Sometimes we know in our bones what we really need to do, but we’re afraid to do it.
Taking a chance, and stepping beyond the safety of the world we’ve always known is the only way to grow, though, and without risk there is no reward.
Thoughts like this have weighed heavily on me for the last year or so, as I look around and reassess my life.
This past year has involved more self-discovery and more change than any so far in my life. It’s been tumultuous, scary, exhilarating, depressing, thrilling, joyful.
I’ve realized recently that I have changed dramatically since I started this website. When it began just over a year ago, I was very adrift, terrified that the Internet would tear me apart.
Well, it did, and it turns out that was a great thing. The Internet kicked my ass, and it forced me to find strength within myself, and to not derive my sense of self-worth from the opinions of others.
This website has introduced me to amazing people, weird people, scary people. This website, and many people who read it, has also helped me figure out what is important to me in my life, what makes me happy.
I guess the feeling has been building for a long time, and I knew it was there, but I wasn’t willing to acknowledge it. It was –is– scary. It’s a major change in my life, but I can’t ignore it, and to ignore it is to ignore myself, and cheat myself out of what I think my real potential is.
Back in the middle of May, I was asked to do this commercial. Well, not just a commercial, more of an infomercial, really. My first reaction was, “No way. Infomercials are death to an actor’s career.”
But then I thought about the last few years of my life as an actor. The daily frustrations. Losing jobs for stupid, capricious, unfair reasons.
I looked back and saw that it really started when my friend Roger promised me a role in Rules of Attraction, then yanked it away from me without so much as a phonecall or email or anything. Then there was the roller coaster of Win Ben Stein’s Money, and missing family vacations so I could stay home and go on auditions that all ended up being a huge waste of my time.
Throughout this time, this painful, frustrating Trial, I began to write more and more. It’s all here on WWDN. I can see my writing style change, as I find my voice, and figure out what I want to say, and how I want to say it.
The emails changed, too. People stopped asking me to do interviews for them about Star Trek, and started asking me if I’d conrtibute to their magazines, or weblogs, or books.
When this phonecall came for the infomercial, I took a long walk, and assessed my life.
The bottom line was: They were offering to pay me enough to support my family for the rest of this year. I wouldn’t have to worry about bills anymore. I wouldn’t have to view each audition as This One Big Chance That I Can’t Screw Up.
Accepting it would mean some security for me and my family. It was also a really cool computer-oriented product (which I’ll get to later, don’t worry). It’s not like I would be hawking “The Ab-Master 5000” or “Miracle Stain Transmogrifier X!”
It would also mean, to me at least, the end of any chance I had of ever being a really major actor again. That elusive chance to do a film as good as, or better than Stand By Me or a TV series as widely-watched as TNG would finally fall away.
I thought of all these things, walking Ferris through my neighborhood.
It was a long walk.
I thought of Donald Crowhurst.
I thought about why actors –and by actors I mean working, struggling actors like myself, not Big Time Celebrities like I was 15 years ago– suffer the indignities of auditions and the whims of Hollywood.
I remembered something I said to a group of Drama students just before their graduation: “If you want to be a professional actor, you have to love the acting, the performing, the thrill of creating a character and giving it life. You have to love all of that more than you hate how unfair the industry is, more than the constant rejection –and it is constant– hurts. You must have a passion within you that makes it worthwhile to struggle for years while pretty boys and pretty girls take your parts away from you again and again and again.”
I listened to my words, echoing off the linoleum floor of that High School auditorium, and realized that those words, spoken long ago were as much for me as they were for them.
I listened to my words and I realized: I don’t have that passion any more. I simply isn’t there.
I am no longer willing to miss a family vacation, or a birthday, or a recital, for an audition.
I am no longer willing to humiliate myself for some casting director who refuses to accept the fact that I’m pretty good with comedy.
I am no longer willing to ignore what I’m best at, and what I love the most, because I’ve spent the bulk of my life trying to succeed at something else.
So I walked back to my house, picked up the phone, and accepted the offer.
It was tumultuous, scary, exhilarating, depressing, thrilling, joyful.
I would spend the next three weeks wondering if I’d made the right decision. I would question and doubt it over and over again.
Was it the right decision? I don’t know.
Things have certainly changed for me, though. I have had 3 auditions since May. A year ago that would have killed me, but I’m really not bothered by it now.
I’ve made my family my top priority, and decided to focus on what I love: downloading porn.
Just kidding.
I’ve decided to focus on what I really love, what is fulfilling, maybe even what I am meant to do, in the great cosmic sense: I am writing.
