Passion = Truth? How Jeffrey James Francis Ircink Sees The World? I love when people are passionate about something. That surging of emotion is the one honest measure of what truth is. It's a truthful display of how a person really feels about something or someone at that particular moment. That passion IS truth.



About me...

My photo
Greendale, Wisconsin, United States
Ex-producer of THE REALLY FUNNY HORNY GOAT INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL, playwright, actor, singer, outdoorsman, blogger, amateur photog, observer & bitcher, Beach Boys groupie, Brett Favre fanatic, lover of everything Celtic and forever a member in the Tribe of HAIR. Spent most of my life in the Village of Waterford, a small town just outside of the Milwaukee suburbs. After 12 years in North Hollywood, Bel Air and Culver City, Cali, I moved back to Wisconsin in September 2009. No regrets - of moving to LA OR moving back to WI. Have traveled to Belfast, Ireland, Dayton (OH), Manhattan, Seattle, Cedar Rapids, New York, Miami and Sydney, Australia with my plays. Moved back into the Village of Greendale where I was born. Life is good.

Celtic!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Postcards from Cali-weird #69! PASS THE SALT, PLEASE wins Jury Award at Palm Springs!

Our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, had its North American premiere at the Palm Springs International ShortFest Film Festival and it was a pretty wonderful experience. AND - we won an award! Jury Award, Special Citation - Best OnScreen Pairing. Cool. That's me (the writer) and our director, Tatjana Najdanovic, pictured above. My first time seeing the film on the big screen - along with brother Jason and Greg Nowak (my Uncle Bob's brother). Also, one of our executive producers, actress Radha Mitchell, was in attendance, along with our actress, Fionnula Flanagan. Very rewarding. Click on READ MORE! for a few more shots. What's next? The Big Sur International Film Festival screening of our flick this Thursday. See you there?

Jason, Tat, me and Greg at one of the after-parties.

Tat and I before the screening.

Me, Tat, and actress Radha Mitchell, one of our executive producers. The audience absolutely loved the film.

Radha, Tat and our actress, Fionnula Flanagan.


Read more!

...just an observation.

Vanessa Knutsen skipped ahead of me and another guy while we were in line at the bar during the wrap-party for the Palm Springs International ShortFest Film Festival.

Just an observation.


Read more!

Friday, June 24, 2011

TGIS! presents...The Babys' "Isn't It Time"!



My brother's a John Waite fan. So is Donovan (in Tujunga). FB users click here.


Read more!

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Indiewire.com features PASS THE SALT, PLEASE director.

Tatjana Najdanovic, the director of our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE, is featured in this Indiewire.com story on up and coming female directors.


Read more!

Postcards from Cali-weird #33! Fruity silly!

My goddaugther, Gwyneth (top) and sister Grace playing with their food.


Read more!

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

"Welcome to CALI-FOR-NI-A!"

Brother Jas and I are headed to Cali...tonite. Visit some family, some friends, my goddaughter, take in some wine, see our short film at festivals in Palm Springs and Big Sur. You know... "Beach Boys" stuff. Hey...there's The Beach Boys right there (above). I think they're welcoming us to their homestate. Click on this link, then put your cursor over the first song that comes up on top of the  Grooveshark site, and you'll see the play arrow on the left of the title...hit it!

See ya in July! And watch for my blog posts, "Postcards from Cali-weird"!


Read more!

Monday, June 20, 2011

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE heading to LA ShortsFest!

That's logo's from last year. It's July 21-29. Los Angeles. My old stomping grounds for 12 years. The largest short film festival in the world. And PTSP will be there. If you haven't seen our Kickstarter promotion trailer, click here. If you're keeping count (like we are), that's 5 for 7 film festivals thus far.

Here's the LA ShortsFest website. TEAM SALT rules!!!


Read more!

FOOLS eat too, you know!

The cast of FOOL FOR LOVE (minus Derek, who had to run home)...lunching between the matinee and our last show this past Saturday. Left to right:  Bethany Erin Peters, Alex Grindeland, Gracie Lee, Aaron Kopec & Erica Case, owners of The Alchemist Theatre in Bayview, WI and me.


