Copuple of updates on the movie:
I’m having a really good time. This director is just awesome, the crew is friendly, professional, and all the actors I’ve worked with so far have been great.
There is this one strange thing, though…the movie isn’t being called by it’s title on the call sheet, or our signs to location, or the slate, or anything…theyr’e calling it “Boise,” like it’s a codename or something.
I wear lots of suits, so I walk around talking into my cuff, telling people “I’m on Project Boise,” and looking mysterious.
Hey, without WiFi at work, I have to find ways to entertain myself, right?
Yesterday was Day One and it was a typical First Day On A Movie(tm). Most of the actors had gotten their material late Monday night, so they were having a tough time with the lines. Luckily for me, I had the studio email it to me as a .pdf, and I printed it out.
I shit you not, that laser printer paid for itself on Monday!
So I knew my lines, had worked out enough of the character to feel really comfortable living in his skin and stuff. Since we’ve all really hit the ground running, I’m being forced to trust my instincts and make quick and deliberate character choices, which is actually good for me, I think. If left to my own devices, I have a tendency to overthink things, and complicate the hell out of stuff. Since I don’t have the ability to do that on this picture, it is a good test of my acting skills.
Speaking of my acting skills, I was paid a very nice compliment by the director late in the day yesterday. We were between scenes, and we were talking. I mentioned to him that I hadn’t done any real acting jobs in over a year, since I’d been working primarily as a writer.
He looked at me, his face showing real surprise, and he said, “Wow! I would never have known. You’re performance has been so wonderful, I thought you’d just come off of another movie, right into this one. You’d never know that you’ve taken a year off.”
Shortly after that, the producer came over to me and told me how happy they all were that I’d been cast, and that he’d been watching me work. He told me that I was doing great things with the role, exactly what they’d wanted.
It felt good to be told that I was doing a great job, without it being followed by, “but we’re going with another, bigger actor.”
My character in this picture has suffered a terrible and tragic loss, so he is never too far from tears, covering his pain in various ways. He’s ironic, he’s angry, he’s sarcastic, he is occasionally vulnerable…boy, it is grueling work.
At the end of the day yesterday, I was physically and emotionally exhausted.
Today was much easier. I was only in 2 scenes, and I was mostly reacting in them…but I was so tired from yesterday, I was having an insanely difficult time focusing and staying present. I’d forgotten just how tough it is to not get distracted and let my mind wander…it seems that in every spare moment I am thinking about the book, or how I’m going to write about the day when I get home.
The next two days are pretty much like today. I don’t talk too much, but I’m there for each scene…Patrick Stewart called it “Face Acting.”
I was able to break away from the set long enough today to call Screen Savers when they aired my segment. I haven’t seen it, but Anne tells me I didn’t look like a total dork…even though I was wearing what she calls “Your Croccodile hunter Shirt.”
Yeah, there’s nothing quite like gettin’ dissed by your wife, you know?
So that’s it. I’m bleary-eyed and having a hard time staying awake.
More tomorrow.
83 thoughts on “Boise? WTF is that?”
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Can’t wait to see it wil!
That’s very awesome, Wil…There are a lot of times you know you’re doing a good job, but it’s still nice to be told by someone not living in your head. Keep up the good work and updates =)
Boise. Har.
Rock on with the iBook, dude. \m/
dude I thought I was te first poster! Is it indy or big studio production?
Great, Wil. I suspect we’ll be seeing you for many years to come. My mind does nothing but wander, but then I’m jobless so there’s less need to focus.
I can’t wait to see the movie!
Is it gonna have a theatrical release? if so, what areas? I’m really looking forward to it.
I’m glad the movie is going well for you.
Once again, it seems your hard work is paying off for you.
And get thee to bed, Wil. š Go on, now.
–Ezz
work it, baby, work it.
chin up, dude.
it all pays off in the end…and just think, there’ll be something of you left for ages hence š
good luck.
Wow, you manage to give us just a little glimpse, just enough to make us want more. I can’t wait to see this movie!
I am a firm believer that the minute you have resigned yourself to the fact that you will have to live without something, that’s when the cosmos drops it right in your lap.
This is just too cool. I can’t wait to see the flick. Congrats!
Sounds like a laugh-a-minute comedy, possibly the best film since Goodburger.
Of course, when reading this entry I still picture you as Joey from Toy Soldiers and the director as Peter Swan from The Dead Pool.