I write every day, and I see the faint outlines of something really cool. I occasionally catch glimpses of an ability, unrefined, long-ignored, coming to life.
Sometimes we know in our bones what we really need to do, but we’re afraid to do it.
Taking a chance, and stepping beyond the safety of the world we’ve always known is the only way to grow, though, and without risk there is no reward.
Risk was always one of my favorite games.
Tomorrow: Why Creation Cut Me From The 15th Anniversary of TNG Convention, and Why It’s a Good Thing.
Discover more from WIL WHEATON dot NET
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Wil, I’ve thought for quite a while now that you’ve got too much creative ability and potential to keep pigeon-holing yourself into the “I am an actor” paradigm. You’re a terrific writer whose best works are ahead. You’re a fun and funny guy. You’re a geek destined for greatness. I’m elated to hear that you’ve chosen to break away from the conventional wisdom of the entertainment industry to toe your own course.
I want to see the ultra low budget indie movie sensation written/directed and starring Wil Wheaton. I want to buy the self published novel Wil Wheaton has had rattling around in the back of his head for the last 10 years, that couldn’t break out until now. But despite all that I’d simply settle for the occasional, sublimely inspirational, tragicomic weblog entry if you’d rather do that. Keep doing what makes you happy and everything will fall into place.
Hey Wil:
I think you’re doing the right thing. What you certainly don’t want to happen is end up wondering. The dreaded “what if” weighs in heavy, trust me.
Recently I asked to be laid off from a very decent job (hey, a guy needs his severance package!) so I could spend some time assessing what I want to do and where I want to do it. The point you make about losing the passion for something is well understood here.
Eventually money will become tight, but in the meantime the freedom is uncomparable. I feel like the sky’s the limit, and I’m sure you will, too.
Keep us all up to date. Nothing you do can’t be reversed.
-d
Jonathan Frakes is the national spokesperson for Glacial Milk, a product he, according to the company’s promotional video, “truly uses and believes in.” Yet, his career seems to be doing OK.
I’m not surprised that these web logs have changed your life. They are filled with people giving you encouragement.
The world of auditions terrifies me. I think I’d rather make the projects myself and need to cast people to work on my ideas than be picked apart on a daily basis. So I’m not going there untill I’m ready.
I thank you for the effort you put into your speech. As one day it may be me that your speech is
p.s. its my birthday on Saturday. Wish me a happy one? 🙂
Ok, well, being this is some 150 comments down the list, no one will ever see it but I figure most of us are posting for ourselves anyway…
Like Most everyone here, I am really excited that Wil is going to concentrate on writing and can’t wait to see what comes of this. I also don’t count you out from acting. I have to laugh at the person who posted about being excited to see you in something even if it is an infomercial, Hell I made my husband tape Screensavers, and watched it TWICE, then saw it was being re-broadcast at 12:30am, and watched it AGAIN! How lame am I?? Since I’ve been reading this site I have been trying to get my hands on everything you’ve done in the past and see the things I missed before and watching the things I loved and seeing them in a new light. There are some things that I don’t know if I can get my hands on (Mr Stitch) but I’m damn well gonna try. Its funny, one of the things that struck me as I was watching the Screensavers thing, you SO remind me of a friend I’ve known since high school, and you and he are SO alike it makes me wonder if you were separated at birth or something! I know I’m rambling, but its late and today was a long day. hey, we can’t all be brilliant. I have to comment on what Shatnerslovechild wrote, about Tasha Yar having the biggest boobies, D00d! That is so WRONG! she is so flatchested she made the walls jealous! Wesley had bigger boobs! I thing the biggest ones were actually on Deanna Troi. Not that its bad that she’s flat, she was perky and all, but get your facts straight!
Loveya, Meanit
Wil,
all this and only 30??
why don’t you compete with Dr. Phil ?
I’ll call Oprah… and tell her she needs
to sign you on…
“Cha-Ching!”
Cash in, buddy.
I’m not sure this the the best thing for your career, but ya gots to get paid
Wil,
“No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both,
he is twice blessed indeed.”
-Harold MacMillan,
or,
“Enjoy life.
There’s plenty of time to be dead.”
and…
“I don’t know the key to success,
but the key to failure is to try
and please everyone.”
-Bill Cosby
and finaly…
“Live Long and Prosper.”
