“Individually we can get angry. Together we can, and will, make a diference.”
I wrote those words recently, hoping to rally and inspire people to action.
I was talking about the rapid erosion of our free speech and parody rights on the internet, but that phrase applies to any movement, really.
One voice is easily ignored or silenced, but when other people add their voices to yours, you become a chorus not easily ignored.
It turns out that a lot of people got angry that I wouldn’t be attending the 15th anniversary of TNG celebration next month. It turns out that those voices joined together in emails, phone calls, internet postings and FAXes. It turns out that those voices became a chorus not easily ignored.
Thursday afternoon, I had a message on my machine from Adam Malin, president of Creation. He told me that he’d been “flooded” with emails, phone calls and FAXes. He said he’d read the internet postings, and he wanted to talk with me. He told me that he felt terrible, sick, and was very upset that I felt the way that I did. He was apologetic, and hoped I’d call him back so we could speak directly and if nothing else, clear the air.
When I set the phone down in it’s cradle, I was surprised to feel my hands shaking.
I was, quite honestly, stunned. Shocked. A phone call from a lawyer I would have expected. An angry phone call, maybe, given the rage people were expressing on message boards at my own site and elsewhere. But a personal, cordial, apologetic call? I just didn’t think it would happen.
I didn’t have a chance to call him back until yesterday, during my lunch hour at work. See, we’ve been busting our asses at Arena to pull together this HALO National Championship event, and yesterday was the culmination of weeks of 12 hour days, of hundreds if not thousands of individual hours of work.
So lunch comes, and I phoned him.
I apologized for not calling him back right away. I explain to him that we’re working on this special, and it’s maxed out my internal CPU.
Before I can say anything, he apologizes again for not talking to me directly, and letting his underlings deal with me instead.
He tells me that he has never thought of me as “not part of the family.”
I tell him that I have been given the impression from everyone at Creation, even the people with whom I am friends, that there are “levels,” and it (rightly) goes: Captains, Data, everyone else…then there was me.
I tell him that I’ve felt marginalized, and treated like my contributions to Trek weren’t important to him, Creation, the fans, or Paramount.
He apologizes again, tells me again that he doesn’t feel that way. Tells me that he wanted to make it right. He wants to have me at that convention.
I am stricken by how genuine he seems. I am beginning to feel badly for not going over the heads of his employees and speaking directly to him, myself.
I also notice something that is a new feeling to me, as far as Star Trek goes: I’m being treated like an adult. Treated with respect, spoken to fotrhrightly and candidly.
This may seem like an overstatement of the glaringly obvious, but even though I am thirty years old, I still feel like I’m “the kid” where Trek is concerned. Not feeling that way is something new to me, and I’m not sure how to deal with it.
Adam tells me that he has heard great things about my sketch group. He’s heard that they are fabulous, and the fans really love the show we do. He tells me that he wants to hire them for the show, wants me to speak at the show, and he really wants to make it work out.
I tell him that there wasn’t time to get the group together now, and produce a quality show. He is really upset about that. He asks me if I’d be willing to get my group together for Grand Slam 2003.
I notice that we’re having a cordial, comfortable conversation. It’s like we’ve both been stung. Me by the posture taken during the previous negotiation, and him by the vitriolic rebuke from the fans. He seems to genuinely feel badly that my feelings were so hurt, and I get the palpable impression that he wants to make things right.
He asked me again if I’d be willing to do the show for a very reasonable fee, just a little bit below what I was asking for before negotiations broke down last month.
I am immdediately torn.
I think about this thing that someone said in the comments yesterday: “If you turn your back on Trek one more time, I’m buying you a revolving door.”
I think hard about that. It burns inside me.
I dont know what to do.
On the one hand, I want Trek behind me.
On the other hand, it will never be behind me no matter what, because, let’s face it: Trek was and is HUGE. Bigger than me. Bigger than I will ever be in my (stalled and slowing) acting career.
After I’d gotten the first phone call from Adam, I talked it over with Travis (from Arena) who is a very good friend of mine. Knows me very, very well.
Told him I’m having mixed feelings about it. I can think of reasons to do the show, and reasons to not do the show.
He asked me why I didn’t want to do it.
I gave him some reasons, pro and con.
He asked me if I was happy writing.
I told him I was.
He asked me if I liked being on stage.
I told him that I did.
He asked me why I could possibly not want to be onstage in front of people who want to like me, and read my work to the same. He reminded me of the sketch shows we’ve done together at conventions, and how we have always felt great afterwards.
He asks me again why I can’t embrace Star Trek as something wonderful that I was part of, and at the same time continue to move forward as an actor and writer.
I couldn’t answer him.
Pride? Fear?
I don’t fucking know.
The people on the ‘net have rallied around me about this. The fans have raged at Creation, and Creation listened.
But there’s that revolving door. I’m stuck in it, big time.
I think of this email I got where a guy said he felt like I was trying to convince myself that it is okay to be booted from Star Trek things. He’s right.
I think of a comment where a guy criticizes me for being so angst-ridden about Star Trek, accuses me of being full of shit, says he can see right through me.
