave's son, Lucas, has hunted with us a few times, Rick Nowak - my Uncle Bob's brother, Gary's son, Matty, my theater buddy, Jim Keller. Family and friends.

My brother started hunting in 1980, not yet in high school. I started after him in 1981, a senior at the time. I don't think I missed a season from 1981 thru the fall of 1997. Then I moved to Cali for 12 years. That's my brother (above) with Kenny Koepsel...the "Kahuna" - the man who's been leading bowhunts up here since the 1950's. Time is a grim reminder that "the good ole days" are fleeting. Kenny doesn't walk like he used to. Neither does my dad. The old guard is either dying off or is too old and has given hunting up. There were times when we'd have 25 guys hunting over a week in November. For three days it was just the seven of us. Jas and I made most of the drives for the rest of the hunters - all 65+ in years. I miss the old days. The old times we had. If I could go back for just a day...

The weather was pretty nice. We kicked out quite a few deer, just the seven of us. Even a couple bucks. Some guys got shooting. Some didn't. I never even saw a deer. It didn't matter. I was with my family of bow hunters....in Nature.

Click on READ MORE and follow me as I walk through the woods.

Me on a stand.

Can you spot my brother?

Left to right: The Kahuna - Kenny K., Teddy & Kathy, Bill Doody, Dad and Jason.

Backside (above) and front side (below) of a fungi.

Me.

Fall cauliflower.

2011-11-13T13:06:00.000-06:00

Come on....grow ya little bastages.

I quit.

2011-11-12T05:54:00.000-06:00

TGIF! presents...Benny Benassi's "Satisfaction"

2011-11-11T06:37:00.000-06:00

St. Loueyyyyyy Blues! PASS THE SALT headin' to St. Louis!

2011-11-08T04:40:00.012-06:00

The St. Louis Film Festival might be the last festival for PASS THE SALT, PLEASE this year. I'm not sure how many more film fests we've submitted to - 15, 20. We'll start to hear back on those after January 1. Sponsored by Stella Artois, click here for our shorts program. We screen at the Tivoli Theatre, Wednesday, November 16 @ 9:15 pm.

Retro. College ID card.

2011-11-06T19:17:00.001-06:00

Not sure what year this was. 1982-86. Much of it's a blur.

TGIF! presents...The Beach Boys' "SMiLE Sessions"!

2011-11-04T06:26:00.002-05:00

Here are a few quotes from some friends of mine on the release (yesterday) of The Beach Boys' "SMiLE Sessions"...

Brian and his great band recorded new tracks and vocals for the previous release (2004) - yesterday's release uses the original Beach Boys' tracks and vocals from the '60s plus lots of alternate versions and also includes bonus material...

- Billy Hinsche, Utah, back-up musician and singer for The Beach Boys

The SMILE collection that was just released is the original tracks from the Beach Boys... Our 2004 recording was Brian and Van Dyke Parks' version (Brian's band playing and singing) 40 years later. Both cool in my eyes. :)

- Taylor Mills, Austin, TX, back-up singer for Brian Wilson

Hey Jeff, in a nutshell the SMiLE that was released in 2004 was Brian Wilson presents SMiLE. Brian, Darian, Van Dyke got together and basically completed the 1966/67 SMiLE. The 2004 versions contains Brian's amazing backing band. So... the SMiLE sessions that has just been released is The Beach Boys 1966 that was never completed in its original form. Original track listing and running order never was decided upon until 2004. Over the many years there have been many bootlegs and fan versions of the original based on Brian's 2004 version(many call it a blueprint). So now we have the original album art and booklet that was to have been released back in 66/67 with many outtakes, studio banter plus the SMiLE album by The Beach Boys based on the 2004 track listing...phew.. Trust me a lot of us fans are very very relieved and very excited. The mythical SMiLE album is here.

- Paul McPherson, Australia, FB friend and Beach Boys nut, like me

Check out these reviews in Rolling Stone and the Los Angeles Times.

Congratulations Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys!

Ginkgo leaf.

