It’s so windy here in Pasadena today, it’s snowing leaves. There is this large area of a hillside in Burbank where there was a massive fire a few months ago, and a huge cloud of dust hovers over it, like a sandstorm.
The Santa Ana Winds are in full effect, and my dry skin, nose and throat are a small price to pay for clear blue skies and warm temperatures in November.
So here’s something unexpected: I did a voice today on this new show for the Kids WB! The call came on Friday, and here’s the cool thing: the director, a wonderful woman named Andrea Romano, who has won seven emmy’s called my agent and requested me, based on my work with her last year on “The Zeta Project.”
I can’t say what voice I did, but I was told when I left today that they were so happy, I would probably be asked back to do the role again in the next thirteen episodes.
The episode I did was written by this really nice guy named Marv Wolfman, who co-created and wrote “Teen Titans” for sixteen years, created “Blade,” and was just an all-around cool guy. We spent some time geeking out about comic books today…it just killed me that he was referring to Alan Moore as “Alan.”
Animation is really fun, because it’s really quick work (usually less than 4 hours for an episode), and the people who do it are all really cool…but it’s also very hard to break into the animation world, because the community is extremely small, and very protective. Being asked by a very respected director to come back, based on her previous experience with me, is just HUGE, and it makes me feel really good, and it may signal my entry into the world of animation.
A few months ago, I made this major decision in my life: I would stop applying a singular focus to getting work as an actor. I would continue to accept auditions as they came along, but I wasn’t going to break my back, or sacrifice time with my friends and family to play Hollywood’s game.
Since I made that choice, stopped caring so much about acting, and started focusing on writing, and being a husband and father, I’ve gotten two jobs almost immediately.
So I guess I’m going to have to start calling myself “Writer-Slash-Actor.”
You’ll note that I did not say “Actor-Slash-Writer.” This is a very important distinction.
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Reminds of the Seinfeld episode(s) where George decides to do the opposite of everything and gets his dreamjob at the Yankees almost immediately.
Congratulations on the animation job !!!
Sounds like you should make that title more …
Husband-Slash-Step Dad-Slash-Writer-Slash-The Voice-Slash-Writer-Slash-Wannabe Geocacher” :EVIL SARCASTIC GRIN:
Congratulations on the animation job !!!
Sounds like you should make that title more …
Husband-Slash-Step Dad-Slash-Writer-Slash-The Voice-Slash-Writer-Slash-Wannabe Geocacher” :EVIL SARCASTIC GRIN:
Congratulations on the animation job !!!
Sounds like you should make that title more …
Husband-Slash-Step Dad-Slash-Writer-Slash-The Voice-Slash-Writer-Slash-Wannabe Geocacher” :EVIL SARCASTIC GRIN:
My Bad! I put “Writer” twice on that title above … Change that second “Writer” to “Actor” … Ooopsey! :]
My Bad! I put “Writer” twice on that title above … Change that second “Writer” to “Actor” … Ooopsey! :]
My Bad! I put “Writer” twice on that title above … Change that second “Writer” to “Actor” … Ooopsey! :]
A friend of mine once said ” A watched kettle never boils” cool saying I think. I hope that your kettle boils over. Your too cool of a guy, Wil. It is hard not to wish the best for you and yours. Take care.
Wil Wheaton – Writer/Actor.
Man, I’m sorry. I don’t think you’ll ever do anything animated that’s as cool as The Secret of Nymh. That’s the bomb.
does anyone know what role Wil played on Zeta? I’m a sucker for halfway decent american animation, and didn’t recognize Wil’s voice… who did he play?
Woo Hoo! It always seems to happen when people stop trying, for success, for love, whatever. But I’m very glad it’s happening to you. Time to update the current projects section!
“You’ll note that I did not say “Actor-Slash-Writer.” This is a very important distinction.”
But Wil, at the top of your archives pages it till says “written by actor and writer Wil Wheaton”.