Read more!

Happy Birthday, Brian!

Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys. Happy, happy day, BW. I love you and your music. Peace & Good Vibrations!


Read more!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Flower power. Ircink-style.


Read more!

Happy Father's Day, Pop!

My dad, last June, with sisters, Aunt Ruth (left) and Aunt Ev. He's smiling (that's a rarity).


Read more!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

me & the gov'na!

"Hey Scott, was that you or George Mauer who helped me put the minnows in Jack Saunders' toilet?"

Got a chance to "catch up" with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker Thursday evening at Badger Boys State in Ripon. Scott and I...Governor Walker, that is...are both former BBS'ers and former counselors together for 3 or 4 years in Carpenter County. It's been at least 20 years since we'd seen each other...but you woulda thought it was yesterday. Some awful good memories. Awful good.

Sure he's governor, which made the moment all the more surreal. But it wouldn't have mattered what he was doing in life. It was just good to see him. To me, he still looks like he did back in the mid-80's. I guess he always will. We whispered a few things privately to each other while the photogs snapped their pictures. Short - but sweet. I told him we've gotta get together privately - and reminisce. I hope we do. Being governor makes it tough. We'll figure it out.

I'm proud of you, Scott. Very proud. Boys Staters through and through.

(Photo by Louis Bock or Tom Knox, one of the two - both BBS photographers)


Read more!

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Watcher of the garden.

My dad and brother came over the other day and finished planting the vegetable garden. Ircink co-op style. We got two types of squash, canteloupe, cauliflower, two types of cucumbers, sweet banana peppers, string beans, two types of cabbage and 27 cherry and Fourth of July tomatoes. Still need to plant green peppers. Ran out of room for the pumpkins.

I think that about does it. Oh...and some sorghum. For decoration.


Read more!

People of Earth: Wake up!


An opinion piece in the Thursday, June 9 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by New York Times columnist Thomas L. Friedman left me thinking, "WHEN is it too late to right this ship - the ship called Earth?".

Overpopulated, oversaturated, depleting, deteriorating, high gas prices, high food prices, civil conflict, waste, want, blah-bity, blah, blah, blah, etc. Many give these issues little consideration. We live in the here and now. "Not in my lifetime", as the old adage says. I know - global warming. I'm on the fence with that one. But consider this:  with all the crap humanity is desposing off into and on Mother Earth...well, that can't help her, can it? Mother Earth?

What about the lifetimes of the future peoples of this planet? Consider what we eat - food shortages, chemicals pumped into everything from soybeans to cattle and the like, you can't eat this now 'cause it contains this crap that'll make you grow goat hooves. What will Earth's inhabitants eat in the future, for example? The moon?


Read more!

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Tatjana on the red carpet at Sydney!

Our short film, PASS THE SALT, PLEASE (based on my short play of the same name), had it's world premiere Saturday at the Sydney International Film Festival and our esteemed director, Tatjana Najdanovic, was there in all her glory walking the red carpet. Tat gave an introductory speech before a packed house and all went off without a hitch. Tat said the theater was in stitches the entire time. ;) We have one more showing on Saturday, June 19. Then it's on to the Palm Springs International ShortFest Film Festival and the Big Sur International Film Festival in late June.


Read more!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

FOOL FOR LOVE after-show shenanigans!

Great show last night at The Alchemist Theatre in Bayview. What an honor for me...none of these people have seen me in a full stage production. Left to right:  Tina (my best friend from h.s.) and her mom, Judy, me, Aunt Ev & Uncle Bob Nowak (dad's youngest sister), Joe Nowak and his lady, Ashley, and Tani, my Aunt Ev's childhood friend from Muskego.

Didn't want the evening to end. Come to the show....click here for ticket information. We run this weekend and close on June 18th. Interesting sidestory...the Nowak's bumped into their friends from Grafton who had read the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel review and scooped up tickets pronto. The gentleman (or "guy") said we should do our show at the Milwaukee Rep (ha) AND this couple's son married Jessica Lange's niece - Lange has been partnered with the FOOL FOR LOVE playwright/actor Sam Shepard for decades. Small world.