2011-11-02T21:42:00.000-05:00

First time I ever heard of this leaf - and the tree - was at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, my alma mater.

BOO! Happy Halloween.

2011-10-31T01:00:00.004-05:00

I've been posting this narrative by Tom Waits every Halloween since I started blogging in 2007. Never gets old.

A Halloween read.

2011-10-31T00:45:00.009-05:00

Read this 10-minute short I wrote, JESUS PUSHED A GROCERY CART. Unproduced, but eyeing a Spring 2013 production in Milwaukee. Have had a couple people read it - and they liked. Click on READ MORE for the text. It may just freak you out.

“I hear and behold God in every object...

In the faces of men and women I see God, and in my

own face in the glass...”

– Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”,

Leaves of Grass, 1860

“Jesus Pushed A Grocery Cart”

Cast of Characters

THE MAN: 35-55, on-the-go, “with it”, white collar, businessman

THE BUM: 45+, homeless, dirty, mean-spirited, resentful

Setting: A freeway underpass in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Time: Right now.

(Los Angeles, California. Evening. A car with the hood up is stalled off the side of the road near a freeway underpass. There’s MAN underneath the car who periodically yells, “Sonofabitch”. He then checks under the hood. He’s dressed casually – nice shoes, jeans and sport jacket. He closes the hood and pulls out his cell.)

MAN: Sonofabitch! (Into the cell.) Hey - it’s me. The car died. I don’t know – it just quit. Yeh I’m fine. I have no idea. I tried. Uh-huh. Where are you right now? Shit. I’m gonna starting walking then. Uh-huh. Yeh. Where? (Looking around.) Um...St. Mary’s Crescent and...just south of Millbrook. I dunno – a couple miles maybe. Yeh. OK. Wait – I could call Triple A for a - hey? Hello? Katie? Sonofabitch! (His phone dies. He tries calling. Nothing.) Sonofabitch! Why me? Every fucking time. Motherfucking piece of shit. Fuck!

(Standing outside the car, the MAN changes out of his suit jacket, puts on a coat, dons a #4 Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings baseball cap and grabs his briefcase, bottled water and a few other personal belongings. Meanwhile, a BUM pushing a grocery cart enters from stage left. Dirty, dressed in rags and holding a VIETNAM VET sign, the BUM stops and sorts through a garbage can. The MAN doesn’t notice the BUM at first, but once he does, he jumps into his car and “busies himself”. The BUM pushes his cart past the MAN’S car, stops for second, then walks up to the car and raps on the window.)

BUM: Need some help? (The MAN waves him off.) What?!

(The MAN rolls the window down.)

MAN: What?

BUM: Do you need some help?

MAN: No. I’m good. Thank you. (Rolls up the window.) Thank you.

(The BUM waves and continues pushing his cart off-stage right. The MAN looks to see that the BUM is gone, then gets out of his car. He’s just about ready to leave stage left when the BUM returns from stage right.)

BUM: Hey, wait up!

(The MAN makes a run for it but drops some papers. The BUM catches up and helps pick up the MAN’S belongings.)

MAN: I got – thanks. (The BUM hands him some papers.) Thank you.

(The MAN tries leaving but the BUM blocks his path.)

BUM: Little car trouble, huh?

MAN: Um...no...just parking it here for a while – for now.

BUM: Where ya going?

MAN: (Beat) To a friend’s.

BUM: Why don’t you just drive there?

MAN: I would...drive, but I enjoy walking. I walk a lot.

BUM: Do you know of a place named “Pico Rivera”?

MAN: “Pico Rivera?” Is that a business?

BUM: (More succinctly.) Do-you-know-of-a-place-named-“Pico Rivera”?

MAN: (Irritated.) No.

(Beat. The BUM is still blocking the MAN’S way.)

BUM: Which way you goin’?

MAN: (Nodding.) That way.

BUM: Which way?

MAN: (Pointing stage left.) That way. The way you’re blocking.

BUM: Oh – pardon me.

MAN: Thanks.

