Over at boingboing there is a link about Coppola filming an adaptation of “On The Road.”
This project has been around for almost ten years. The first time around, sometime in 1992 or so, I auditioned to play Neil Cassidy. I read a scene straight out of Dharma Bums.
I was already familiar with most of the Beat Generation, and was a huge fan of Burroughs, but I’d never read Kerouac.
I furiously read “On the Road,” and skimmed through “Dharma Bums.” I wanted to have a good sense of his style, so I could bring his character to life faithfully.
I was already a jazz geek, but I took the opportunity to fill several gaps in my collection, so I could listen to Charlie Parker and Chet Baker while I learned my scenes.
I worked with a coach to develop body language, and dialect. I bought clothes from a thrift shop and went through lots of different hairstyles until I got the correct look.
A little over a week later the audition came. I drove myself to this old church on Highland where they have auditions from time to time, listening to Bird the whole way. I walked into a large empty courtyard, filled with fountains, birds, and a beautiful garden. Only the sign-in sheet betrayed the presence of Hollywood. I sat down, focused and ready to go get this job.
While I was waiting, Emilio Estevez arrived.
Wow, I thought, I’m at the same audition as Emilio Estevez, and I’m about to meet the man who is responsible for The Godfather and Apocalypse Now!
I totally forgot why I was there, and became a drooling fan boy.
Emilio Estevez said hi to me, one professional to another, and I said, “Hey.”
There was a pause, and I heard myself say, “I want to tell you how much I like your work. Repo Man is one of my favorite movies of all time, and Breakfast Club is a classic.”
He went one better:”Wil, Stand By Me is a classic, and I love your work too. It’s really nice to meet you.”
I hadn’t told him my name, yet.
The casting assistant came out, and looked at the two of us. Emilio was on the “A” list. I was on my way to the “C” list, having been off TNG for a few years. She said, “Emilio, would you like to come in now?”
He looked at her, and said, “Wil was here before me. It’s his turn.”
She told him that it wasn’t a problem. They were ready for him.
“Well, if you’re ready for me, you’re ready for Wil, and he was here first.” He crossed his legs, and looked at his script.
I was stunned. He didn’t need to stand up for me, and it really didn’t matter to me who went first, but I thanked him and went in.
The room was large and very dark. Like the rest of the church, it was mission-style, with high, open-beamed ceilings and terra cotta tiles on the floor. Coppola was sitting behind his massive beard, a flimsy card table between us.
I approached him, and extended my hand. He didn’t take it, so I sat down.
“You don’t mind if I film you, do you?” he asked rhetorically, showing a palm-sized video camera he was holding.
“No, of course not.”
He asked me to slate my name, and begin the scene.
I did, and proceeded to give the worst audition of my life.
I’d forgotten why I was there, and was a drooling fan boy. I didn’t want to read this scene, I just wanted to talk about Apocalypse Now, and Rumblefish. I wanted to ask him about Marlon Brando, Dennis Hopper, and James Caan.
All these thoughts flooded my head while I stumbled through the scene. My Inner Voice, that internal critic/director/coach that all actor’s have, was screaming at me that I was doing horribly. I didn’t listen, instead hearing Robert Duvall shout, “Charlie don’t surf!” It screamed louder, telling me to stop and start over, but I was too busy watching John Cazale get on that boat, knowing that he was going to get whacked.
Then I was done, and Coppola was thanking me for coming in. We both knew that I’d blown it. We both knew that I’d wasted everyone’s time. I walked out, head hung low.
I passed Emilio Estevez, who asked me how it went. I shrugged, and told him to break a leg.
I drove home in silence, Chet Baker wondering how deep is the ocean?
150 thoughts on “On The Road”
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Just a couple of days ago, I told Anne that though I am always a little sad to wrap a season of Ready Room, because I genuinely love my job that much, I was glad to have the time and energy to do stuff together. It's always so weird how we can live together, sleep in the same bed, see each other every single day, and still miss each other because we're just so damn busy, and going in opposite directions most of the time. I was so happy that she had the idea to go out together, which is something we just haven't done in a long time.
Wil, that’s great news! Me and my husband are rooting for you. Go, Wil Go!
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to stop same husband from shooting himself in the face. (He’s a struggling actor. 🙂 )
Crap. Posted in the wrong entry. I meant to post in your prior one.
As for this one, it just goes to show that there are more decent people in hollywood than we think there are.
Kerouac is overhyped, you’re better off.