He has a point too. I meant what I said about being cut from the film. But having the safety bubble burst? Well, I’m still standing in it’s remains, hoping I can find a way to refill it, just in case. Setting Wesley free, embracing a sense of freedom? I meant that, as well.
I feel like I have grown older, and changed. But I feel unfulfilled, unsure, and I know that the last few months of entries here have focused on that. Maybe I’m giving way too much weight to the comment of one random person who didn’t even have the courage to put an email address with the anonymous comment. For all I know I could be biting on the biggest troll ever.
But there is truth to what that anonymous poster said. I’m torn. I am caught in a revolving door, and I don’t know what will happen, and I am filled with angst, and that feeling is burning inside of me, keeping me awake at night, distracting me every minute of every day. It’s burning in me so fiercely, so hot and insistent, that I have lost perspective. I can’t make objective decisions and weigh the pros and cons effectively.
So I seek counsel from some very good friends of mine. Some people who I really trust and respect. I write to them what I’ve written above, with the following pros and cons:
Pros:
- Fans will be ecstatic that Creation listened, that they fought for me and won.
- Fans will be happy to see me in person.
- I’ll earn money for my family and be able to perform what I love to do for an audience who *FINALLY* wants to like me.
Cons:
- That revolving door feeling, and the fear of a massive backlash from…well, I’m not sure who, but backlash nevertheless.
It seems pretty slam-dunk, right? I should do the show and feel great about it. But it’s not that easy for me. I am extremely conflicted, until I get the following responses:
“This could not be easier, but that’s really because I’m not you.
You don’t have a choice, man. When you just had a few little tiny hairs, something in you nailed that part of the “kid that was to be forever hated”(tm).
I honestly believe that you were hated because everyone wanted to be like you and because you were a fucking kid in an adult world and there was a new crowd suddenly attracted–nevermind that we’ve got the black guy with the hairclip on his eyes and a Klingon on the ship…not to mention that fucking hot Martina bitch.
No, you were the biggest oddball, and you didn’t have a clue what was happening to you, no matter how fucking smart you were–and Wil, you’re no dumb guy.
Hell, you know I know that you’re a million times harder on yourself than anyone else could be in a single day.
You’ve managed to take all the asshole things you did when you were younger and attempt to make right on them.
Again, if you’re at all like me, you probably get irate if you catch yourself littering because of the Karma Train that’ll come back to hit you if you cause some old guy somewhere some extra effort to clean up your mess, even if it’s his job.
Damn, man. I know what you’re doing…I do it, too.
So, you think you’d be compromising or something if you went and changed your mind and went back to the show.
I don’t. You’re going to enjoy it. People like you.
You looked in the face of a thousand-million internetters and said, “Hey, I’m a fucking human like you, I’ve been a dick, it’s not right, this is what I did and this is what I think now. Sorry; won’t happen again.”
People like you, man. In fact, you’re probably not even capitalizing off of all the Internet Momentum(tm) you’ve gained in the past year. Shit, Wil, people all over the place NOW LIKE YOU. Let’s face it, you’ve only gotten limited access to those auditions, but how many magazines, newspapers, tv shows, etc. have you been on because you’re a fucking computer geek-boy now?
You want my point-blank, in-your-fucking-face opinion right now?
Too bad, I’m giving it to you anyway.
For starters, go there.
Go there in a big fucking “in your face, but I’m still just lil ol’ Wil” way. Have the fucking time of your life–do it FOR YOU for the fans, not for the fans. These people want to see you–and even if they say something negative, just laugh it off like water on a duck and say, “Cool, but you know, you really don’t know me” and know that you’ve won in that statement alone.
Then, Mr. Man, I think you need to start doing something to have the voices of these hundreds of thousands of souls who, together, are not only fucking bright when they’re not trolling, but who are also strong-minded and very likely to do something about making you an actor.
???
Yeah. You’ve got a fucking posse, man.
Truer words could not be said. Now, what does it fucking take to get all of these people together to say in a single voice, “We Want Wil” and have them get you back on screen?
I don’t have the answer there, but I guarantee you that I’m going to be the first person to try and figure it out…people want to see you. People are rooting for you all over the place and you don’t even know it because you’ve let yourself become accustomed to not being quite so famous.
But, dammit, man, you’re the movie-star guy that’s “just like me…holy shit!” and you’re an underdog. You’re the guy that people want to see get some momentum behind and get to the top–and then remember each and every one of them on the way up and once you get there, because, no one does that. Everyone forgets that one little geek that didn’t have to show up at the con and ask for your autograph…who made it there for you and saved money to go.
If you forget him, he’ll take you down as quickly as he put you up there, and you know that very well, my friend. They taught you that already.
You’re a blessed man. Don’t forget that. I’ll never be on a G4 network or on a game show, and that’s cool, but believe me, I’d want to do it in a heartbeat. You, on the other hand, can do it with your eyes closed–and that’s true. G4 is your stepping stone, in case you hadn’t noticed that just yet.
Let me wrap up with something that Michael Jordan once said: “Every night when I go out on the court, I think about that father and son out there who are seeing me play basketball–and that’s the only reason they’re here. This might just be their only chance. Sometimes, I even wish I could trade places with them because of the great feeling–the great moment this is for them. Every night when I go out on the court, I play my best…for them.”