BUM: (The MAN exits stage left, downstage.) Sorry! Didn’t mean to block your way! I forgot this is YOUR WORLD!!

(Beat. The BUM disappears stage left. The MAN reappears upstage, stage left, crossing in a diagonal. The MAN and the BUM play a cat and mouse game, crossing the stage a couple times. Finally, the MAN reappears on stage – alone. He stops to rest and rummages through his briefcase, not seeing the BUM emerge from the wings. The BUM spots the MAN and lets his shopping cart fly across the stage in the direction of the MAN. The MAN hears the cart and looks up, just in time to prevent the cart from crashing into him.)

MAN: HEY!? What is your fucking problem, man?! Why are you following me?

BUM: (Approaching the MAN.) I’m not following you.

MAN: Yes you are.

BUM: No – I’m not. I just happen to be going the same way you are. Is there a law that says –

MAN: (Overlapping.) No...fine...go ahead.

BUM: OK. Sorry about the cart. Got away from me. (He takes two steps, turns and stops.) Hey, you got any spare change?

MAN: (Under his breath.) Took’em long enough.

BUM: What’s that?

MAN: I said I wish I had some. (Hands in pockets.) Nope – no change.

BUM: Singles’ll do just fine.

MAN: I don’t have any singles either.

BUM: A five would be even better. Ten…

MAN: Look, I don’t have any ones on me...or fives, or tens... (He takes out his wallet and opens it.) I don’t. See –

BUM: I see some money.

MAN: Huh. I could’ve sworn I didn’t have –

BUM: Ya got plenty to go around. Can I have a dollar? Come on, man. You can spare a buck, can’t ya?

MAN: Yeh – fine. Here’s a dollar. Now can I…go? Alone?

BUM: Sure. If you want.

MAN: Whatdaya mean, ‘if I want’?

BUM: Maybe you want some company.

MAN: I don’t need any company.

BUM: I didn’t say you “needed” company. I said “want”. I thought perhaps you “wanted” some company.

MAN: I do not “want” any company, thank you.

BUM: Ya sure? Doesn’t look like anyone’s comin’ to get you.

MAN: I’m aware of that. That’s why I’m trying to walk home.

BUM: I thought you were walking to a friend’s?

MAN: Yeh – a friend’s and then home.

BUM: A friend’s and then home.

MAN: (Beat) Are you trying to irritate me on purpose or is that just your nature?

BUM: Are you trying to irritate me?

MAN: I’m outta here.

(The MAN starts off stage right. The BUM leaves his cart and follows.)

BUM: Wait!

MAN: WHAT?!!

BUM: (Beat) Nothing. I just didn’t want you to leave me, that’s all.

MAN: (Noticing the BUM’S sign.) Are you really a Vietnam vet?

BUM: No. (The MAN points to the sign.) What? The sign? Listen, brother, I may be a bum but I ain’t stupid. This is how I make my living. People eat this shit up.

MAN: Well it’s a disgrace to those who did serve in Vietnam or any war, for that matter – living, dead or homeless. You should be ashamed of yourself.

BUM: Are you serious? Look at me. You think I’m ashamed of anything I do? (Beat) Are you a veteran?

MAN: No.

BUM: Then maybe you shut your piehole, OK?

MAN: Listen - I feel bad. I really do. I mean, I don’t like to see this happen to anyone anymore than you like living it. It’s a tragedy – really. We all have our dignity and it’s not fair that –

BUM: Don’t bullshit me, man.

MAN: What?

BUM: (Overlapping.) Did you memorize that?

MAN: No –

BUM: (Overlapping.) ‘Cause it sounds memorized.

MAN: I was empathizing with your being homeless.

BUM: I don’t need your empathy. (Pause) Who said I’m homeless anyways?

MAN: Are you serious?

BUM Yeh. What makes you think I’m homeless?

(The MAN looks in the back of the BUM’S cart.)

MAN: Wild guess.

BUM: What – because I push a grocery cart filled with everything I own? That makes me homeless and a bad person?

