Postcards from Cali-weird #69! PASS THE SALT, PLEASE wins Jury Award at Palm Springs!
Me, Tat, and actress Radha Mitchell, one of our executive producers. The audience absolutely loved the film.
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how jeffrey james francis ircink sees the world
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10:15 PM
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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.
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6:42 PM
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6:30 PM
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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!
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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.
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3:49 PM
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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.
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12:59 PM
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Brian Wilson, co-founder of The Beach Boys. Happy, happy day, BW. I love you and your music. Peace & Good Vibrations!
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6:46 AM
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My dad, last June, with sisters, Aunt Ruth (left) and Aunt Ev. He's smiling (that's a rarity).
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6:21 AM
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"Hey Scott, was that you or George Mauer who helped me put the minnows in Jack Saunders' toilet?"
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10:00 AM
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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.
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2:16 PM
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9:21 AM
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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.
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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?
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6:32 PM
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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!"
Jason eating the moon. (That was his nickname on my dad's side when he was kid - "Moon")
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4:20 PM
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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).
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3:25 PM
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10:03 AM
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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?
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8:48 AM
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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.
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12:01 AM
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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!
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6:50 PM
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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!
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12:30 PM
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(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.)
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7:01 AM
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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.
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8:40 PM
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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.
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7:09 PM
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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!
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6:38 AM
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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).
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4:00 PM
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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?
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10:20 PM
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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.
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1:00 PM
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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.
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3:47 PM
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A beautiful end (flowers from garden) to a shite day. But as "Annie" says....there's always tomorrow.
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7:46 PM
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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.
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10:24 PM
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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. ;)
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8:34 AM
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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!
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1:00 AM
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