So, get your black-ass out on the court. Hit the fucking circuits and get busy busy busy, man. No fucking infomercial is going to be your death, so get that fucking preconceived notion out of your head and put the rubber to the road.
Dunno; maybe you’ll be pissed at some of this, but the truth is, I don’t care about that. I care about the fact that you SEEM to be letting some of your potential wash-away from you, and you’re too good for that.
Look, I don’t know all that goes on, so that obviously makes me very uninformed, but if this is my opinion of you, then imagine what other people must feel if they’re your fans? You’ve become an icon all over again, believe it or not.”
Another friend said:
“I just talked to [his wife, who is very wise] about it, who had this to say:
First off, she thinks you should do it (for reasons I’ll get into in a second).
But the big thing (again, still her talking) is that you should do this for you.
Whatever you decide, right now, it’s gotta be for you, and not because X amount of people will judge you for doing it or not doing it.
If you feel it’s right for you, and will benefit your family, and your writing, and gain some recognition for you, AND you’ll get to see some old Trek buddies again, and that’s what you want, then you gotta do that thing.
But don’t do it if you now feel pressured by the fans to do it.
And don’t NOT do it because you’re afraid of what the fans will think.
Whatever you do, do it because you, you personally need to.
Okay, here’s where I start talking.
To put this in some perspective, I remember a time when Shatner wouldn’t do the con thing. There was a period between the cancellation of the series and the first movie where he wouldn’t even mention Star Trek in interviews (which was actually kind of surreal).
That said, he came back, did the movies and lives very well off of them and off of the additional fame from a new audience not as familiar with the series.
Because I think there comes a point where you have to acknowledge that This Thing You Did Back When is a part of you that’s always going to be there. It’s like Sue Olson (the actress who played Cindy Brady) once said–you have to accept that people will always think of you as that character, because only then can you really move on.
Once you accept that, the audience accepts you…and paradoxically, on your own terms.
See, this whole “Turn Your Back On Trek” thing, if you let thatget to you…how do I put this?
If you don’t do it because you have to Turn Your Back On Trek, well, then you’re not really turning your back on Trek–you’re still letting the Trek thing dictate what you do.
And, while we’re putting our cards on the table, here, I think that you shouldn’t look at not turning your back on Trek and finding your own voice as being mutually exclusive. As a former convention-goer, the Trek (or otherwise) speakers who I thought were the coolest were the ones who accepted that Trek was the reason they were there and why we were there, as opposed to the guys who seemed weirded out or perplexed that anyone gave a shit.
Not that you’d be that way–I’m talking about an initial attitude going in, not the handling of the experience from that point on.
As far as you feeling that you’re renegging on what you said in your post…and here’s some perspective:
The situation is different now.
It’s not that they called you, snubbed you, and you’re going back anyway to eat shit for the peanuts.
It’s that they contacted you, snubbed you initially, then realized they misjudged your appeal (and ability to bring in a LOT of new people) and finally were willing to meet you on terms you could accept.
I’m not gonna lie and say that some people won’t be assholes and call sour grapes on you for “singing a different tune.”
Expect it. I know you are.
You’ve been down this path before. We all know you have.
I mean, it’s great publicity for the website, and for Arena, and for you. You will have an ability to connect with the fans again–but this time it’ll be a little different, because you’re probably going to see more people you know you from the site–and Malin knows that.”
Mixed in with all of this, I got an email from a really nice woman who organized fans to share their outrage about this. Creation reverses themselves … PLEASE do go, otherwise IMO Creation will win, as they can say you turned THEM down after they met your (original) terms or soemthing like that. Then promote the hell out of the convention on your website. Perhaps if Creation and the others see how powerful you and your website is, they just MIGHT sit up and take notice, and I’m not just talking about conventions here, but perhaps it might help you in other ways (as yet unseen) as well.
I’m calling for a campaign here to do right by you … ’cause I think it stinks. NO one messes with the Wil Wheaton, or they’ll find that they have the ‘Possee’ as you call us, to contend with, and I suspect we are a much MORE powerful together, than Creation realizes.
I’m doing this for you, cause I think you are a neat guy … but also mostly because, remember, I’ve been a Trekkie longer than you’ve been around (before you were born), and this is now really got me STEAMED how on their High Horse that Creation has gotten of late.”
So. I think long and hard about these things, and still I feel heavily conflicted.
I revisit those pros and cons, and think to myself:
I’d love to have a chance to read some of my stuff for an audience who would really “get” it.
I’d love to go in front of fans who, for the first time EVER **LIKE** me.
But that revolving door is spinning, and I don’t know how I can face the people who said “Good for you! Leave Star Trek behind you forver!”
Well, right now, the absolute truth is, as my friend said:
“Because I think there comes a point where you have to acknowledge that This Thing You Did Back When is a part of you that’s always going to be there. It’s like Sue Olson (the actress who played Cindy Brady) once said–you have to accept that people will always think of you as that character, because only then can you really move on. “
That’s the freedom I was referring to in the last part of The Wesley Dialogues.