MAN: I never said you were a bad person. You know what – I’m not having this conversation with you, alright? I’m not responsible for you being on the street, OK? I gave you a buck and now I have to get home.

BUM: But first you’re going to your friend’s.

MAN: Friend’s. Home. Whatever. I’m leaving.

BUM: I’m not a bad person.

MAN: Fine. I believe you. OK? You’re not a bad person.

BUM: Are you?

MAN: Am I a bad person? No.

BUM: How do you know that?

MAN: How should I know?

BUM: Well either you’re a bad person or you’re not. (Beat) I’m sorry. I’m just flipping you shit. (Pause. The BUM eyes the MAN’S hat, then points to the hat.) He’s a crazy motherfucker.

MAN: Who?

BUM: Brett Favre.

MAN: Oh…

BUM: I like Brett Favre. He was a throwback player.

MAN: Yes he was.

BUM: When he threw back, YOU’ALL BETTER WATCH IT! HAHAHA. (Beat) Gunslinger.

MAN: Yep.

BUM: I think the Packers screwed him over.

MAN: Me too.

BUM: Cocksuckers.

MAN: Yeh..

BUM: (Screams.) MOTHERFUCKING COCKSUCKERS!! (Beat)
You know what would be funny? If they brought Favre onto the field in a wheelchair when he was like 80 and he was still slinging the football 50 yards in the air. That would be funny. I bet he could do it, too.

MAN: Wouldn’t surprise me. (The BUM sits on the curb.) Didn’t take you for a Favre fan.

BUM: Bums can’t be Favre fans?

MAN: You see? That - why are you always on the defensive?

BUM: Wouldn’t you be if you were me? (Beat) How do you know you’re not a bad person?

MAN: I don’t. (Beat) Bad people are motivated by their own self-interests. I care about other people. I don’t think I’m...inherently a bad person. I may do some not-so-nice things from time to time, but –

BUM: (Interrupting.) I’m a good person, in case you were wondering. Just haven’t had the dice roll in my favor for a while. You know, like some other folk have. (Beat) If you’re not a bad person, why are you trying to get rid of me?

MAN: How am I trying to get rid of you? I gave you money. We’re talking, aren’t we? (Beat) I just wanna get home to my wife, that’s all. Does that make me a bad person? To wanna get home to my wife? I don’t think so.

(Pause)

BUM: Do you take the Lord Jesus Christ as your savior?

MAN: What?

BUM: Do you take –

MAN: I heard what you said. (Beat) I don’t discuss religion – with anyone, including strangers. It brings out the worst in people. It’s no different than having a conversation about sex or politics.

BUM: I didn’t say I wanted to fuck ya.

MAN: You’re a rude man, did you know that?

BUM: Sorta.

MAN: (Beat) Well I sort of believe in Jesus, OK?

BUM: I didn’t ask you if you “believed” in him. I asked if you take him as your savior.

MAN: What’s the difference?

BUM: Anybody can go to Church and say they believe in Jesus. People pray to him all the time when it’s convenient. But accepting Him into your life in an effort to lead your life solely for His purpose? That’s a whole nuther ballgame, brother.

MAN: I’ve got nothing against Jesus. He just hasn’t done me any favors lately, you know what I mean?

BUM: Maybe your view of Jesus is based on the fact that you haven’t let Him into your heart completely – selflessly. The most important thing Jesus said was, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ When Jesus created us he gave us the gift of free will. You’ve got the gift of life. You’ve got a home, a wife who loves you, a job – you’re healthy. You have the opportunity to take advantage of everything the good Lord has placed on this Earth. The question you need to ask yourself is what have you done for Him lately?

MAN: No disrespect but what have you got to be thankful for?

BUM: I’m alive. I’ve accepted Jesus as my Savior. And I have opportunity. Just haven’t taken full advantage of it, is all. I’m waiting for the right moment.

MAN: And when will that be?

BUM: Haven’t figured that out yet. I’ll know it when it’s staring me in the face. Like death. It’s all part of the journey.

MAN: You don’t sound like a –

BUM: A bum?