Your character sounds very intriguing. I hope the folk in charge of distribution can get it to smaller cities like mine. Continued luck on the film, Wil.
Boise uh? That is near Montana.
Closer to Utah or Oregon.
But much closer to Montana than say California.
But who cares?
Wil, good to hear its going great! Is this a big studio pic or a indie? Good luck with it. Is the code name thing typical for location productions?
I was in Hollywood today attending the Pocket PC conference. In the parking garage there were a lot of signs referring to “Hollywood Homicide” or “H. Homicide.” Momentarily, I forgot where I was and got scared, considering the insanity in the DC Beltway area. But then I realized it was probably a movie shoot. I think I would have felt better if they had called it “Ventura” or “Long Beach” instead.
loved the screensavers house call…. made me laugh when you went to the ‘screw’ drawer ,looks about like the one at my house . So when will ‘Boise’ have a real name? Some days fortune cookies work for all of us. Can’t wait to see you on the big screen.
ciao all
I don’t have PAX, I don’t think, though I have basic cable. Well, good luck and hang in there!
Yeah! Wil’s working on something I can see him in!
Umm, what was the final tally on funds raised for the Avon walk? I can’t seem to find it on the site anymore. (Someone else answer this. Wil needs his rest!)
just checked out the imdb to see if there was anything there yet, and I noticed that Unca Wil worked with (gasp) RON JEREMY?!! Must have been a humbling moment š
Congrats Wil.
(first time poster, like its a big deal). I saw Screensavers. Made a point of making sure I saw it, and I loved your entire part. I think the part where you were all sitting watching the fake MJ was the funniest part.
As for your call in part, it was really good. Pimp’n it up Uncle Willy style.
Oh, just wanted to tell ya, that I liked you as Wes in STTNG. You were kind of living the fantasy I had growing up. I always dreamed of being the brainiac kid stuck on a starship full of adults.
Adam
Well, just saw the ScreenSavers. Who the HELL was your Michael Jackson? Did you let Anne out of her oxygen tent?
Wil, now that you are again a Mac Geek (yay for you!) you can take your Atari 2600 games on the road. Actually, you can take a lot of ancient consoles on the road thanks to emulation. Take a look at Stella:
http://emulation.net/atari2600/
And you can play Combat!
http://www.atariage.com/software_page.html?SoftwareLabelID=94
The only think I wish is that someone would create a VCS to USB adapter so I could hook up those oh so high-tech Atari joy sticks and paddle controllers to my mac.
A well earned tired is one of the best feelings one can have.
Wil,
you talk into your cuff too?
great! now everyone will copy!
oh, and, dude, you’re getting a
Oscar! I just know it…
rust,… humbling moment for Wil, or for Ron?
“Just when I decide that I’m not going to be an actor any more, I go and get cast in a movie.”
referring to an earlier post…
Well, I knew you were gonna land a job… but maybe that was the important lesson you had to learn first. Can’t cheat the Tao of the universe, dude. Life is like water… the more you try to hold on to it, the more you will squeeze it out of your fist. If you let go, it will flow right into your open hands. Can’t receive life until you let go of it…
Takes time sometimes. But the universe has its own pace.
So when will we see this movie?
Wil-
besure to rest when you can, WE are all pulling for ya!!! Continued- Mojo CHANT—
Ibook- i want a mac-
I agree with Anne– you didn’t look to dorkish–nahh just teasing, you were cool!!!:P
can’t wait to see the movie!!!!
Hope you’re having fun!
*So* glad it’s going well and you’re enjoying it.
The Lady Fate has a very weird and twisted sense of humour sometimes.
Now that deserves a congratulations š Good surprises that catch you completely unawares are the best surprises of all. Keep this up, and by Jove you’ll have yourself an iBook promo spot where you get to have fun with your previous roles.
I’m now miffed that I don’t get TechTV š Sure, I still get to see things like Ruby Wax and Sharon Stone running around in disguises being silly, but I miss all the computer-savvy icons š
Didn’t discover your site all that long ago – I am suitably impressed. And now I know why the Farkers were so kind when you came up for Photoshopping.
P.S. Atari 2600 joysticks were lame š I’d take my old pin-compatible stubby Kraft joystick and make you all eat the ease of my diagonals š
I actually caught you on ScreenSavers tonight. I just happened to walk into the room when they said you were on the line. It’s what actually led me back here tonight.