I can only add that there are very few people who have lived, that so many have looked to for some
meaning or purpose to ones life.. some guide
to living…
ther are many who have taken on the “Vulcan”
teaching, some the Arthorian, still some who
live by the “Force” or Jedi creed…
then there are those who have taken on that of the
“Traveler” those looking for who they are and how they fit in this world…
I could break into a song by John Denver, but this
is not the place,nor time…
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon,
but that we wait so long to begin it.”
-W.M. Lewis
later…
Jesus, Wil, you have a lot of friends 🙂
Do infomercial? Good move! Write? GREAT move! Give up acting? Now let’s not get carried away here… 🙂
As far as infomercials being the death of an acting career, you know the business best.
But it has been my experience that success in any one domain leads to unexpected opportunities in other domains.
Wil,
Nobody can accurately predict their future..who knows…nothing is black or white in life. I look forward to seeing the infomercial. It has to be less creepy than watching Robert Yurick’s infomercial since that guy is DEAD! They still play it on tv and it creeps me out to have a dead guy selling me a tooth brush. *Shivers*
hang in there Wil sound like the right choice to make especially for your family From Phil
Wil….
I was just thinking…
re-thinking ones life…
growing, changeing, learning
from ones past… successes
and failures…
is that with done with the
left or right hand?
or was that just Corey Feldmen
in Stand By Me???
FINALLY!!!!
Embrace your talent and you will be happy – you’ll make others happy.
Love ya Wil!
There comes a certain point in everyone’s life where you have to reassess your priorities. I’m also approaching my thirties, and like you I’m finally starting to find my own voice.
In a world where the increasing emphasis is on committment to career, rather than committment to family, I think your decision is the bravest and wisest one. At the end of our lives, the most important things that we’ll ever have or ever leave behind is our family.
“It was also a really cool computer-oriented product (which I’ll get to later, don’t worry).”
Make sure it’s supported by linux! Or you’ll have to turn in your “#1 linux cheerleader” badge! 🙂
Forgive me if somebody already said this, but being in an infomercial isn’t the kiss of death on an actor’s career. Admittedly it’s not considered the classiest thing to do, but look at Cher… or Robert Urich… they both did plenty of infomercials, and both worked a LOT afterwards. The truth is, most of the people in Hollywood probably won’t even hear about the informercial. Leave it off the resume, and I don’t imagine it will do you any damage at all.
Oh, and it totally sucks that you got cut from the next Trek picture! I think a lot of Trekkies (like me!) were really looking forward to this big scene that would reunite all the old Next Gen characters, it would have made the whole darn movie. And now it’s gone. Harrumph!
Anthony is right. You should follow Jonathan Frakes’ example.
Somebody asked Jonathan Frakes why he’d done a guest appearance in a sitcom, and he smiled his great getting-away-with-it grin and replied: “I will do ANYTHING for money!”
I’m looking forward to waking up in the middle of the night, turning on the TV and finding you on the air.
Thank you Wil, for all you have done.
Just started reading your site a few months ago…and soaking in this last entry, all I have to says is
WHOOOOO!!!!! You GO!
I saw this on E!Online.
Dear Marilyn: What has become of Wil Wheaton, the cute young boy who played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation?
Patty, Brockton, Massachusetts
Dear Patty: Wheaton told People magazine back in February that he’d given up acting 10 years ago at the age of 19 because, “I had left Star Trek: The Next Generation to do more things, and I was actually worse off, doing this awful movie [The Liars’ Club].”
He says he went on a soul-searching journey to Kansas, where he became a cybergeek and spent a year working with a Topeka computer company. He says he also made “a concerted effort” to be less “obnoxious and selfish.”
Wheaton is back in Los Angeles and has been teaching improv at the Acme Comedy Theater. He’s married to a hairdresser named Anne and has two stepsons, Ryan, 12, and Nolan, 10.
The actor, who landed his first TV spot at age 7, now says, “Being a child star was a pain, because I spent most of my childhood expected to act like an adult.”
Wow, it’s scary how much this resonates with me. I recently chose to stop trying to finish a dissertation for a PhD that had dragged over the last seven years. I kept getting interrupted by real life: meeting and marrying my husband, the regrettable need to earn money through jobs, and finally the birth of my child this year. As part of that regrettable need for cash, I got a job teaching at an elementary school, 180
Hey Wil. I just wanted to say that this post has really helped me a lot, so thanks. Also, you are so lucky that you have the talent to be both an actor *and* a writer. Not many people have the talent to do one really amazing thing, let alone two. And finally, you have touched countless thousands of people with what you have written on this site, and now so many people think of you as a great writer as well as an actor. You’ve connected with people now, so go for it.
porn!
wtf? kidding? no porn?
grr.
but wait, you’re not going to be at the TNG con?
why?
karma says… you’ve been replaced by porn!