MAN: If you keep interrupting me I’m not gonna talk to you. (Silence.) What I was trying to ask you is how did you get here? What did you do before?

BUM: It doesn’t matter. I’m here. So are you. (Beat) Do I remind you of Jesus?

MAN: In what way?

BUM: I’m poor. I wear rags. I walk the earth preaching the Word to anyone who’ll listen. People find me inconsequential.

MAN: Except Jesus didn’t have any possessions.

(The MAN points to the shopping cart.)

BUM: I believe there’s a little bit of Jesus in all of us – once you’ve accepted Him into your heart.

MAN: Right. (Beat) I should get going.

BUM: (Rising.) Wait. Before you go, you up for a bit of no-nonsense, words of wisdom from a homeless, Jesus freak?

MAN: If it’ll get me home faster...sure. Why not.

BUM: Two things. Number one. “Hate war but love the American soldier.” Got it?

MAN: Got it. Who said that?

BUM: I just did. And Lieutenant Colonel Hal Moore, 1st Battalion, 7th Cavalry, Vietnam Conflict. (Standing at attention.) ATTENTION!

MAN: Ok...what’s the second thing?

BUM: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus said that.

MAN: That I know. That’s good. I’ll remember them both. Thanks.

BUM: Glad to help.

MAN: I...uh...didn’t catch your name.

BUM: Jesus.

MAN: (Beat. Grinning.) OK...Jesus.

BUM: What’s yours?

MAN: Pedro. Pete.

BUM: OK, Pedro Pete. You don’t look like a Pedro.

MAN: I go by Pete mostly. Pedro’s a family name. My mother’s Mexican and my father’s Irish. (Beat) You don’t look like a Jesus.

BUM: Do any of us appear as we really are?

(Beat)

MAN: Well - good luck.

(The MAN reaches out his hand.)

BUM: Peace, brother.

(They shake hands. The BUM pulls the MAN into him, gives him a hug, then suddenly the MAN gasps and looks down. The BUM has thrust a knife into the MAN’S stomach and holds it there. The BUM kisses the MAN’S cheek as the MAN looks into the BUM’S eyes. The BUM thrusts the knife once more. The MAN pulls away.)

MAN: You said...good...love...one another...

(The MAN falls.)

BUM: (The BUM wipes the knife on his pants, then places it in his shopping cart.) No...Jesus Christ said that. (The BUM goes through the MAN’s pockets, grabbing his wallet and anything else he finds. He takes the MAN’S coat off and his shoes. He tries the shoes on – they fit – and tosses all the MAN’S possessions into his shopping cart. The BUM does not take the MAN’s hat.) I’m sorry...I truly am. I’m just another lost soul in need of saving, brother – just like you. ‘Member...the good and the bad people? The Lord will forgive me though, I reckon. He forgives everyone. (The BUM sets out, then turns back to the MAN.) Oh – got another one for you...“Do as I say, not as I do.” I like that one. Not sure who said it though. A lot of people I suppose. I’ll pray for you, brother. Enjoy the journey, and remember - Jesus loves you.

(The BUM leaves.)

MAN: Jesus loves you?

(The MAN dies.)

(END OF PLAY)

Me, Taylor & Art. Austin Film Festival. Part Uno.

2011-10-25T04:58:00.003-05:00

What's really cool about this is that I became Facebook friends with Taylor a couple years back, largely due to the fact that she's a backup singer for Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys (and I've been a BB groupie since high school). So we struck up a friendship. Trusting on her part? In most cases, perhaps - but I'm different. And she and her hubby, Todd Sucherman, drummer for Styx, who I've also met (once) know my high school buddy, Art (pictured), who is one of the executive producers of our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE. Small world? Yes?

Art and I attended the Austin Film Festival and met Taylor for lunch. She and I had met on two other occasions and this was by far the most rewarding....more relaxed, no one around to bother us. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip. (Except she keeps pushing me to get the new Apple iPhone and I'm not a cell phone fan.)

Heard @ Austin Film Festival.