Read more!

4 laurels and counting.


Read more!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Siberian Iris in bloom.

Just a damn pretty flower.


Read more!

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE official selection to Palm Springs International ShortFest Film Festival!

That's 3 for 4 - Sydney International Film Festival, Big Sur International Film Festival and this one. I'm attending. Never been to Palm Springs (in the 12 years that I lived in Los Angeles). Our film will premiere on Saturday, June 25 at 7:30 pm. Any takers?

Here's the Palm Springs website. The complete film schedule will be on the site June 11th and tickets will go on sale on the 14th.


Read more!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

The Mighty Rainbow's back!

That means the Rainbow Flowage water levels were back to the way they were 4-5 years ago. Last year, the shoreline was a good 150 yards from the end of that pier. And pretty good weather (first two days were windy). Fish just weren't biting. Nerts! Click on READ MORE! for some candids from our recent walleye fishing trip on the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin! 

"It's a new way to tie a jig - and it really works!"

A few drinks after golfing. Left to right: Dave, Jason, Uncle Fran and Bruce.

Jason eating the moon. (That was his nickname on my dad's side when he was kid - "Moon")

Enjoy more libations after golfing.

Dad.

Who is that? Jason? Uncle Fran?


Read more!

New FOOLS meet old FOOLS.

FOOL FOR LOVE cast at Riverside Theatre in Iowa City 1997, left to right: Christie Katol (MAY), Levy Lee Simon (EDDIE), Jeffrey James Ircink (MARTIN), Luis Sierra (THE OLD MAN).

FOOL FOR LOVE cast at The Alchemist Theatre in Bayview (Milwaukee) 2011, left to right: Bethany Ligocki Peters (MAY), Alex Grindeland (EDDIE), Derek Burton Morris (EDDIE), Jeffrey James Ircink (THE OLD MAN).


Read more!

Saturday, June 4, 2011

lilacs.


Read more!

Friday, June 3, 2011

Happy Birthday, Andy!

One of my favorite all-time TV shows. Andy (right) turns 85 today!


Read more!

Sunday, May 29, 2011

PASS THE SALT, PLEASE headed to Big Sur!


Our short film will screen June 30 in Big Sur, Cali. Very cool. Don't have the venue details yet - they're continually updating their site. Click here. I'll keep you in the loop. That's 2 of 3 festivals thus far! WHOO!


Read more!

"Hey, Mom! I'm judging a beauty pageant!



FB users click here for video. Yesterday (Saturday). Springfield, IL. First experience. Got paid + 2 free meals + hotel. Ha, ha, ha. Laugh it up. Toured the Lincoln museum (which was excellent) AND "bumped" into the head of the Illinois Film Office - so I made a nice contact. The contestants ranged from babies (ugh) up to the 17-28 age group. Slim pickin's in the later group, though there was a beauty that I'm sure will take that crown (they were announcing the winners today but I had to get back to Milwaukee to tech the play I'm in - FOOL FOR LOVE at The Alchemist Theatre in Bayview, June 3-18...click here for details, then click "tickets" within that link on top left corner).

Like many people, I have an issue with babies and kids under - I don't know....10-years-old - and the whole pageant scene. Some of these little girls are dolled up wayyy beyond what I think is appropriate (JonBenet Ramsey-esque) and I did see an occasion where one mother jerked her daughter off the stage (the daughter wasn't finding her Cecil B. DeMille moment) and the mother was heard to say, "You just threw away your crown!". 5, 6, 7-year-old kid. Nuts.

I'd do it again. It's a paying gig. And did some networking. How different is contesting in a beauty pageant than acting on stage?


Read more!

Friday, May 27, 2011

TGIF! presents...The Honey Badger!!



Thanks, Nicko! Hilarious...and there are more in this series. Come on, honey badger, you stupid little bitch! YOU ROCK!

FB users click this link.


Read more!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Separated at Birth? Bo Johnson & Eric Idle.

