JACK BLACK

Just about everybody that I know is aware of the fact that I worked in a movie called “The Polka King” starring Jack Black in the summer of 2016.  The Polka King was directly released to Netflix in December of 2017 and is still there.  If any of my folks haven’t heard about the movie yet it’s not my fault. I have plugged the film with everybody, even total strangers. I am totally shameless!

I have a confession to make… Before I was cast in the part of Ed Krzyewski I didn’t know Jack Black from a hole in the wall. I did not know what a “super star” he is, at least among our younger generation. When my granddaughter, Brianna heard that I was going to work with Jack she went ballistic with excitement. Since then, I am pleased to say, I have gotten to know the man quite well. We worked closely in about eight scenes over the month or so that I worked on the movie.

“On-set”, as it is called, the cast spends most of its time waiting between shots sitting around with fellow actors shooting the breeze. It is really only during those times that you get to know your fellow cast members. I want to add here that the cast and crew of The Polka King were great. Not just great performers, but really nice and friendly folks, just like you and me.

On the first day of shooting on location in Cranston, Rhode Island, during our lunch break, I was walking from the lunch room to my trailer when Jack came out of his RV and called me. He asked if we could talk for a minute. Trust me when I tell you that I was nervous, wondering what the hell the star of the movie wanted to say to me. We had worked on our first scene that morning and I thought that it went rather well. Jack said to me, and I have to paraphrase a bit; “Kevin, you’re a natural and so believable.” I was shocked… In my 20 some odd years in the business I have never had anybody, never mind the star performer, ever pay me such a wonderful compliment.  It doesn’t stop there. I told him that my granddaughter was a huge fan of his. Jack wanted to know if she could come to the set, that he would love to meet her. When I explained that was not feasible because she lived so far away, he said that we would have to take a picture for Brianna. That afternoon we shot a picture of Jack and her grandad on set and I sent it to her.  That did it for me, this guy is the real deal.

Jack is a great family man, and talked about his two boys all the time. He stays in touch with them via phone and text messaging. I met Jacks parents on set on my first day when we were shooting the band scenes at the German American Club in Pawtucket.  We were on break sitting at tables around the dance floor. This nice lady was sitting at the table with several of the cast. She was doing background work in the scene we had just shot. I spoke to her and said something like, if they ever really want to solve the shortage of electricity in America all they have to do is shove a wire up Jacks’ ass. I was referring to the tremendous amount of energy that Jack had just displayed singing and leading the band. She roared laughing and said that she couldn’t wait to tell Jack what I had said. I asked if she knew Jack, and she said that she was his stepmother. OMG! Jack’s father was sitting at the next table and she went and got him asking me to tell him what I had said about Jack. His dad cracked up and sat down with us. We had a great chat. You can’t make this stuff up folks.

One day we were in a van driving from a remote shoot at a restaurant in Providence and I asked Jack what it was like to work Shirley McClain. Jack had co-starred with Shirley in “Bernie.” Jack said that he really loved Shirley and that she was just great to work with. Then he went on to tell us about the time that Shirley invited him to accompany her to a huge Hollywood event celebrating 100 years of filmmaking. All of the iconic movie stars who were still with us were going to be there and Shirley did not have an escort, so she asked Jack if he would take her to the show. He was blown away.

Jack is a junk food junkie. We talked a lot about our favorites, from Mexican to Pizza. Jack had never heard of Rhode Island Hot Wieners. After describing in detail all the steps that accompany this particular culinary delight he made an entry in his cell phone to give them a try.

 In the room that was Jan Lewan’s office set there was a great big couch. In between shots we would take to the couch to relax, even catch a few winks. Jack noticed that I was struggling to sit down and get up from the couch. I explained that I had a really bad knee. Next thing you know, Jack told one of the production assistants to find something that I could prop my leg up on. I really appreciated that. To me that was a display of compassion and caring for his fellow actors. Kind of rare.

I guess all actors have their own way of getting into character. In Polka King, Jack plays Jan Lewan, a Polish immigrant band leader. Jack developed a Polish accent for the part, and stayed in character all of the time, I mean all of the time. In fact, he had fun with it. To him, he became this Polish man. This takes a lot of discipline and dedication. Jack is the consummate professional. He has enough talent to go around. In addition to his musical skills, he has a great singing voice. Jacks rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at a sports event is wonderful. Check it out on YouTube.

Let me sum up by claiming that Jack Black has a New, Dedicated Fan. I have sought out and watched as many of his films that I can find on the internet. He is an extremely versatile and talented man. A wonderful actor and a real caring, compassionate human being.   Check him out.

Love you Jack!