2011-10-25T04:26:00.003-05:00

"Pass the Salt, Please is WAY up there on my list of favorite films this year…Top 5. Glad I got to see it!"

TGIF! presents....Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know"!

2011-10-21T07:29:00.002-05:00

Wonderfully creative tune.

Nancy Wilson of Heart.

2011-10-20T07:48:00.000-05:00

How is it that I'm just finding out now that she's been divorced from her hubby for a year now?? I love Nancy Wilson.

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE hits Orlando! It's "Outrageous!"

2011-10-20T01:00:00.014-05:00

Here's our listing. They've got Max's name in place of Tat's name. ;) 7 pm at Theater 12. One of the directors of this festival saw PTSP at the Palm Springs Shortsfest Film Festival and contacted Tatjana, asking her if we'd be interested in screening in Orlando. I had planned to attend but then the Austin FF came up and one of our producers lives there, so....

Austin Film Festival...with a sidetrip to Dripping Springs!

2011-10-19T05:41:00.003-05:00

Off to the Austin Film Festival today. Seems I'm 171 years too late to experience the Austin as pictured above. Oh well.....first things first. Or...maybe that postcard is Dripping Springs?? My high school friend and co-executive producer of our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, Art Edstrom, is picking me up at the airport and taking me to his home in Dripping Springs, population = 2,000. Gateway to the Hill Country. Home of Jesse James (the guy on TV). And the springs don't drip...they trickle. Steadily.

Heading to Austin Thursday morning thru Sunday and back to DS for a Monday return to Milwaukee. Will try and keep you up to speed as to the goings-ons at AFF.

Thanks, HIFF...and Mahalo!

2011-10-16T08:48:00.001-05:00

There's Diana Jackson O'Keeffe, one of the producers of PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, and her husband, Jamie O'Keeffe, who supervised the music for the film....on the red carpet at the Hawaiian International Film Festival and the screening of our film.

According to Diana's Facebook page, "Thank you HIFF for a welcome reception and fabulous Q&A. Go TEAM SALT. The theatre was in hysterics."

leaves + water + porcelain bucket.

2011-10-15T13:16:00.003-05:00

"Memories"

How sweet the silent backward tracings!

The wanderings as in dreams - the meditation of old times resumed - their loves, joys, persons, voyages.

by Walt Whitman, from Leaves of Grass, 1891-92

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE screens at CIFF!

2011-10-15T11:29:00.000-05:00

Amy (left, friend from Iowa City) and Jen (college friend) attended our short film screening at the Chicago International Film Festival. No matter how many times I've seen our film (this was the first time the film opened the 6-film short program), it's always wonderful seeing it with friends and family.

The screening was sold out and the audience was very appreciative. The Q&A afterwards went well - I didn't embarrass myself or the film so that's always good. Still have that cough (over a week now) so I wasn't up for the party at Public in Chicago. Too bad - finally connected with my CIFF contact, Penny, and met Becky who was volunteering for the festival and is a filmmaker in her own right and would have liked to talk to more. Next week it's on to the Austin Film Festival!

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE screens today at Hawaiian Int'l. Film Festival!

2011-10-15T01:00:00.009-05:00

@ the Dole Cannery E venue, 9:15 pm. Click here for our film info. Mahalo!

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE screens at Chicago Int'l. Film Festival tonight!

2011-10-14T01:00:00.002-05:00

@ 7:15 pm. AMC Rivereast 21, as part of the IN 'n OUT shorts program. Who from the Chicago contingent will be there? Here's our film mention and an article of films not to miss in The Huffington Post - our film isn't singled out but the shorts program we're included in is.

TGIF! presents....German industrial dancing! ACHTUNG!

2011-10-14T00:05:00.002-05:00

Interesting stuff, this German industrial dancing shit. First came across this genre a couple days ago by accident. Here's that link, which includes the threesome group above and another favorite of mine (the first five dancers), but the dance track has been switched to Dutch polka music.

And yet, they all still dance the same. Hmmmmm....