Funny, though. I’m from Lowell, Massachusetts, birthplace of Kerouac. (His high school is right down the street from my apartment. Beyond that is Kerouac Park and this coffee shop he allegedly used to hang out in.) I was just surfing around and I land on something mentioning Kerouac. (Robert Frost lived up the highway in Lawrence for a time, but he dosen’t get as much publicity.)
Saff
my friend t.r. never really met you, but he kinda bumped into you at an eff thing at the dna lounge. he said he was standing next to you looking at the stage with a beer in his hand, waiting to see what would happen.
next thing he knew, you got up there. he did a double-take and realized you weren’t just a regular guy. lol
his wife is still jealous he got to bump into you while she was at work. you’re still cool, man.
Emilio wasn’t in Apocalypse Now, his brother was. You’re a fan?
Where did I say that Emilio was in Apocalypse now?
It wasn’t his brother. It was his FATHER.
Now who’s a fan? :p
Wil,
I love how you described getting ready for the audition…it was also nice of Emilio to treat you as an “equal”. That was cool, but like someone else asked, where is HE now?
And also, I like what someone else said, about slowly forgetting about Wesley Crusher and hearing more and more about Wil Wheaton.
Anyways…best of luck on the “I, Robot” audition…
Take care,
Doh! Yeah I re-read the post and realized what you were saying and certainly ait the dog on the brother comment. Just color me stupid and accept my humble apologies!
I’ll agree that Estevez sounds like a real stand-up kind of guy, but at the risk of coming off as a devil’s advocate here, I don’t see Coppola’s declining to shake your hand as necessarily rude. Some people just don’t do that. Now, if he’d been pressing the flesh with a bunch of other people and then snubbed you, that would be something else. Lots of people have their offputting tics; I don’t always look people in the eye when I’m talking to them, not constantly, anyway. I’ve also had people think that I’m ignoring them when they’re actually on my deaf side.
On the other hand, I think that I enjoyed hearing your story a lot more than I ‘d enjoy the movie if/when it’s made.
Yeah, Coppola didn’t come across as self-important or rude. Just intensely focused on what he was doing, and not interested in small-talk.
it might have been better for you that he was cool and focused…imagine if he had said…”wil, i just love your work!”…than again, i suppose you could’ve lived with that.
‘COUNT DOWN’
T-MINUS
5
4
3 DAY’S TILL THE COMEDY CENTRAL WORKPLACE!
IM SO THERE
Geez Wil, Coppola seems like a jerk. It’s cool that Emilio let you take his spot.
Wil, there was no reason for Coppola giving you the shrug. Auditions have to be focused, but what’s a handshake, or a simple courteous greeting. Spielberg would never have behaved that way and he is bigger than Coppola any day. I have been in the industry since 1969 and I have no patience for ego. I’ve worked with people bigger than Coppola could ever dream of being who were very down to earth just like Emilio was to you and in much more intense situations. Coppola shot himself in the foot. It’s really his loss. I know it may not feel that way, but it is.
I’m a huge jazz/be-bop fan and it sounds like you did your homework. Visually I could see you in the role. Emilio would be great too, but man you are just as talented. You guys are in the same league.
Hang in there and keep up the GREAT job.
Emilio always seemed a decent sort, I thought.
And Spudnuts, I own that box set. Dig.
Hey Wil, don’t let it bother ya too much, pal.
Remember, you had a really GOOD audition just a couple of days ago, after all. 🙂
Everyone has their moments of starstruck awe. Just because you’re a star yourself doesn’t mean you can’t have your moments as well.
I’ll tellya right now, if I ever met you, I’d probably act ten times worse. 😛 Trust me, pal. You’d be sick o’ me in 20 seconds, TOPS. 😉
Just put it in perspective. It’s rough that the audition didn’t go well. Especially considering how much effort you’d put in to learning what you needed to about it. But, also consider that you got to meet Emilio and you still have an audition that DID go well. All in all, not TOO bad a trade off, right?
(Hey, I’m tryin’ here. 😛 Hope I’m not coming across as patronizing. It’s not intended.)
Seeya!
Oh, good God… >__
Wil had a bad day. I have them to sometimes.
WIL!!!How many Monkeys does Emillio have?
“drooling fan boy!!”..indeed…
FOCUS…Yes..FOCUS!!
So you are a fan of Burroughs, eh? While you were in Topeka did you ever get all fan boy and drive to Lawrence to try and find Burroughs house? Did you ever get to hear him read “Masque of the Red Death” on the radio while you were in Topeka? That used to be quite the staple on the college radio stations around Halloween. Weird story, I used to be a member of the pistol club that shoots in the range located in the basement of the Lawrence Community Center. And one day I came to find out the old duffer with the Glock in the lane next top mine was Burroughs. I was surprised to find out that he still shot, giving past history and all. It was sorta surreal. But then again, would Burroughs want it any other way?