“If you don’t do it because you have to Turn Your Back On Trek, well, then you’re not really turning your back on Trek–you’re still letting the Trek thing dictate what you do… you shouldn’t look at not turning your back on Trek and finding your own voice as being mutually exclusive.”
Well, I’m going to wrestle with that last one for awhile, I think, and WWDN readers can expect more angst in the months to come. Sorry, it’s just part of the process. There are hundreds of great weblogs to read, and lots of pretty trees to look at outside if you’d rather not read that stuff here.
Well, this is 9 pages now, so I think it’s time to get back to the point:
Adam and I talk.
It is a good, long, honest, respectful talk.
We clear the air.
He tells me that his profit margin on the Vegas show was not several million dollars. He tells me that it was very, very slim, relative to his investment, which was nearly half a million dollars.
He tells me that he didn’t want me at the Grand Slam on stage because he wanted to hold off until the 15th show. He thought it would be cooler if he waited to have me come on then.
He tells me that he had no idea about my website, or about how the fans felt about me now.
He asks me if I’d reconsider.
I reconsider. I replay all those emails in my head, I balance the pros and cons, and I say to him,
“Adam. I am really conflicted about this. I feel like each time I do a Star Trek event, it’s…well, it’s not necessarily a step backwards, but it certainly isn’t a step forwards, but I feel like I should listen to the voice of the fans. We should all listen to the voice of the fans, because that voice has been increasingly silenced over the last decade.
I love to perform, and I would like to give something back to the fans. I would love to attend the event, and be part of the celebration, but I’d also like to share some of my writing with the fans. Would you be able to put me in an evening spot, so I can read somet things that I’ve written?”
“Is it funny?” He asks me.
“It’s funny, it’s sad, it’s bittersweet…it’s really a reflection of the person I am, and people seem to respond to it.”
“Can I book your comedy group for Grand Slam in 2003?”
“Yes. I’d love to bring my guys out. We love to perform.”
We talk about fees, and we agree on a very fair fee, which is right on par with the rest of the actors.
I will do a question and answer session at the convention, and I will bring selections of my writing, and read them for the audience during and evening program.
I ask him for one more thing. I tell him that I have more in common with the fans now than I do with the actors, and I keep hearing how the fans are getting the in-person-autograph shaft these days.
I want him to put my autograph table in an area where I can sit for a few hours, so all the fans can get their stuff signed, so I can talk with people who are so inclined.
He tells me that he’d really like that. Many actors just won’t do that, and he thinks it would be great.
I feel very good about this conversation, and I feel very excited to be part of this celebration.
Resolution? It’s a long ways off. That’s why they call it “angst.”
But there is something wonderful buried in all of this:
I doubt I would have gotten this phone call if there hadn’t been such a loud and immediate response from the fans.
You spoke up on my, and your, behalf, and your voice was heard.
Think about that for a moment.
Your voice was heard. You made a difference. Creation is the 800 pound gorilla of conventions. They don’t have to listen to anyone.
But they listened to you. They listened to us.
That, my friends, is huge, and everyone who is reading this gets to own part of that.
I strongly suggest that you take a moment, and phone, write, FAX, or email Adam or Gary or whomever at Creation, and thank them for hearing your voices.
And if you come to the 15th show, please, please, please seek me out and introduce yourself. I’d like to know you.
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Wil-
I like your lengthy entries, even though I don’t always get to read them. But then you get the full emotional effect. This one, as many have before, made me cry, made me feel full of hope, made me laugh. I’m still choked up. I’ve been reading your website since the second month you put it up, and this is my first post. I’m nervous.
I am glad you are doing the convention, although I know nothing about it and Creation and many things you talk about. I’m the same age you were when you started Star Trek. I agree, you should do it for yourself. You should only think, Am I going to have fun doing this? Don’t worry about the fans and what people say. Being a fan myself (I only watch TNG episodes if you are on them) I have faith in them. Their voice is big enough to be heard. No matter what kind of criticism you come across, your posse loves you, and they should be enough to balance it out, from what I hear. So be an actor. We are the opposite of people. Take that gig and do the best you can. You have a lot to offer.
As for the Turn Your Back On Trek thing and the revolving door (I think I understand it clear enough and have an inkling of what I am talking about). I envy you. I have not watched much Trek and know little about it, but I love it anyways. I have never been to a con, but I wish I could go, and I love Trekkies. Thus I consider myself a Trekkie. I’m also an actor. (ac-tress if people need the gender differentiation. if that’s a word) I would love to be in your spot. To have been on the show and know those people on it and speak at the cons, as opposed to not even being able to go. I had this idea, even before your website, which is probably pretty stupid, but I want you to hear it. The next Star Trek series they make, I think Wesley should be captain or something. I actually don’t know how Wes left the show, I’ve seen about six eps of TNG. But it would be cool, if you were the main guy, and the whole series could have this comedic twist because you are just so goddamn funny! Wesley could be all grown up and changed and single so he could get all the chicks (as is the Captain’s right) and then there could be a character played by a girl sixteen years old or so. Okay, scratch that last part, its not relevant.
But I love you, Wil Wheaton. You are an inspiration and you are just cool. Really, really cool. Never forget to have fun.