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE is playing in Warsaw, Poland...right...now!

2011-10-12T09:30:00.006-05:00

9:30 a.m. CST. 4:30 p.m. Polish time. Here's the info on their sight. I understand (rant coming) that "film" is a director's medium. Fine. However, every film festival should include the writer's name (some do, some don't). The film didn't just magically appear for the director to say, "hmmmm...this would make a great film".

Niech otrzymywać z tym, Polska!

Dear Amazon...Fuck you.

2011-10-11T20:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Amazon,

Since March 2007 when I began blogging, I've displayed your banner at the top of my blog so that when people click on it to get to your site (and they purchase items), I can make some coinage. Not a lot - my purpose was never to make money blogging. I mainly thought of it as a service to my readers.

So I get this check in the mail - for referrals - for $21.00. Cool. Wait - that's gross. You conveniently subtracted a $15 check processing fee, leaving me $6.

Fuck you. Your banner was just deleted off my blog. Did I say, "fuck you", already? Fine...then fuck off.

Sincerely,
Jeff Ircink

PS - I sent an email to customer service complaining about this issue. I still haven't heard back. Fuckers.

From London, with love...

2011-10-08T07:06:00.000-05:00

"The screening (PASS THE SALT, PLEASE on Sept. 30) went well, the room was almost full and everybody was very happy! It's a shame you could not make it to London! Wish you all the best, Marion Perrin"

Chicago Int'l. Film Fest's Opening Night!

2011-10-07T20:15:00.000-05:00

Accompanied by the beautiful Justine Bentley, we attended the opening night film, "The Last Rites of Joe May", starring Dennis Farina and then walked over to the after-party gig at the Chicago Cultural Center.

Great movie. Tina and I sort of feel like we're a pair of white shoes with a black tuxedo at these schmoozy things. I mean, if we knew people...but we don't. And I could really give a shit who's there (unless Mel Gibson or Brett Favre showed up). And I don't care to walk up to whomever and say, "heyyyyy, I wrote a film that's in this festival...what do you do?" All the principles from the film were there - Farina, Gary Cole, etc. Chicago film, Chicago cast, more or less. Even Billy Zane, another Chicagoan, made an appearance. Very....pretty man.

And I was under the weather. Deep chest cough. Horrid. We survived. Our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, screens Friday, Oct. 14 - you can get tickets here.

TGIF! presents....Shatner is "Iron Man"!

2011-10-07T00:01:00.003-05:00

Hey! Tim Hensiek! I hear the Feds knocking on your door!!!

2011-10-03T20:26:00.006-05:00

The Facebook page, WI State Workers against Scott Walker, for all it's worth, is a rant against the actions of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker. Obviously, this "felon" is not representative of most of the people on this site. They do make points (doesn't matter that I disagree with them the majority of the time) and that is their right.

This man, Tim Hensiek, should be arrested for threatening a government official. And the nerve of commenters on WI State Workers against Scott Walker to say I spread hatred with my trolling on their FB page?

Autumn.

2011-10-03T18:12:00.000-05:00

You guys...!!!!

2011-10-03T17:38:00.000-05:00

Whatdaya know? An entire town in Co. Tipperary, Ireland rootin' for ya.

I spent some time in Ardfinnan while vacationing in Ireland in the fall of 2009. Thomas (and the town) are referring to our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, that's been making the festival circuit rounds.

Milwaukee Film Festival draws to a close.

2011-10-02T17:16:00.003-05:00

The VIJ party (that's "very important jeff") and awards brunch was held earlier today at the home of Andrew Nunemaker (MFF board member) which overlooked Lake Michigan (did I say the home was absolutely gorgeous?). My friend Chrissy accompanied me and we had a blast. Above: TJ Fackelman, MFF program manager, me and Jonathan Jackson, MFF artistic and executive director.

Above: Anna Sampers, MFF development coordinator & shorts programmer.