Bo Johnson, Milwaukee actor, director, musician, tech head (what else does this man do? - oh, he's directing me in FOOL FOR LOVE at The Alchemist Theatre...opening next week...click right here for tickets)...where was I? Oh, Bo Johnson with longer hair (top) and a younger Eric Idle from Monty Python. Don't be blind. It's uncanny. Eric Idle's directing me! I mean, Bo Johnson is directing me!


Read more!

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Ain't all good craic for Queen Liz.

Being an Irishophile, I get why Northern Ireland hates England. I think most people get that. When the Queen visited the Republic of Ireland last week - first time since a UK monarch has set foot there since the Republic gained its independence in 1922 - I wasn't quite sure why a UK monarch hadn't visited Ireland since 1922 until I read the accounts of Queen Elizabeth's visit. Most, I think, welcomed her. Many didn't.

In 1920, British troops opened fire on a crowd of people attending a Gaelic football match at Croke Park Stadium, killing 14. The killings, it's said, were a retaliation for the murder of 14 British intelligence officers by the IRA.

That's a long time for an independent Ireland to carry a grudge, though I do empathize. It's also a fucking long time for a UK monarch NOT to visit Ireland. What's their rationale for that? Still pissed and holding a grudge that Ireland gained its independence? Is that why England's still holding onto Northern Ireland?

Fuckin' Brit parliament. FREE NORTHERN IRELAND!


Read more!

"Him".



“Him”

In the wind, I feel Him.
In the water, I see Him.
In the earth, I touch Him.
In the rain, I taste Him.
In a storm, I hear His thunder.

In Nature, I am graced by God.



(I left this note in a "guestbook" at my Aunt Ruthie's cabin in Lac Du Flambeau, 20 minutes from where we were fishing in Lake Tomahawk.)


Read more!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Jeff Ircink's golfing tip #1.




Don't take your eye off the ball.

We just returned from our annual walleye fishing trip up in Lake Tomahawk, WI. It's the only time I golf. Got out twice and improved each day. I still suck. But the best part of my game is at the tee. Well...this shot isn't a good example. But I redeemed myself. You gotta watch the whole video - I'm last.

FB users click here. Golfers in order: Bruce Hranicka, Dave Hranicka (brothers), Jason Ircink (my brother), Uncle Fran Ircink (lefty, dad's youngest brother), and then me. Dad doesn't golf.


Read more!

Friday, May 13, 2011

TGIF! presents....Anything by Gordon Lightfoot!





Headin' "Up North" to Lake Tomahawk tomorrow morning for my annual walleye fishing trip. Gone for a week. No phone. No internet. And that's good. Whenever I hear Gordo it makes me think of this trip...and of the woods, the outdoors, Nature. A poet for our times. Enjoy...see ya in a week.

FB users click here for video.


Read more!

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

"Pass the Salt, Please" headed to Sydney!

Funny. I couldn't get my play, "Pass the Salt, Please", beyond the semi-finals at Short+Sweet/Sydney, but lo and behold, our short film, Pass the Salt, Please, has been officially selected to the 58th Sydney Film Festival, June 8-21. Here's the link to our film. Short. Sweet. Sydney.

WHOO! That's a prestigious festival, dating back to 1954. All associated with the film feel like pretty little girls in our Easter bonnets. I'm kidding (maybe the director, Tat).

Among the celebs to be represented (on film) at this year's festival: actors - Gael García Bernal, Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Michelle Williams, Cate Blanchette, Bruce Greenwood, Will Patton, Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Paul Giamatti, Peter Mullan; directors - Kevin McDonald, Paddy Considine; producers - Ridley Scott, Tony Scott. And, of course, our contingent - Fionnula Flanagan, Seymour Cassell, Tatjana Najdanovic, Radha Mitchell, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Arthur Edstrom, Diana Jackson, Max Maksimovic and me.

No - I'm not attending. Not this one. Can't hit'em all and I expect there'll be more festival invites (knock on wood). Still...WHOOO!


Read more!

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Happy Mother's Day, Mom!