Well, now I guess it’s obvious I like lengthy entries.
Love, Allie @–}
Woo
Hoo.
Hey Wil
I also wrote an email to Creation and I wrote them, that I don’t expect Creation to listen to the fans but I like to be proven wrong! I guess I just been proven wrong!
It’s too bad I can’t come to the US for this convention but I also wrote them to invite you to the London Convention in January.. I’ll be there, and If I see you there too I’ll certainly bring some swiss chocolate along again..
Take care,
Mike from Switzerland
I think that was a good call, Wil. I’d have taken the gig on those terms as well. Which bugs me a little, ’cause I decided long ago, when I was in my frequent-con-going days, that I would never give Creation another penny of my money because of how they treat people. But if I were in your shoes, I think I’d look at it as an opportunity to improve things, both personally and in the convention world, and go for it—so long as I was being treated like an adult. I won’t be attending—my finances won’t permit any kind of travel at all right now, even if I wasn’t loathe to give Creation business—but I wish I could be a fly on the wall there for your time on stage. Looking forward to the post-convention posts here on WWDN. 🙂
Wil,
Congratulations on rejoining the convention. I have been reading your site for the past few months. I happened to run across you in IRC a few years back, when I was in high school and still idolized you. The first impression I got was, asshole.
That has stuck with me for years. Around the time you did the interview with Slashdot, I picked up your site and bookmarked it. From reading those first few entries, I noticed that you were no long an asshole, rather someone I respect, a father.
One more pro that you will get from doing this convention for yourself is to show your kids that great things can be done for even someone as “washed up” as you. You repeatedly point out the fact that the fans made a difference, however, you started that snowball rolling down the hill. When your kids pick up on that fact, it should serve to inspire them.
My greatest hope is that my children succeed me in everyway possible. I think you may have missed this mark in your pro column, but then again, in this digital age, revisions are easy to make.
Congratulations for you and your family.
I can’t attend the convention – being on a different continent and short of the spending – however, I’m glad things (Seem) to have worked out. IT probes that, even on the (comparatively) small matters, fans CAN change the ‘corporate’ mind.
Don’t worry about the nay-sayers who will criticise you for your decision – it’s your decision and whether we agree or disagree with it, we should respect your ability to make it! Your fans/’posse’/whatever, like you primarily because you’re you, not because of something you did many years ago. They return to this website because they like the you of now, whatever they might feel about the you of then.
Now, perhaps if someone has Rick Berman’s ‘phone number… Anyone fancy sneaking into Viacom’s car park and pating a few bumper stickers?
Au Res.,
Paul
Wil,
It’s gratifying to see this working out better than you expected — particularly after the problems you described having with Mr. Malin’s underlings (if they are, indeed, at fault here). Go and have a great time at the Con and use it as a chance to meet the folks who want to see you do well.
About this “revolving door, leaving-Trek-behind” concern with which you are wrestling: I would imagine that many (if not all) of the actors who has worked on Trek have gone through this train of thought — and probably not just with their Trek roles. I suppose there is the fear of typecasting rolled up in there, along with the need to move on to the next role, the next challenge, the new moves that life throws at a person. It’s not limited to actors.
I’m a writer specializing in astronomy and space science — and I love to do it. Lately, in addition to the stuff I get paid to write, I’ve been exploring writing fiction and screenplays. Now at first I went through a little bit of an identity crisis, but hey — I found I enjoyed writing fiction and SPs. And, in an odd sort of way, they also contribute to and improve the work I get paid to do. Do I want to quit science writing and do blockbuster movies? No, not really. That wasn’t why I got started doing them.
Am I worried about being typecast as a science writer? It is what I do for a living. I suppose it would be a concern if I was out in LA knocking down doors and trying to Make Friends with producers. The first question SP writers get is about what they’ve written and what kind of coverage it has. I don’t have that — and I would imagine that any producer or reader in his/her right mind would say to me, “You’re a science writer — what do YOU know about writing movie scripts.”
I’m learning and I’m enjoying, but I’m not worried about losing my identity as a science writer.
The truth is — I’m a writer — and if I can put two words together on a page and two more… and two more… and they all help someone understand something about a planet or a space shuttle mission — or if I capture someone’s interest with a SP with an action/adventure theme or love story or science fiction twist — then I’ve done my job at being a good writer. And, through this “exploration” of other writing — I’ve found a new outlet for my skills. I think you’re finding out the same thing with your writing and your comedy troupe.
Wil, you are really lucky — you can act and write like nobody’s business. Perhaps the writing surprised you because you were pretty well-focused on the acting (and comedy work). But now you should step back a bit and see that you can do both — act/appear on stage in comedy works, Creation cons, etc. — and you can do the writing stuff that you’re doing with G4, etc. That’s pretty damned cool.
Take pride in the fact that you can go back and forth and do both. Relax and enjoy it all as it comes along. I know that I do in my life and in some ways I went through similar angst as you… I am happy that I can write in my chosen area AND that I can stretch and write in other areas too. Makes life that much more interesting.
Good luck!
