I recently did an interview with Forces of Good dot Com where I talked about Just A Geek, WWdN, and some other stuff, and it hit the site today:
Do you now think of yourself as an actor who writes or as a writer who acts?
It depends on what I’m doing on a given day. When I have worked on shows recently, I have to consciously focus myself on acting, because I when I am A Writer, I am constantly recording things: what a room looks, feels, and smells like; how I react to something someone said and how they said it, etc. It’s vital for actors to live moment to moment, and react to everything naturally. As a writer, I am constantly looking at the bigger picture, and mentally filing away important details so I can recall them later. Right now, I am a writer who acts. Ask me in a year, and I may have a different answer.
You can read the rest of the interview here.
Also, I spoke with the Los Angeles Times this morning about podcasting. I’m really new to the podcasting phenomenon, and when I talked to The Times this morning, I’m wasn’t convinced that it’s the next Really Big Thing, but after spending some time researching it more and more tonight, I think I may have been wrong. It seems pretty damn cool, anyway, and could very likely mean the return of Radio Free Burrito.
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the radio man fucks a model too
Yeah! I was always sad that I had missed radio free burrito!
I had an English prof who said that if you paid attention you could catch yourself mid-change–that you could actually gauge your own growth–but that these moments are rare. Your description of shifting from Writer to Actor made me think of this. Everything bleeds into everything else…Wil the Writer influences Wil the Actor, and vice versa. And you can see it for yourself, and we get to see it too because you like to share. And I think that’s really neat. Oh–and if I’m not making any sense can we blame it on my being a sleep deprived grad student?
I just want to say thank you, Wil. I just recently discovered your website and I have really enjoyed everything you’ve written. At one time I wanted to be a writer, but I gave it up, why I’m not sure. Your blogs just might inspire me to give it another try.
Thanks again!
After listening to you talk at GnomeDex, I can picture you having tremendous success with it. Run with it!
Wil, check out the interview NPR did with Steve Martin recently (last Friday, I think). He has done the occupation title tango as you are doing – comedian, actor, writer.
As for podcasting, it would be a great idea to get RFB online! You wouldn’t have to shuffle through all your CD’s – unless you don’t already have them all loaded into iTunes?
I’m too drunk to keep my comment related to the current content.
Current content is for girls with out politically corrent attention problems.
Hello Wil Wheaton dot net. Here is the answer: you’re an rocker who happens to write and happens to act.
Tell that to people who are keeping track.
track is for sissies.
with liberty and justice for all,
I remain,
dignity free,
but strong in a feminist sense,
bunny mcintosh
debutante and billionare
I like to pretend that you put the Soul Coughing references in just for me because I get such a thrill from feeling like I’m one of the cool geeks who is in the know.
Podcasting actually sounds pretty cool Wil…thanks for posting that link.
RAWK ON!
Bryan
I’d say that the writer/actor scenario will constantly be in a sort of ying-yang balance. Or moreover it will always be waxing and waning.
There will be moments you are an actor and moments you are more writer.
But most of all, you are a husband and a father and those supercede any of the above.
So your a husband with a past time that just happens to bring in money. 😉
later dayz,
ty
Always thought that phrase was kind cool from the weekenders.
I’ve always liked your interviews, especially when you talk about being a kid in Hollywood. When I was a kid, like so many others, I dreamed of the fame that came with movies and TV. Now, many moons later, I can read your interviews and honestly say “Man, I’m kinda glad I didn’t persue that idea.”
Your experiences, and the way you write about them… Whether it’s an interview, a blog entry, or in one of the books, you have a serious knack for drawing the reader in and giving them a good jumping off point for understanding what goes in in that particular world.
You’re not just a writer who acts. You’re a writer who was a writer the whole time, but just took this little acting side trip for the first 28 years. Do us all a favor: Don’t ever stop EITHER persuit. You’re a killer storyteller, Wil…
First of all, we’re about the same age. Ten years ago when I watched a movie, I paid more attention to the characters and the story. Now when I watch a movie, I pay attention to the details…what the set looks like, the license plate of the car, the accents, etc.
I don’t understand why I started paying attention to detail after I hit 30. That’s how it happened for me. Maybe you are just paying attention to details now because you’re older and more mature.
What really scares me a bit is that I am at the halfway point in life — not really young and not really old.
Keep writing because you will always be able to do that – no matter what your age.