This is the first Mother's Day I've spent at home in something like 20 years or so. Our annual walleye fishing trip which normally falls on this weekend was moved to next week. Dee (my mom) will hate this picture. It was taken by Cindy Lesky at the staged play reading of my one-act in September 2010. But I think it captures my mother's essence well (and I can see she's intensely listening to the play reading).


Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.


- George Cooper


Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you.


Read more!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Cindy Lesky's "Winter Treeline".

I commissioned Cindy to do an art piece as a giveaway (which doubled as my playbill) for my one-act staged play reading in September 2010 (click here to see that art piece). She took this photograph in Cedarburg or Grafton (I think), then did her manipulation magic that she does and posted it on her FB site. I've been looking for something above my bed but...easier said then done.

Until now. It looks as I imagined it. Perfection. And she has since informed me that the print is 1 of 1 - meaning it's one of a kind. Now - hanging it...that's another story.

Do you have any idea (unless you're Good Will Hunting) what goes into hanging a picture above a headboard properly?


Read more!

Naughty nuns.

Nooooo....not the movie starring Kayden Kross (is there one?). This story.

Funny - the Democrats have been blaming everyone and their mothers for election tampering, fraud, blah, blah, blah and it was the nuns all while.


Read more!

TGIF! presents...The Civil Wars' "20 Years"!



Check out this previous blog post on the band and some of their tuneage.


Read more!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Fishing in days of yore.

Spring 2002. Me, Uncle Fran and Jason up at the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk. We leave for our trip a week from Friday and we're all getting psyched - Jas, me, Dad, Uncle Fran, Gary, Dave & Bruce. 20 years now, I think? Something like that.

This picture hangs above my desk. This fish hangs in my office as well.


Read more!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

the sun'll come out tomorrow....

A beautiful end (flowers from garden) to a shite day. But as "Annie" says....there's always tomorrow.


Read more!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Bye, bye.

BL is RIH (resting in hell). I don't know why but I'm suddenly thinking of this song. Big shouts out to our US military men who elimated this assface.


Read more!

"Art". August 12 &13. Summerstage Delafield.

I was at the Milwaukee Art Museum yesterday to view the Frank Lloyd Wright exhibit (which was excellent) and I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance to have my picture taken next to this art piece.

Is it? Art? Jury's out and I ain't opening up that can o' worms. But I'm directing a reading of Yasmina's Reza's Tony-award winning play, "Art", this August at Summerstage Delafield (in Delafield, WI). Outdoor theater. BYOB (I think they sell beer there as well).

We all have opinions on "what constitutess art?". What's aesthetic? What's pleasing to our eye. A classic 1960 Ford Thunderbird. A custom-made long bow. A manicured lawn or lush, flower garden. A jar of homemade jelly (or homemade Wisconsin maple syrup - which you can buy for $12 per 12 ounce bottle). A crucifix in a jar of urine...you know.

"Art" humorously discusses this very subject. Come out to Delafield this August. Check out tickets at Summerstage Delafield. It's not too early to book your tickets. Limited lawn chair seating, you know. ;)


Read more!

Airline "cuts" fees?? Watch for low flying pigs & Happy Monday!

Frontier Airlines (the airlines whose parent company, Republic, scooped up Milwaukee's beloved Midwest Airlines) is cutting it's fee IN HALF for customers who change their tickets AND is offering a $5 discount for passengers who check their bags online.

They've even continued offering a free, freshly made chocolate chip cookie (Midwest's idea). Now if we could just get the comfortable, Business Class seating back (again, Midwest's idea) I'd say we're in business. Oink!

In a related airline story, during my recent trip to North Carolina, TSA felt the need to search my checked bag - on the way out and on the way back. So head's up, travelers...if you're transporting maple syrup or wine. (I even told the TSA agent in Milwaukee about my maple syrup and he shrugged his shoulders like "I don't care". Apparently, your boss does care, ASSHOLE!


Read more!

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Happy May Day!

And now....to sacrifice a virgin! Or Edward Woodward - either one will do.


Read more!
 
Related Posts with Thumbnails