I can’t convey how happy I am right now. I was really down about not going to this convention, but with this news article comes my last hope =o)
So i’ll see everyone there, and hopefully will too! I think i have a wesley action figure somewhere around here he could sign.. =D
Wheaton’s got a Possee. ’nuff said.
Wil, 1st things 1st:screw the revolving door!
After all these people went to bat for you,
it would be “waybad” to not attend. And I for one don’t think we’ve heard the last of your acting career, somewhere there is a script gestating that is going to bring you back to the top.
I’ll be attending my first trek con in 2003, but only if you’ll be there.
I look forward to seeing you!
nice to hear that creation listens to fans once in a while.
could you come out to Australia? lol
julie
I was surfing through blogs, and there was a link to your site. I clicked on it out of curiosity, remembering how much i enjoyed Wesley Crusher and that incredible boy from Stand By Me. Always perking up my ears when i hear your name mentioned because of that, and also because as a child you were a dead ringer for my oldest brother. I did not expect to find what i found, but i am so glad and grateful to have found your blog and the Soapbox.
Wil, i think you are a remarkable young man, and for whatever it’s worth you have my support. Do this show or not, do that show or not — it doesn’t matter that much to me in the grand scheme of things. And i’m not intending to be flippant at all. I’m a 35 year old married woman with 3 boys that i homeschool; my life is busy and full like most folks. And i understand that as much as you let us see, we still don’t really know you, which is probably as it should be. Whatever you do or don’t do though, thank you so much for sharing your process, because it is interesting, funny, enlightening and even challenging. I like what i do know of you very much, and i certainly like what you’ve built here in cyberspace. It’s a good place.
And little bro, you can count me in your corner — always.
~Histrionica~
Wil, I
Wil,
Go and have a good time. Isn’t that one of the
reasons that they have those conventions?
F.G.
Yes, yes, yes. People spoke, and finaly voices were heard. That is such a sweet moment. And yeah, no doubt some people are going to give you crap for going “back” to trek. The fact of the matter is, I think that your friends are absolutely right. If you don’t show up, they win.
If you show up, your a classy guy. And your also right, people may not have liked your character,
but they like you. They come to see you. You have proven so many people wrong in what they think of you. You are a great guy, you always go that extra mile, and people like you. Taking a page from Sally Fields, they like you, they really, realy like you.
Wil,
There have been many great thoughts from all the posts today, so perhaps there’s not much to add but a bit more perspective. You are truly blessed to have so many people of all ages and walks of life offering you support and direction.
The “angst” comes from trying to embrace Star Trek and reject it at the same time. It’s OK that everything you have done in your career is part of who you are today, whether it’s Gordy, Wesley, a writer for G4 or someone doing an infomercial. I don’t personally believe they’re mutually exclusive.
To be really straight with you, your reactions to whether or not you’re invited to be in a Con or not, as well as your reactions to auditions, sound a little like “Wil the Victim.” Most posts in response are positive and nurturing because people neither want you to be a victim nor feel like one. We’re on you side. How do I know about the “victim” thing?…because I fight it all the time and I’m older than you and I’m still trying to figure it out.
Creation may not have realized how big you following is, but now they do. Gary has graciously taken the time to email me a couple of times today (and many others noted in the posts today) and really seems to want you. Everyone knows you’re a neat guy and wants you to be successful. Gordy and Wesley can still exist next to an adult Wil Wheaton, a man of numerous talents and passions, who decided to go to the Con to meet the fans and monkeys who care about him and like what he does.
Best,
Rob
FABULOUS! That’s all I really have to say. Being in another country means I can’t be there to see you [man, I really wish I could]. This is fantastically wonderful news, congrats to you and everyone who called, sent emails, wrote faxes, etc. Now you may have a better idea of just how much people care about and respect you [and, indeed, how MANY people care about and respect you].
Well Wil you amaze me with the depth of your feelings and insight on life and I am so impressed by your last post. I have a favourite quote that goes “One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name.” you had your crowded hour with Stand by Me and ST TNG and you are entitled to bask in that glory without shame. I feel priveleged to be a viewer of the weblog of the most open and honest person I have encountered on the web.
Wil Said:
the fear of a massive backlash from…well, I’m not sure who, but backlash nevertheless.
I remember being a bit puzzled about the “I hate Wesley” movement. I guess being a girl (it was a guy thing, believe me) and a bit older than you, I never understood the hate. It just was cool to hate Wesley.
What I do understand now though, for all the reasons your friends already stated, is the “I love Wil” movement. Don’t worry about the backlash: it’s no longer cool to hate Wesley. You’ve grown up, but so did the Star Trek fans.
Your friend mentionned Shatner as an example of Star Trek rejection. I’ll bring up Leonard Nimoy. Remember his book “I am not Spock”, followed years later by “I am Spock”? I guess you’re not alone 😉
Damn! I guess this means I have to quit work on the “Creation Sucks A$$” site now.
😉
Congrats.
I used to concern myself with what I perceived people would think about the decisions I made. Then I realised that you
While some of us may not be able to be there in person, we’ll be there in spirit.
Rock on, Wil.
Rock on.
Remember everyone, Creation is also saying o their website, that they are ‘Negotiating’ with Wil to bring his troop to the 2003 Grand Slam.