JimmyT
A note on handshake ettiquette: It is up to the person of the higher ‘rank’ to extend his/her hand. If they don’t you don’t…
wow…Wil does blogs? And i’m just finding this out?!
Wil,
I think you’re kind of egocentric about this whole Hollywood thing. No offense but do you consider yourself in the same league as Tom Hanks? Or Paul Newman? Or Denzel Washington? Don’t get me wrong, you (as a kid) were great in Stand By Me but man, the last time you were on TNG your acting wasn’t all that impressive. Granted I haven’t seen your most recent work but seeing how it didn’t get a lot of attention I’m assuming it was ok. A lot of times it seem like you whine about not getting this or getting that– if you want to be a better actor then study. But there comes a time in life where you have to accept that you’re not going to get what you want. Go to college and get a degree, if school is not a thing for you then get a job and quit whining.
Molly
Hey,
Kinda cool to find out Emilio’s a nice guy. Makes me think his dad must not be too bad either. Nice to know, since I’m a Canadian that watches The West Wing…. =)
And Wil, if that’s the worse audition you ever do, then I think you’re doing okay. After all, it was 10 years ago, right?
Em
Hey everybody, howdy Wil. I’m sure as much as Wil appriciates everyone’s mojo and sympathy, it’s a bit misplaced. Astute readers will note that the audition in question was over TEN YEARS AGO, for a movie that NEVER GOT MADE! I’m sure that Wil has gotten over it by now, and he was just sharing an interesting story. Now, Wil, the question is, are ya gonna audition again?
Jason
It’s fun turning into a total fanboy. I went to a Bruce Campbell book signing once. I think I ended up being in line for at LEAST an hour and a half, if not longer. I had all the time in the world to think of something clever to say. But then it was my turn. And I sat down next to the man. And proceeded to sound like a 6 year old.
Wil, I’m continually astounded by your courage in sharing your embarrassing moments. As you say on your introductory page, you refuse to take yourself seriously. That’s a trait I SERIOUSLY admire.
I just read at movies.com in the buzz bin that will smith is attached to I, Robot. Wouldn’t that be cool? Wil and Will? Mucho mojo to ya, Wil!
I’ve always liked that Emilio….
Emilio will ALWAYS be ‘Sporto’ in The Breakfast Club to me. Hmm, I feel a ‘Six Degrees Of Separation’ coming on. ‘Sporto’ – The Breakfast Club – ‘Brainiac’ (Anthony Michael Hall) – ‘Weird Science’ – Ilan Mitchell Smith – Weird Science.
Whatever happened to Ilan Mitchell Smith?!?
(ps, I know thats five degrees of separation, so please dont chew the cud on that little faux pas)
when i was 13 i was one of only two male flautists in the state of South Dakota to enter the premier state musical contest. i had been a flautist for about a year or so and strings were pulled to get such a novice even in the thing, but there i was, doing a solo mozart piece that was, as i remember, rather difficult. i’d practiced forever on this piece and i felt pretty confident that i was going to at least give a respectable performance.
i was so nervous beforehand i could hardly hold my instrument right. the accompanyist that came with me from my school gave me a little pep talk and calmed me down and we were ready to go. the problem with this piece was a scale somewhere around two-thirds of the way through that was to be played rather fast and i just didn’t quite have a grip on it yet. so as i approached that bit i got a few notes into it, missed one, played another wrong and freaked out. i totally choked and did the one thing a performing musician is absolutely not supposed to do: i stopped in the middle and said “i can’t do this.”
the accompanyist turned to me and said “ok. let’s do that again. start from two bars before. ready?” he gave me a count and we did it again. i hit it this time, but the damage was done. i went through the rest of the performance in a haze knowing that there was just no point to continuing. i’d blown my chance and that was that.
i don’t remember much immediately after that. i received the requited applause, put my instrument away and left the room. the next thing i remember is finding my name on the list of posted grades with a 1++ next to my name.
the highest possible grade the judges gave was a 1+. it wasn’t a typo.
the point of the story is this: even when you feel that you’ve made a fool of yourself and you have no chance is when your true character shines and you’re revealed for who you truly are. i won that state contest not only because of my musical ability but because i had shown the judges that even though i thought i was beaten i was still going to give it the best i had.
even if you don’t get this movie part, remember that moment and build on it. it’s not about what you can pretend to be; it’s about who you really are.
good luck.