“…and sitting next to mr. frakes is a barely legal horny nympho…”
A1phab3t spewed:
“Wow, EVERYBODY on the WHOLE INTERNET is behind you in this! Infomercials are frikkin’ AWESOME! I can’t WAIT to see your face at 2 AM talking EXUBERANTLY for half an hour about some overpriced doohickey!”
Alfie, does it give you some sort of perverse pleasure to mock people who are genuinely excited for the man? I may be four-hundred-and-forty-four shades of f*cked up on this, but I’d be willing to bet you’d quake like a li’l girl if you had to go before a tv camera and sell a set of Ginsu knives or a micro-Hibachi. No? Dickwad.
Your infantile sarcasm seems a mite shrill, seeing as how you’re reading his web journal yourself. Must be satisfying to lurk in the anonymity of your mindless jag-off post while taking a grandiose dump on the enthusiasm of others. Do us all a favor though? For the love of Bob, stay right where you are, next to your Dr. Pepper-stained keyboard and your bag of Cheetos. Do NOT, for any reason, leave the house. I’m sure your neighbors dislike you more than I do. Just trying to spare them the horror.
“Yay! People are comparing you to CHER! Career high!”
She gave a stunning performance in MOONSTRUCK and many other films that you were likely too busy jorgin’ off to TNG to actually see. Done anything as fulfilling in your own sad train-wreck of a life, Alfie? No? Well then, shoo now. I ordered that dopio espresso five minutes ago.
“I’m proud to be the sole negative comment in this touchy-feely craptasticon. You sold out for money.”
Come again?
The man takes an acting gig that isn’t up to your lofty standards, so he can support his family and pursue a vocation for which he’s found real passion, and you call that selling out for money?
Me, I call that a job. Speaking of which, where in tarnation is that espresso, boy?
“If you’re ok with it, I’m ok with it,”
Hm. Sounds like you’re having a change of heart about that ol’ infomercial gig. Sounds awfully like a Tony Robbins quote. Why am I not surprised. Do me a favor and die. But, dammit, can a guy get a ferchrissakes dopio espresso in this joint? Alfie?
“but wrapping it in sentimentality and introspection just adds another flavor of reek to the stink of maudlinity that all-too-often infests your writing.”
Wow, hold the phone, coffee-grinder. Now here we find some mordant analysis. Another flavor of reek to the stink of maudlinity? I want to be clear on this nugget of syntactical buggery. Are you saying that a reek–or smell–has a flavor? Or is Wil’s introspection another flavor of a smell–said smell comprising maudlinity? Or, maybe, Wil’s sentimentality (which incidentally, is synonymous with maudlinness [not maudlinity]; yep, ya spelled that one wrong, sh*thead) is a flavor, and a reek (smell)? In any case, either you’re a third-grader with a grotesquely innacurate thesaurus, or English isn’t your primary language.
Oh, one other thing: To be maudlin is to be overly sentimental, so not only are you a festering green pus-wad on the Wil’s ass, but you’re a subliterate, redundant one. Prescription: A steady diet of DICK AND JANE books, or, barring that, suicide.
“I dig your stuff on Arena, and loved Stand By Me, and you got to make out with Ashley Judd so good for you, but this post and the comments above are making me nauseous.”
I do hope it’s fatal. But before you go the way of the dodo bird, please be a dear and fetch my frikkin’ espresso before I get riled. Then go away.
Wil, I love the writing. And you are getting better. Take care of your family.
Ken Prock
Oh, I forgot something. I understand how hard it must be to always be looking for something to top Stand By Me. Very few actors are ever involved with a film that fantastic in their whole career, so having that at the age of 12 must be a mixed blessing, because its *so* hard to top. I guess you just have to take that pressure off yourself, and consider yourself lucky that you were ever involved in something like that, because so few are. Do what makes you happiest, and don’t feel that you have to better Stand By Me, because thats setting your standards pretty incredibly high.
You’re the man now, Wil. Though my initial interest in your blog was because your name had a single ‘l’, I’ve come to know a tad about you and you’re quite the interesting individual. When I found out you were a celebritah I thought I’d be reading something with the same tone and voice of those ‘band journals’ you get on self-proclaimed rock star websites. But no, you write with a very human tone, keep it up. I went through a similar revelation about two years ago when I decided I wanted to become a writer rather than be a techy, which up until then I had trained to be.