Thus, some who can’t goto the ST:TNG 15th anniversary event, might, once the Negotiations are finalized (and stand your ground Wil, get what you and your troop is worth (and NOT one cent less!), not only for your talent, which you have plunty of, but also for the “dollar power” that you can bring in, via your fans and ‘Posse’ who would attend the event because of you, and your website), might be able to goto the 2003 Grand Slam event, which is still several months away.
One request to Wil … could you update your conventions page (as currently when I last looked, there was nothing listed for your upcoming appearences)?
That way people will know when and where you are, and your ‘Posse’ can pay their respects to you and come and meet you in person.
We are proud of you … you stood your ground, your ‘Posse’s’ voice was heard, and everyone wins in this.
Go forth and enjoy yourself at the convention!
Meant to say …
So that your fans will know when and where you are APPEARING …
I am not really surprised that you were able to work things out with Creation. Unlike a different company’s convention that I was at last year, I found the staff and the owner to be both polite and professional in their dealings.
Really wish I could go now! Now all they need is Denise Crosby. (Or perhaps even Diann Mulgrew? LeVar Burton can’t make it but is signing the cast photo anyway.)
But before you leave;
PLEASE FINISH SPONGEBOB VEGAS PANTS
Voices online are… well, voices online. You do what’s best for yourself and the people you love.
It will all turn out okay.
Glad to hear its working out… it’s hard when you find out the monkey on your back was put there by you.
Best of luck,
Red
I saw you on TechTV’s Screen Savers — i saw YOU and not the kid who played Wesley. I think you have a choice when you appear at a Con, whether to appear as YOU or as the grown-up kid actor. The latter is as much a role to play as was any character role. The underlying angst message i hear in your voice is the feeling that you need to apologize to the fans for growing up. Are you torn between saying “I played Wesley” versus “The person I was when I was a kid played Wesley, but that’s not me now,” are you?
I can only imagine that the situation is similar for people who attend their high school reunion 25 years later. Some people can swap stories about the old days without getting confused about the difference between who they were then and who they are now; others can’t. Some people avoid going to their HS reunion because …, well, for many reasons. Fear of the judgement of peers; fear of somehow reverting back to a former self; fear of facing past acts, as if they still have bearing on the present; mostly it boils down to either a lack of current self-worth, or lack of perspective on how we integrate our various faces (past/present, public/private, professional/personal) into a unified whole.
Ponder some of those until you find one that strikes a chord. Basically, if you can just be the cool dude I saw on TechTV, relax, you won’t be overshadowed by your past.
Wow, man.
You’ve got some great fans.
More of them should read UnrealisticExpectations.com so I can get a posse.
Good stuff, bro.
Seems to me, no matter what you do is the right move so long as you’re not a bitter, self-serving jagweed about it.
Re: your comment that “I am beginning to feel badly for not going over the heads of his employees and speaking directly to him, myself.”
I recently heard an great piece of advice you might consider in the future: “Never accept a ‘no’ from somebody who isn’t authorized to give you a ‘yes’ in the first place.”
Why the hell not, if the $$$’s are right. sheeit. Do it.
Just one thing: If I show up, don’t suck.
🙂
By the way, I want to see more pics of your mug, and I don’t get channel g4, so get some freakin’ acting jobs, dammit.
WiL,
You don’t know who I am, but what you are about to read I imagine many other fans will totally agree with.
Hey WiL, just forget about us fans for a moment and think about what you feel would be best for yourself and your family, who obviously and quite rightly mean the most to you.
If a few fans strongly disagree with your decisions, whatever they may be, they aren’t very supportive, which leaves the question – what kind of fans are they?
My point is, is although I very much appreciate the fact that you do so much for us fans, I somehow get the impression that you feel you owe us something. All you owe us is the chance to see you do your own thing, and what you feel is right, and for your own reasons (which so far you have done a most great job at).
Remember that whatever you decide to do, the true fans and their support will always be with you.
– David W
I don’t comment here very often, but I read here always. I’ve been off-line for a week or so and just read all the stuff that’s been happening.
I’ve never been to a convention, but I’m very seriously considering saving my pennies to go to the 15th, just about entirely because you’ll be there. I love your writing so much that I know I would really enjoy you in person.
Hurrah for you and the WWDN Posse!
One more thing…
I really appreciate that I (a fan & geek gal) can see what a really cool and interesting person you are. Outside of Trek, outside of the fandom, just as a person.
Thanx for being willing to put yourself out there in the big bad internet and let all of us strange internet citizens get to know you for you.
Wil, good for you. Go your fans, (for Star Trek, Stand By Me, or just Wil’s site) want to see you. Their voices have spoken, and the powers that be had to listen.
Can you all imagine what we could do if we all went out and voted in an election?
Can you say power to the people?
B
Life is what happens when we are busy making other plans. Things are never really black or white in figuring out an answer. I hope that you’ll head to Canada for a visit. I am thinking of Calling up Yuk Yuks comedy club and requesting they bring you up here.
kick ass
Hello Mr. Wheaton,
I read (most of) your last blog entry, and some things you said disturbed me. I’m a little worried about you. I don’t exactly know the best way to explain this, so bear with me, please.