Yeah
This is to Wil and all other posters about someone putting Emilio on the Christmas card list. At first I thought this was kinda crackpotty but now I’m thinking could we – all us posters – make that happen? I mean, think about the message it’ll send, like those old fairytales about helping the beggar who turned out to be like an insanely powerful wizard – but in this case it would be Wil Wheaton and his nutty but loyal band of readers. Anyway, the point is that this would positively reinforce a good deed (in a way that would make Emilio and all grin for weeks) and then, of course, word would spread. Result: people would be nice to every struggling actor they may otherwise decided to be an asshole to, because they’ll never know if that actor, that actress has in fact a supermotivated fan base that reach out and smite them down.
One small technical issue – to make sense to Emilio, this would require mailing out a Christmas (or cards) in like February, March latest. A mass Valentine might send a wrong message.
Dang people. Those of you who think Wil is whining…chill. This is a blogger site…it’s here for a person to spill thier thoughts and feelings in anyway they want.
A prime example is http://www.bevie.net
Who is a great friend of mine. But one wouldnt think she was whining if she talked about things not going her way…they simply think she was sharing on her blogs.
Dont look down on Wil just because his issues may be alittle bigger than a bad hair day or something. And dont catagorize him as anything other than a person….because thats all he’s trying to be on this site. He makes and interesting point when he says that few people who are, or even were, famous on TV or in movies at any point run thier own website and do all the updates and talks themselves.
Wesley Crusher is dead, yo….long live Wil Wheaton..heh
kekek you am teh suxor
Yea Dan! Well said! 🙂
Wow, what a classy story about Emilio Estevez. Thanks for sharing! And hey, maybe you’ll get a chance to audition for Coppola again. (I’ve almost forgiven him for DRACULA, but not quite.)
You’re my hero for getting 130 comments in three days…
Any tips? Besides becoming an actor…
Great story Wil!
I feel your pain. When still very wet behind the ears as a teenager I auditioned for a part in Richard III at the Hartford stage complete with overdone Laurence Olivier accent. The assistant director and I just looked at each other afterwards like “oooo kkkk, interesting….next”. Emilio Estevez, however, was no where in sight so I had no one to blame but me…
Chin up, Wil. Even when we fail we grow. What you lost there you gain in other areas.
Wil:
be Mister Drooly. When you are too big for your britches to be nice to other people, you don’t deserve to have fans. Keep those drooly pants on!
Cara
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Mike, get the hell away from this site. The thing that bothers me about people like you is that you would never dare to say such a thing to a person’s face.
Shame on you.
Mike you must be very young cause I know the rest of us are taught at an early age “if you don’t have anything nice to say…STFU”
thank you for sharing that.
xL
To paraphrase a qoute from an ICQ conversation I read someplace: “I will make a million bucks as soon as I invent a device that allows you to stab people in the face over the internet.”
After reading mike’s post above I tend to agree. I will say this though, his si the first post of its kind I have seen on this site. I think that speaks volumes for the people who generally visit this site and for the respect that exisits for the person running it.
2cents worth,
JT
perhaps you should work on being more focused, goal-oriented and consistent. emilio estevez saying “hi” is really irrelevant in the end.
Well Wil, at least you know how some of us feel about meeting you 😉
In Canuckia, even Space Monkeys can get work!
I mean, look, br0, photos!
http://www.spacebrothers.com/worldtour/
I never would’ve expected that Emilio Estevez was such a class act. I don’t know why I wouldn’t think so, I just didn’t. Cool. In addition to Breakfast Club, he was great in both of the Young Guns flicks.
I read many of the comments and most said what I was going to say. Your comments were unbelievably frank and resonated in me feelings I’ve felt when I thought I “blew” something.
You can’t beat up on yourself. Maybe you weren’t meant for that part, hard to say. If he really wanted you, he would have given you another chance, at least shaken your hand.
Good luck in your endeavors. Cool blog. And I liked Westley.
Will Wheaton is a CHEAP SKATE SON OF A BITCH! He STIFFED his waitress at the Alamo Drafthouse here in Austin, TX and I believe he must be EXPOSED! TAKE THAT! Will Wheaton! POicard would have you Court-Martialed, and rightly so, for being such a SKIN-FLINT son of a bitch! Your bill (of about $40) was comped! it was free of charge! but did you leave even one $ for your hardworking waitress? NO! YOU SUCK!! YOU PAMPERED LITTLE LORD FONTELROY! I set my phaser on KILL when I see you NEAR!