Auditions

I just walked in from my I, Robot audition. I think I did well, and I really had a good time. The scene I read felt very familiar to me. I think the writer took it from one of Asimov’s robot books, but I couldn’t tell you which one. The scene had a robot being questioned by a detective, who accused the robot of placing his owner in danger, then allowing his owner to die. Sound familiar to anyone?
I prepared the audition perfectly: I knew my lines, so I didn’t need to refer to the sides (that’s what they call the part of the script they give us to read) at all, and I was able to make some bold character choices. I didn’t feel nervous, anxious, or uncertain at all when I went in. I felt excited! I couldn’t wait to play this robot.
After one reading, the casting director, who also knew his lines and had clear character choices — an extreme rarity in Hollywood — gave me some direction, and we did it again. The difference I felt between the two performances was striking, and gave me a jolt of excited euphoria when I left. I had that feeling I talked about back when I was working on Boise, that thing I call “Mine.” Whether I get the job or not, I got to have that feeling, so it was a successful call in my book.
It’s funny, the way the entertainment industry works. I haven’t had an audition in forever, and I’ve had two in two days. I, Robot today, and a call for a pilot called “All About The Andersons” yesterday. The best part of yesterday’s audition was this sign I saw on my way out. I passed by the production office for some new show called “Real Celebrity Look-Alikes Caught On Tape!”
WTF? I laughed out loud when I passed it.
Hollywood is out of ideas, indeed.
Though both of these jobs would bring in good pay checks and help raise my profile a little bit (well, a lot if I book the movie), I didn’t feel the tense, pinched, “oh my god I must get this job or I am a total failure” feeling that so overwhelmed me last year. I think this is because I stoppd defining myself by my acting success or failure, and turned my creative focus onto writing, and my emotional focus onto my wife and stepkids. Seems really obvious, I know, but I had to spend a lot of time trying to climb the mountain before I learned to sit at its base and just enjoy looking at it.
Updates have been sparse recently and haven’t said much. When I finish the rewrites on my book, I should have more good stories to tell. Thanks for sticking around.
I’ll update when I hear feedback on the auditions.
Thought for today:

“One sees great things from the valley, only small things from the peak.”
–G. K. Chesterson

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129 thoughts on “Auditions”

  3. Oh yeah…GOOD LUCK WITH THE AUDITION! ILL CROSS MY TOES, FINGERS, LEGS, ARMS…AND WHATEVER ELSE I CAN, FOR YOU!! 😀
    Lisa Marie
    oh yeah and i just watched “December” for the first time. Next up…The Last Prostitute!!

  4. Wasn’t it “The Caves of Steel?”
    Urk. It’s been about 30 years since my Asimovian quests. There were a lot of robot novels, and some were wonderful whodunits.

  10. EXCELLENT!
    I hope it works out for you (‘specially the movie gig). That would be sweet!

  13. Wil,
    It was good just to get the audition. I’m sure you did the best that you could and that is all that you can do. Yes, you know, there will always be other auditions no matter what the outcome of those two were. You may as well have fun while your there.
    FG

  15. Woohoo! Good luck on the auditions Wil, ‘specially that ‘I, Robot’ movie. 🙂 Would love to see ya up on the big screen again. *big grin*
    Lotsa book mojo your way too…can’t wait to read it! *cheers*

  17. Wil,
    Glad your audition went well and wish you the best of luck with both parts. Good for you on finding where your focus should be and getting there, many people never get to that place. Since I’ve been visiting your site, I’ve strongly believed that you doubt yourself quite a bit more than you should (though, I have noticed that changing over time). I’m sure that very vulnerability is what has drawn all of your fans to you over time, but also think you’re far more talented than you (or entirely too much of Hollywood) have recognized as of yet.There’s a line from a Winnie the Pooh movie, I think it was the Search for Christopher Robin, that I’ve always felt was quite profound (yes, I am a Mommy, just read on) “You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think”. I’m quite certain your day will come and people everywhere will be wondering why they didn’t see you for what you really are before.
    Holy shit. Where did all of that come from??? Guess I’m having one of my “ramble and type whatever comes to mind” days. Sorry!

  19. Wil – Long time reader, first time poster. (thats right, this is my first post! =)
    The robot movie would be a pretty good thing for your career. One summer I read the Foundation Trilogy, only to discover there were about 3 more Foundation books. After I read those, I found out there were a total of like 15 books in that universe/timeline spanning millennia — and R. Daneel Olivaw is in every single one. Good luck man, I hope you get it, and all the sequels.
    For the record – When you were on TNG, I wanted to be you. YOU ROCK. I can’t wait for the DVD of Nemesis; I’m psyched to see your scenes.