I don’t think it’s healthy for you to be so concerned with public opinion. Maybe that’s unrealistic for a person in your position, I honestly don’t know, but I’d like to think that you are first and foremost a person, and I believe you deserve to be respected as a person.
It is unrealistic for your fans to expect you to be static. It is also inconsiderate of your fans to expect you to make decisions that would make them happy, but hurt you. I think most of the people here know this. I think we accept that sometimes what’s best for our enjoyment isn’t best for your life, and that, as a person, you are not accountable to us. I think explaining why you do what you do is sufficient, but even that is a courtesy.
The only person here that I really have my doubts about is you. It might be a little hard, if most people treat you like a one-dimensional thing, to be fully aware and believe that you have the right to be accepted without apology or explanation, that you have the right to feel and change and grow. I’ve always sort of thought that that’s what the whole blog was about… You asserting yourself as a person, finding the balance between your own identity and the world’s expectations.
Unfortunately, I agree with what others have said, that you will never really be able to escape Trek, which means you’ll never fully be able to escape the pressure, the abuse, and the scary fan love… But I beleive that if Trek isn’t working for you, you, as a person, have the right to say “Fuck this!”, and if it starts working again, you have the right to go back, without fear of looking fickle or pissing off your fanbase. The important fans will understand.
Dammit! Wil Wheaton you are a class act
and a real gentleman to boot. I think you
handled this situation very well and my
respect for you has grown.
Now I have to go cry I am so happy for you
and the fans who will get to see you at
the convention.
Cool. I was thinking about contacting Creation to bitch, and blew it off. I’m glad everyone else didn’t! So, even though I still hate Creation, if you ever come to a Minneapolis con, or Chicago where we saw you in ’92, I’ll fork out the cash and take m kids to see my best buddy Wil Wheaton!
Wow, cool. Congratulations.
It has been said before, But i will say it again. This is what make the internet great!
Thanks Will !
One more small voice in a huge chorus. Good on you Wil. You’re the man Uncle Willy.
Maybe you need to take these conventions and things to let the fans know who you are NOW, show them you’ve grown, get them interested in your new interests. Capitalize on your Star Trek fans. 🙂
Like most of these folks here, I think you made the right decision. The reason I think that is because it seems clear that YOU think that. This is about YOU after all. Don’t let any of us tell you what you should or should not be doing, and don’t worry about some kind of backlash… the revolving door thing. You are making this up as you go… just like all of us are. We make get ideas. We have feelings. We make statements. We change our minds. Everything is fluid… there is no black and white.
Just keep doing what seems right to you. Chances are it will be.
M
Wil,
Thanks for sharing your life so honestly with us. It takes real courage to put your heart and soul out there where people can trample all over it. I only wish I could attend so I could hear some of your writings.
Michelle
Wil
Congratulations. Some of us won’t be able to make the con but it’s nice to know we’ve helped ‘make’ the con.
HOLY OLE SHIT!
What have we here?
Wil, way to go!
Now for the serious shit.
I don’t give a rat’s ass (tiny but it gets the job done) what anybody thinks. You, yes Wil Wheaton, need to acknowledge, that you are a part of Star Trek history no matter what happens.
FOUR FUCKING YEARS FOR FUCK’S SAKE!!!!!!!!
Now, we know you ‘were’ young, angst ridden, bitter, stuck up, a real shit. But JESUS H. L. FUCKING CHRIST the third, will you give it a rest.
The Next Generation was the best Star Trek show barring the one with WFS. And your were an intigral part of it.
Now, take that mangy mutt you call Ferris for a LONG FUCKING WALK and give your head a shake. With the creation of this web site, and the growing maturity or WIL WHEATON, you now have a great respect as a guy just trying to provide for his family. GOOD! Go to CONS. Sign autographs. STOP punishing yourself for being on Star Trek. Enjoy it! The fans demand it.
One of my old teachers once said before marking our drafting projects. If you know you are going to get screwed, why not lie down and enjoy it!
SO. WIl, if you don’t know (and it seems by the many angst ridden posts) that people really like you and respect you, please just find the nearest tall building and jump the FUCK OFF. And not like Vanilla Sky or the Matix.
I.m just pissed I can’t make the 15th anniversary convention. Oh well, I’ll go back to my mediocre life and not whine about it.
Sorry, but I am reaching my limit of “Oh whoe is me the sorry hardly liked actor gone down the tubes working so hard, does anybody out there like me?”
Later.
Wow, I am taken back reading your last two posts, your candidness. All I wish for you is that you do what makes you happy and what is best for you and your family. I think you are more at peace than you know =)
Wow, thank you! I really needed to read that. Lately I have been feeling like my “activism” is in vain, its so wonderful to know I helped actually DO something REAL- instead of receiving a polite form letter from my Congressman….AND to top it all off, I get to come to the con bc I live in Vegas!!! (JACKPOT)
Rewards abound.
I am so happy they got in gear and realized WWDN is not to be trifled with!
See you soon!
Good Deal Wil,
I wish you much happiness and peace of mind.
John