I just hope they don’t have lame “beam me up” FX in your infomercial, or team you up with Ron Jeremy.
I remember this guidance councilor type guy once said to a class of mine in highschool, that each of us could expect to have about 5 different careers in our lives….
3 of which hadn’t even been invented yet.
this was back in the late 80’s, and of course i thought the guy was a complete nut job.
not invented yet?
what the hell does that mean?
yet here i am, Art Director for a consulting firm, doing websites, and online design….
I originaly started out my career in advertising, doing magazine ads, and hoping to one day land a cool TV spot…
what i do now, while still ulta creative, is absolutely nothing like standard advertising…
but i love it…..completely love this job….
you’re an actor wil….and a damn damn good one…
but that aint all you are….
ultimately, you’re a creative guy….
whether or not you create by playing characters, writing, doing improve, or whatever….being creative is the key…
so try the writing thing out for a while….
you’re obviously gifted at it….
we don’t come to this site day after day to just stare at your little picture in the corner…
we came ta read, boy…and read we do!
other acting roles will come….they absolutely will….
but this move of yours is right on the money…
ever hear of Spalding Grey?
during his ‘swimming to cambodia’ show, he talked about why he created and performed one man shows and monologues….
“because i got tired of waiting for this big holywood machine to make up it’s so-called mind”
instead of waiting for the machine…you’re doing exactly the same thing that spalding did…
create his own space, his own work, in his own way….
has the hollywood machine forgotten about him?
hardly…
he still gets roles from time to time…and he’s a damn fine actor too…
but in the meantime, he’s gotten famous and had critical acclaim for his one man shows….
starting to remind you of anyone?
you’re doing your own thing now wil, and you’re excellent at it….
and we’re allllllll behind you….
you’re a tremendous success.
and an inspiration…
Wil –
I’ve been reading your log every day for about a year. And I’ve written with you. Having recently graduated with a Creative Writing degree, I understand the frustration (and joy) in finding just the right words to express your emotions. Your voice in the last post was passionate and strong. You have really grown as a writer, and I’m glad I was here to expereince it. Thanks.
Wil wrote:
‘Tomorrow: Why Creation Cut Me From The 15th Anniversary of TNG Convention, and Why It’s a Good Thing.’
Tomorrow is Today.
Let’s have it Wheaton. Spill the beans on why Creation pulled a boner!
Thanks.
I had a similar journey in the year leading up to my 30th, too, and some major life changes in the year or so afterward. Tough, but I am happier, healthier and more self-aware than ever now. (35 – but I feel younger now than I did then!) Don’t get me wrong, I still have a long way to go, but that was when I finally began, slowly, to come into my own.
Blessings on you, Wil.
did someone really say wil is selling out? the guy just made almost 15,000 for cancer research. and someone is questioning his integrity?
?
Here’s to all the actors who do commercials in Japan.
http://www.japander.com/japander/index.htm
If you need a cattle prod to get going on your dreams, all you need do is ask yourself one simple question;
– Where will I be a hundred years from now? –
Before you laugh, seriously ask youself the question and think about the answer. It may surprise you.
I get so annoyed when I see some one with very average, or worse, with zero talent in movies, on TV and featured in magazines such as Entertainment Weekly. Each year I say I’m going to give up on award shows like the Oscars because I could not BELIEVE the award went to THAT actor, movie, director, producer or writer. I then say something like “When am I going to see Wil Wheaton in something that recieves lots of attention and [sincere] praise!”
These things will continue to annoy me. I await, eagerly, the day when its not Jimmy Kimmel’s cousin, that person willing to do certain “favors” or the no-talent with a pedigree who gets the job. But instead the job goes to some one with skill and talent.
Until that time -a time that I realize may never come, I’ll enjoy seeing that you are happy. I could wish to see you win an Oscar some day but there’d be no guarantee that you’d still be happy. Instead, I’ll hope for the happiness & if an Oscar (for acting or writing) comes your way, then cool. I think though, that it is far better that you do what you really like in your professional life & enjoy the time you have with family and friends.
You are far better off not being Jimmy Kimmels cousin & having sold your soul to the WB. Its just my opinion, but that is a greater evil than doing an infomercial -specially for a product you actually like & getting paid enough to take care of the family you love.
But you already know this by coming to the realization yourself & seeing basically the same message in the above posts.
Hi Wil,
When I saw you on ScreenSavers I thought you were obnoxious. Now that I have had the chance to view your site I see that is not the complete picture.
The informercial is definately a good idea especially if you like the product. Have a great time making the commercial!