  20. I’ll send you mojo for your audition yesterday/today if you’ll send me some for the audition I had yesterday.
    On second thoughts… *sends some unconditional mojo*
    Good luck man

  22. I love Chesterson… great quote. Have you ever read the Father Brown mystery series written by him? Very fun, witty and smart.
    I’m glad you had a great time at the audition. I had a similar sensation with a client last week. I was completely impressed with their line of work and had an incredible time just talking with them, brainstorming, sharing and so on. I went into the meeting having it be about something more than just whether I landed the project or not. I left not knowing if I got the job — but totally inspired and jazzed regardless. Like you said, it was totally worth my time, even if I didn’t get the job. By the way, I did get the job! Here’s hoping you do too! 🙂
    Best,
    ~Janece

  26. Wil wrote: “Seems really obvious, I know, but I had to spend a lot of time trying to climb the mountain before I learned to sit at its base and just enjoy looking at it.”
    Wil, I remember that same ray of light finding it’s way into my psyche. Even though we’ve all been *told* the lessons of life since forever, we still have to discover them, discover ourselves, in our own time and way. It’s the difference between “knowing the path, and walking the path”, to quote wisdom from a movie everyone will readily identify.
    Keep up the self discovery, regardless of the outcome of these two short term goals (although, sending positive mojo!) 🙂

  29. *mucho mojo for the audition dearie*
    As soon as you mentioned Isaac Asimov, I went ‘Aaaaaaaaahhh’. I received the DVD of ‘Bicentennial Man’ for Christmas and its soooo in my top ten of fave movies. I’m sure its based on ‘I Robot’ but dont quote me.

  33. “I just walked in from my I, Robot audition. I think I did well, and I really had a good time. The scene I read felt very familiar to me. I think the writer took it from one of Asimov’s robot books, but I couldn’t tell you which one. The scene had a robot being questioned by a detective, who accused the robot of placing his owner in danger, then allowing his owner to die. Sound familiar to anyone?”
    Sounds like a scene in Caliban, which was a book in the Asimov universe but not by Asimov. It’s about experimental robots that lack the 3 laws.
    Wow. Any chance you’ll update this (whatever software you’re using) to allow blockquite and p tags??? 🙂
    Vlad

  34. My blue hair is but a memory.
    We buzzed my head shortly before xmas, and it’s slowly growing in. I think it looks rather nice, myself.

  35. Wil,
    That’s great to hear about the auditions — especially the feeling that you got from them. I recall an old acting teacher of mine who always talked about that “moment” that every actor strives for, no matter if in performance or rehearsal or wherever. Awesome.

  39. Wil
    Good luck, and whole lot of Mojo to you on your auditions, and the book. I hope your drought will be over soon, along with mine.

  40. Geez…that robot guy sounds like the Robot from Futuremania? Anyways…who’s up for the last can of Anchovies?

  42. I remember those auditions last year… wait did I say last year… have you really been doing this that long and have I really been reading this that long?
    wow. time flies. I still get my hopes up with you every time, so good luck.
    oh and I hope the Anne the wife ™ is doing well.

  43. Ever since I was a teenager, I’d write fan letters to Wil, and he always wrote back.
    No matter what you do Wil, if it’s this website, or a major movie, I’ll still be a fan!
    Cheers!

  44. I have heard that Will Smith was going to do “I, Robot”, so maybe that’s the project. “All About the Andersons” is the sitcom that Jerry O’Connell’s costar from “Kangaroo Jack” is doing (the large fellow from “Me, Myself and Irene”, not the rappin’ kangaroo), loosely based on his own life.
    This scouting report is brought to you by PBS. PBS…commercials are underwriting.
    JoeC

  45. Ok. Maybe I’m completely lame, but doesn’t that scene come out of the I, Robot book.
    I haven’t read a lot of Asimov, but I do remember thinking this is a GREAT book when I read it.
    Isn’t I Robot also the book where they call some other Robot or character they call Tobor (Robot spelled backwards).
    Anyway, either way I hope you get the role. You’d be incredible in it.!

  46. First post! 🙂 Tons of good luck your way for the audition outcomes. But even more so, it’s so uplifting to hear you enjoyed yourself, feel proud, and have overcome your previous worries. I think that’s something many people (like myself!) can aspire to — to be so healthily satisfied with oneself about one’s creative endeavors — one day. Thank you for sharing, all of your journal entries, but that little moment in particular!

  48. Wow, this could be a really big movie! I love the director Alex Proyas, he directed and wrote one of my favourite movies of all time, Dark City. It was a spectacular movie. For anyone interested go to this link http://us.imdb.com/Title?0343818 for information on the movie “I, Robot” There isnt much their as of yet but it does have Isaac Asimov under the writing credits(obviously) and Will Smith is listed as being Cast in it.
    Anyway, good luck Wil!

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