MFF...what a class act. Very impressive...what the fest folk pulled off and how they did it. Obviously thisis my favorite of all the festivals we've been involved with 'cause it's my hometown. Not sure if I'll ever have another film entered in this festival (cause I'm strictly a playwright; our film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, was adapted from my play) but you never know. I'm thinking about volunteering next year.

Chrissy and I playing in Andy's home. What's next for PTSP, you're asking yourself. Ha. Well, we head to the Chicago International Film Festival next week, the Warsaw (the Poland Warsaw), St. Louis, Austin, Orlando and Hawaii. I'll be attending the Chicago and Austin festivals. I finally get to see the Alamo in San Antonio....

London screening of PASS THE SALT, PLEASE @ 11 am CST.

2011-09-30T10:55:00.002-05:00

Like...now. Click here.

"The Wheel" and other shorts in...The Milwaukee Show!

2011-09-30T07:26:00.001-05:00

Wheel from John Roberts on Vimeo.

I checked out The Milwaukee Show last night at The Oriental downtown, part of the shorts program for the Milwaukee Film Festival. Alone in the balcony, with my large Coke and popcorn, listening to the organ dude playing near the stage, in the main theater of the 84-year-old Oriental Theatre...truly enjoyable experience.

Now - the films. I'm not gonna rain on anyone's parade here. Creativity is creativity and the amount of work it takes to make a film is mindboggling. That being said, some films I enjoyed better than others. Some I thought, "hmmmm....really?"

My favorites of the bunch:

The Wheel - by John Roberts, steampunk meets Tim Burton, my favorite of the evening. Roberts has a future in filmmaking. Here's a short article on the making of the film.

Missed Connections by Susan Kerns & Kara Mulrooney, Internet dating set to music at The Gobbler (if you're from WI, you get what I mean, sort of)

Documenting Westphal by Kurt Raether, funniest one of the bunch, a 73-year-old man intent on running for the governorship of Wisconsin is documented on film. One thing that puzzled me was the filmmaker seemed to be apologizing for the film (during the Q&A following), like he didn't know what he was in for and regreted getting involved with the guy. That's dumb - you got a great movie out of it. Stupid.

Don't Go by Michael Hawkins-Burgos, comedy about a houseguest who comes - and goes.

Everday by Blyth Renate Meier, doc short on the everyday ritual a cancer patient goes through, poignant, moving, tugs at your heart

You can read about all the shorts in The Milwaukee Show here. Unfortunately for you, Thursday's screening was the only screening.

TGIF! presents...The Slowass Sloth

2011-09-30T00:05:00.002-05:00

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE goes Hawaiian!

2011-09-29T00:01:00.001-05:00

The Hawaiian International Film Festival runs Oct. 13-25. I had wanted to attend but it overlaps the Austin and Chicago Film Fests. Dang. Here's a link to our film. And if you plan on attending and need to brush up on your Hawaiian, click here.

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE screening at the Milwaukee Film Festival.

2011-09-28T18:46:00.000-05:00

A photographer hired to take PR shots by MFF took these. I don't know his/her name though...either Kim Bednarski, C.J. Foeckler, Scott Winklebleck, or Art Montes.

Dried cockscomb.

2011-09-28T00:01:00.002-05:00

I was given three cockscomb from my best friend from high school, Justyna, for my birthday. Little sneak left them at my doorstop (she drove in from Chicago) while I was at work. Gorgeous. So I tried them and voila!...they look as though she just left them.

Your Milwaukee Brewers! Central Divison Champions!

2011-09-26T18:26:00.000-05:00

McGehee and Fielder celebrating. This is the first time since 1982 that the Milwaukee Brewers have won their division. Playoff time. Wonder what the cards have in store for the Brew Crew??

"You can't beat our Dickey!"

2011-09-26T17:43:00.000-05:00

I've had this picture for several years, given to me by my college buddy, Todd. It's the "Battle of the Bays" in 1985, maybe. Tampa @ GB...big snowstorm. My parents were stranded in Stevens Point with my brother who was attending college there. Lynn signed this a week ago during an appearance in Cedarburg, WI. Thanks, Lynn! Always loved you as a QB!