Wil, I am happy for your success, but unhappy because now I have to go buy a TV and start watching TV again! See if they’ll broadcast it on NPR, please. : )
Wil,
There’s a space in that Zeta Project link, so it doesn’t go directly to the page. Could you fix that? Thanks. 😉
Signed,
Fellow Geek
Wil, good call on choosing “writer-slash-actor.” I kinda dabble in acting, but I do more with music. On top of that, I’m a writer first and foremost. If were a nuclear scientist, I think I’d still list “writer” first. Can’t wait to read your book. Also, can’t wait to see “Teen Titans.” How cool is it to be a comic book “geek” and get to voice a character? Lucky you, Wil. Keep up the great work. And a belated Iowa, Iowa Iowa-Mojo Mojo Mojo for Katie.
“On Animated TV, no one can see you have poison oak…”
Wil, you lucky dog! I’d love to do work like that (I’m always annoying my family with character voices from cartoons, Sesame Street, etc.). When is the show premiering and who’s airing it? If it’s as good as Justice League over on Cartoon Network, I’ll be watching!
Too bad they didn’t cast you as Nightwing (or Robin, whichever incarnation they’re using). I mean, it’s still a cool gig but let’s face it: Aqualad’s not exactly an “A” List hero. I’m pretty sure I had an old issue where the other Titans beat him up for lunch money (that Cyborg dude was a total badass). Beats “Maisy” though. Maybe this will finally get you on The Simpsons!
Cool. I didn’t know that you did a voice for the Zeta Project. Now Teen Titians, majorly cool.
Hmmmm. Aqualad? You strike me more as a Changling kinda guy, given the way you write, and thats usually an indication of the way people speak, I think Changling, if he is a character for the show seems more like the goofy fan boy superhero type guy you actually are. 😉 But still, how cool is it for a comic fan to actually be doing comic related stuff? The Karmic Wheel is turning in your favor these days!
JimmyT
I LOVED Teen Titans! Marv Wolfman and George Perez were an unbeatable team! That is SOOO cool that you’re doing Aqualad. I will definitely watch the cartoon!
Tracey (who will have a permanent smile on her face today)
I’m trying not to say I told you do, but it’s much easier to say it as a consequence of GOOD things happening. 🙂
Wil – Give it up, bro. Get a job in the real world like the rest of us, ’cause animation ain’t no meal ticket.
Wil – Give it up, bro. Get a job in the real world like the rest of us, ’cause animation ain’t no meal ticket.
Wil, you probably won’t read this or whatever, but please say a Big Hi to Andrea for me! She was the casting director back on The Flintstone Kids waaaaay back in the day. Which I was a part of. (Yeah, that’s right, I’m a former child actor too. Surprise!)
I am happy to say, welcome back…
Hearing about Aqualad reminds me of Seanbaby’s review of Aquaman. Sucky character = funny stuff. http://www.seanbaby.com/superfriends/aquaman.htm
Maybe you’ll be up for a “Slashie” award soon. 🙂
Congratulations on the jobs.
Kevin
Congratulations, Wil! This is wonderful news, most especially because Aqualad (now “Tempest”) has always been my favorite comic book hero ever. (I even have a site devoted to him)! I hadn’t heard that his character would be used in this new Titans series (he was, of course, in the original cartoons), so this is an awesome surprise! I’m sure that you did Aquaman’s best friend justice. Thanks for the update and here’s to many more appearances with you voicing the coolest Titan there ever was!!!
Cheers!—–Daria
OMFG! I was reading they were doing a Teen Titans cartoon but I was miffed they went back to calling Garfield Logan “Beast Boy”. Changeling was a much cooler name. But I still have nostalgia for the old Titans. The comic turned pretty crappy when Devin Grayson took over and I’m not happy with the current writer. And OMG! You met Marv Wolfman!!!!!! *drools*
I wasn’t going to watch this cartoon bc I was afraid it would deviate from the comics too much. But now I want to see it. 🙂
I mean, you did a voice of one of my favorite cartoon movies when I was kid “The Secret of NIMH”. That movie still rocks. I’ve wanted to see you do voicework ever since then. Congratulations! I can’t wait to see this now. I hope it comes out on DVD. 🙂
Have fun!
*does a happy dance*
luv,
-Su
Congratulations, Wil! I’ll definitely be watching Teen Titans.
By the way, there’s a reason no one remembers Wil from “Zeta.” He played a character in “The Wrong Morph,” which is just one of those episodes Kids’ WB neglected to put on the air. I got to see it recently, and it was great. “The good cop/bad cop routine usually works best when there’s two different cops.” LOL!