Good luck with the movie!
CRIKEY!!
How exciting! I can’t wait to see it when it comes out! Have fun!
Project Boise is a go. I repeat, project Boise is a go.
Can’t wait to see the movie Wil, hopefully it’s a big Hollywood deal, get your name known to those uninformed masses. If it’s an indie movie, and since you have the lead, do you think there’d be any chance you could have the director release it in Ottawa, Ontario (that’s in Canada for those who don’t know).
Loyal Monkey # 24601
I am soooo curious as to what this movie is about….curousity killed the cat…well thats not the only thing that killed the cat…..um
*snip*
“I’m bleary-eyed and having a hard time staying awake.”
*/snip*
I have the exact same problem… besides sometimes being dissed by my wife that is.. *L*
My reason though is more for the simple fact that my 12 days old baby girl is still on a 3
Give yourself another day or two and you’ll fall back into the swing of things. I left radio for a long time, came back, and after a while it was like I’d never left…
It’s kind of like falling off a bicycle, you never forget how (sic)……
BTW, it’s funny how when you let go of something you thought you really wanted to do, and THEN it starts to happen….kind of like learning a new skill…the tenser you are the more difficult it is to learn….
glad you’re back acting..
Yay for wil being in a movie, yay! Also, the spot on _Screen Savers_ was fab; really enjoyed it.
Congrats on the movie!!
HELLA!!!!
I am glad you had Feldman to lend you Michael Jackson for a day. I believe Wil is becoming a Machead.
HELLA YEA!!!!
[Qoute The Director From Wil’s Blog Entry] “Wow! I would never have known. You’re performance has been so wonderful, I thought you’d just come off of another movie, right into this one. You’d never know that you’ve taken a year off.” [Qoute\]
You know that is super sweet. So sweet that I won’t even mention that some people might get caught up on the fact he said “Off Of”. *wink*
Damn, but to be dissed by the WiFe? Hell, I only make fun of the fark shirt myself. I’ll have to be on the look out for your “Steve” shirt. Mwhahahaha!!! I’m evil. I’ll stop. No really I will. *wink*
This sounds like a really rewarding project for your Soul. *Happy Nekkid Otter Butt Dance*
Feeeeeeeel The Frenzy!!!!
Congrats on the work dude!
I’m sure it’s going well and don’t worry about us readers of WWDN. We can wait if it’s between us and sleep.
I mean, what kind of fans would we be if we made you write here and not sleep so that you sucked in the movie and got fired forcing you to close the site forever???
Phew….talk about wandering minds.
Good luck.
As a resident of Boise, Idaho I wish to congratulate you on the choice of codename for your film! That makes you an honorary citizen, so get ready to pony up those city taxes you haven’t paid in a few years.
Love the site, Wil!
I’m never happier than when I am on a set. You must be totally pumped…even through the fatigue and over-active mind. š
Wishing you the best,
Kevin
That’s really awesome, Wil.
Face acting, though…heh, my roommate for the longest time kept getting told her greatest strength was in her facial expressions when she was acting…and then she was cast in a greek tragedy and had to wear a mask.
Good luck, can’t wait to see “Project Boise”
Project Boise? Wearing lots of suits? Sounds like Wil’s working with David Lynch…
Congrats on the project, and cool for you getting an iBook! I have one and I love it. Goes with me everywhere. It fell out of a car once at 70mph and survived with just a few little scratches.
Worried about acting skills? Need I remind anyone that the creator of this page is same guy who played Wesly Crusher? ;-D
As soon as I saw that you were going to be on Screen Savers I set my TiVo to record it.
That was just… Odd. But cool, you should do more stuff with them.
Mac geek? Did I miss something? Anyway, cool!
Great Wil! As an actor you should never give up the limelight..just like you have done..keep pursuing other things as well and you become a Jack of all trades! Experienced in all areas and love what you do! You are great in it all! Good luck on the book.
Hey Wil,
Great news about the new project!
I just saw The Good Things and The Girls’ Room and I thought you were great in both of them. I can’t wait to see “Boise”.
Wil,
Can’t believe you let Marty into your house. Your a brave man. Screensavers was awsome and it was good to hear you talk what little you could about your movie. Can’t wait till it is being advertised in theaters and of course all us monkeys will be at it opening night!
Lots of movie Mojo.
Ostheimerd