Spudnuts..did not you mean to say “Wil Wheaton
the SOAP Opera”??!!
YOU GO WIL!!!!
DO WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY..AND THE MONEY WILL FOLLOW
(At least that’s what THAT book said!)
Grasshopper it IS time.
sounds like your in for a big change Wil. keep up the great work here though
i’ve realized that, on typing the line “wilwheaton.net” in my browser every day, i seek that sort of inspiration from a well-spoken person who’s willing to be open and honest. people take risks displaying their innermost thoughts and life events here on the internet, and i don’t know how much you’ve given up, but the fact that you’ve actually convinced at least me to open my eyes, appreciate the important things in my life and constantly improve myself.
THANKS WIL.
I applaud you in your decision. I’ll look forward to seeing you on the infomercial. Let us know if you need “real customers” to give testimonials on the show. 🙂 I also think that a book (novel or autobiography) from Wil Wheaton would be really cool…just turn those startrek conventions into book tours…
Just remember that you have so many more supporters and well-wishing fans out there than crusty casting directors and greedy producers.
Your words rang true. You really have to have a passion for this to be able to deal with all the crap. So i make my own stuff which makes no money. Still, it keeps me sane because I’m still creating.
I’m so glad a friend told me about this site. You’re pretty cool.
When i had finished reading that last entry, the first thing that popped into my head was ‘Wil is so cool’. I wish i had the strength of character to do and say what Wil has. His entr’s are so profound and make u sit back and take a look at your own life and think.
Keep it up Wil, we love that you makes us all have to think, through your own experences
Kordith
Hey Wil,
I’ve really liked reading your site for the past several months…..a friend turned me onto it and thought my situation sounded a lot like yours (we’re the same age, I’m married to an older woman who has two kids – a daughter age 12 and a son age 10).
In this update….you never identified the product you did the infomercial for (even though you said you’d mention it by the end of the post).
Keep up the posting Wil, it’s always interesting to read.
You are so very likeable,and your situation is SO easy to identify with. At some point we all reach a vexing fork in the road that seems to lead to divergent paths, but your paths may not be as divergent as you think. You’ve decided to go ahead with courage, and clear thought, and you’ve chosen to see your situation – as it actually is, not with the twisting knots of multiple perspectives.
You’ve made an excellent decision, and identified what it is you REALLY want to be doing. Heck, some people aren’t even sure if they should have gotten out of bed this morning!
Your sense of humor is great, and as a new visitor to your blog, I think that you are a far more human presence than we have come to expect of the acting community in general.
I’m going out to rent Stand By Me.
Now off you go, you’re on your way! with a bibity bobbity, boo!
Change and Thrive.
Stagnate and Die.
Wow. You’ve inspired me to do more and to strive harder to do what I love and what I hope to achieve in my life. I’ve always been one to take that “safe road” because I was terrified of jumping into something unknown to me. I don’t even think that I’ve enjoyed college as much as I should have, but now I think I’m ready to fully enjoy life and what it has to offer me.
Thanks for the push over the cliff. 🙂 You rock.
195 Comments! Here I am adding to the pile…
I learned a long time ago that you have got to do what makes you happy. The long term plans I put together for my career and life never worked. I had to learn to make myself happy first and things would fal into place.
Amazing;y things have worked out.
Very good article, Wil.
Speaking on the relation of ST:TNG, this weekend will also be the last time William Shatner will ever be in the role of Captain James T. Kirk.
Quoting from his website, “This will be the last opportunity for fans to see Shatner bringing the spirit of Captain Kirk back to life.”
So, Shatner is shedding his image as well.
Good luck to you both!
Well, Wil, I’ve only recently been introduced to your site (like, within the last month or so) but I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed your writing at least as much as your acting.
So, in the opinion of this nobody from out of nowhere, you’re good at both. If one makes you happier than the other, I say go for it.
But, please, amid all these decisions… don’t ever stop writing this journal. I love reading it.
Joel P
You said the magic word, Wil. Family, that’s what it’s all about. It’s too bad that some folks don’t find that out until it’s too late to enjoy, until it’s a vague memory accompanied by regrets. Doing the family thing successfully has more rewards and is more noble than ANY professional endeavors. So carry on, brother man, you figured it out.
Everyone’s said all the well-deserved encouraging words–but let me chime in anyways just to boost the number of comments:
1. You’re a great actor
2. You’re a great writer
3. You’re a great family man
can’t wait to see the infomercial — but I still believe that you’ll get some great roles when you’re ready for them.