– L.
Did you ever hear back about the part that you tried out for a few weeks back? I think you should keep acting too. 🙂
*note to self: Figure out what the hell podcasting is*
In other news, GREAT interview, Wil! Enjoyed it. 😀
hmmm pod casting sounds cool… I think you should seriously give it some thought.
I bet you end up loving it. 😉
Re: Podcasting…
I think ultimately podcasting is only the beginning, but once Big Media catches on – I think there is a definite business model to be made from this – for both audio and video.
Think about it this way – we’re halfway there with TIVO. What if you could basically get any TV or radio shows downloaded to a hard drive based player? Anything. Anything at all.
Gee – how about subscriptions from the networks for specific shows. Pay more and get it without commercials. Pay for a network’s full slate of shows, or go a la carte and get only the shows you want. Pilot episodes are free to entice you. Want just one show? Pay a little more. The show gets to your hard drive automatically each week. Or buy a whole previous season. Or stick with conventional TV for your own surfing pleasure.
Already happening on the sly with Bit Torrent. Downloading episodes is one of the biggest uses for it. Not long before Big Media figures this one out – or is it?
–*Rob
Good interview. Enjoyed the pics too. For your next set of pics, if you’re looking for new stuff, you should try the one eyebrow raised, slightly meniacal look. And you should try the coy, flirt with me, come get me look. Maybe that only works for women….
Awesome interview, Wil!
That was a great interview. Some news, WHSmith( Bookstores everywhere in the UK ) has got “Just a Geek” in, and its filled under Biography: film, television. Its also sold out!
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/WHS/Go.asp?isbn=059600768X&DB=220
Until I read that interview I didn’t know that you were working on a fiction book. I must have missed that blog entry. Good for you, Writer Wil.
The return of the Burrito? Can it be possible?
SWEET!
*RFB mojo*
*RFB mojo*
*RFB mojo*
Here’s an interesting take on Podcasting. I think he’s got a point.
Also, to Rob Austin’s post, I give you this. The Apple/Tivo/Netflix triumvirate might just have a chance against the Evil Empire in the fight for our digital entertainment dollars.
How is Podcasting any different than audible.com, who has been around for a few years? Unless I don’t understand it, it’s just a bunch of people making up their own “radio” shows, distributing them via MP3, and other people downloading them on their portable device for listening. What’s the big deal?
It seems like any sort of technology that uses the iPod gets hyped up to ridiculous levels. Maybe there’s some missing link in the process I don’t understand.
So, Wil, you’re working on a novella? Can’t wait to see how you approach fiction. Do you have another book to write for O’Reilly? I thought you were going to write about blogging for them.
Wil,
Good interview. Is it just me or do you always get asked the same questions?
FG
I saw a guy on the T (the subway in Boston, for those of you who have never been) wearing a shirt signed by Mike Doughty. He and I had a great conversation about Soul Coughing and how awesome they are.
SWEET.
Man, I know we all like you, but geese, does anybody have anything else to say??? Talk about ass kissing. Yeesh. Good MoJo this and Good MoJo that…..riiiiiiiiight. I dunno, sometimes you hit and sometimes you miss. This time I just feel like replying….blah blah blah look at me….blah blah blah look at me…etc..
Good on ya anyhoo…MoJo and such. Phrrrt
Soul Coughing!!! Rawk on!!! Wil, Just bought Just a Geek and spent the week reading it. Awesome. Just, Awesome.
I don’t think anyone reads past the 10th comment. Why do people still post them after 10? and after 50?
Wow. I just posted comment thirty. I almost have all of the 10’s. Except 70. I always miss it. Just by one. Curses.
Hey Wil,
I am listening to your Gnomdex stuff right now and love it. This is actually the first time I’ve heard you read your stuff, so I can’t wait till Just A Geek comes out as an audio book. I’ve also just dipped my toe in the podcasting world and while I like it, it’s not nearly as intuitive as Audible.com, for example. Of course things will improve and I’m thinking it will be the non-DRM version of audible, and eventually we’ll have video as well – as soon as Apple gets off their butt and delivers a true PMP iPod. But I would definitely encourage you to try it. You obviously have a great speaking voice to go along with your excellent writing, and I think you’d have a very popular podcast and you would give those of us who have difficulty reading fast, let alone those with learning disabilities or sight/hearing impairment, another way to read your blog.