Today, I have my first audition in … a year? 18 months? Something like that. It’s in 2 hours, and I’ve been preparing the scenes all day. It’s been super fun to break the sides down, try out different intentions and doable actions, and despite my best efforts, now I kind of want to do this role, because I think it would be fun. I won’t book it (I never do), but I’m surprisingly excited just to go into the room, flex my actor muscles for a minute or so, and then come home and get back to my regular life.
I usually go into a room with my scenes prepared, my take on the character, and the professionalism you’d expect from a 40-year veteran actor (holy shit that’s a long time). I have to emotionally separate myself from the outcome, because that kind of thinking gets in the way of my ability to perform, and interpret material.
But I’m not gonna lie: I’d love to work on this movie. The script is adorable and sweet and a lot of fun. It’s a movie for young people, and can I just tell you how strange it feels to know that I’m going in for a role of a teacher/mentor/cool adult in a project that’s really about the kids this character takes care of.
Maybe this will be the first time in over 15 years that I book a job from an audition. The timing is about right, in terms of swings of the bat and actually getting on base. Most actors have between 20 and 30 auditions for each job they book. I average about 4 auditions a year, which affords me lots of time to write and live my life, but makes it VERY unlikely that I’ll be cast in anything. Everything you’ve seen me in since Criminal Minds has been something that I was offered, or asked to do. So in about 15 years, I’ve had about 60 auditions and booked zero of them. I am *way* due to get a hit.
And I have to go into [major studio] today, and forget all of that. I have to forget how unlikely it is that I’ll book the job, or how fun it would be to play this charactern and how much I’d love to be part of something that’s fun and positive and inspiring to kids. I have to throw all that away, pretend none of it exists, and just do my best job interpreting the material, and bringing it to life.
“Just.”
If I’m lucky, what I do will be what they want. But if I’m not the person they want for this role, it’s not going to wreck my day the way it has 60 times over the last decade and a half, because I’ve done a lot of emotional heavy lifting and a lot of vital psychological work to separate my self-esteem and my personal sense of worth, from my success or failure in auditions. Like, I’ll be disappointed when I don’t book this job, but it’s not going to destroy me and make me question my entire life and career choices the way it did as recently as six months ago. It’s profoundly weird to know this.
ETA: I just got home.
I posted some videos on my Instagram story, if you want to see how it went, but … I had SO MUCH FUN! I loved the material, and every single person in the room was so welcoming and present and friendly, they created an environment where I could do my best work.
And I think I did my best work! I made some clear and deliberate choices, and I had a lot of fun bringing this character to life with them. I did two scenes, which show the two (profoundly opposite) poles of this character. I got some direction and made an adjustment on one of the scenes, and had even MORE fun with the direction than I had on my own.
Overall, it was a fantastic and fulfilling experience, and though it remains EXTREMELY unlikely that I’ll be cast, I feel super great about what I did today.
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I’m as excited for you now as I was when you were on CSI! (With screaming and everything!)
Edith Piaf (French singer from the 1950’s) would tell you “bend over and touch the floorboards” i.e. knock on wood! Best of luck! §:c)
Un beau bonjour du Québec!
So what I’m hearing is that you rocked it for you (because in the end, you did it for you and not anyone else) and had a great time doing it. That’s awesome!
I’m so happy you felt like you did your best work! Way to go!! Hooray!
Thanks very much, Wil, for updating the post with your impressions. How wonderful to have such fun at your job!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Wil. I just had a near-miss with a total dream job I applied for, and I’ve been nursing the heartbreak all week. It’s really encouraging to hear that someone I admire and consider successful has been struggling with the same thing. Maybe a therapist is in order for me, since I definitely need to figure out how to deal with failure in a healthier way.
Thank you for the Instagram post, Wil. I loved hearing your excitement over your audition. I hope you get the part!
I really enjoy your explanation of the process of what actors must do to get work, and wish you the best. But it’s also fun to see your other projects. I’m in love with the shirt for instance. Anyway, there you have it.
Sending love & hope this gets you good things no matter how this singular event turns out! You are some function of all the love that you put out in the world, you’re not a single event or thing. 🙏🏼
Enjoyed reading this,Wil….I think your positive outlook is refreshing and we hope you do land this role.
I’ve always thought you were a good actor and I for one would enjoy seeing you cast in more stuff. Good luck, Will!
Hi Wil. I’m an acting coach and teacher. I love your writing. Please call or write me. Mb I can help.
Good luck!
It would be fantastic to see you on the big screen. Break a leg!
Best of luck to you! Hopefully the casting agents saw the same performance you felt yourself give! I’d love to see you in some new show or movie in the near future. 🙂
Good job, you.
If nothing else it sounds like a fun way to spend part of a day. Or ten minutes.
Just read your post this morning, so I’m curious how the audition was on Friday? Did it feel good and were they receptive? I really hope you land the role – with Big Bang gone, I know I’m going to go into Wil withdrawal.
Think the cosmos is telling you to prepare you for your role to change. I was talking with a friend last weekend that the 40-60 wemove into Elder mode! (60 on is Wise Elder mode). Feels like you are moving into a role of teacher/mentor healer. if you read about shamans you will see that only those who have been through … whatever, can qualify to health other people who go through that. You plaued with thatteaching in ST NG before you left.
I always appreciate how candid and vulnerable you’re willing to be with your readers, and I hope like hell you get the role. In the meantime, it sounds like the process of putting yourself out there was exciting and fulfilling. Sometimes that’s more than enough.
Wil, you’re a great actor and I know I’m not alone in hoping to see you cast in more stuff. But I love when you read audiobooks best. As a librarian I can attest to the need for talented readers like yourself, not just to make more material accessible to visually impaired patrons (or people who just like to listen to stories) but to make it SO entertaining! Your own books, Redshirts, and Ready Player One were great books, but when you read them it took them to the next level! You’re amazing!
Paying bills and having fun. Good to be able to do both. Great post.
Mr Wheaton. You are a delight. Do I always agree with you? Fuck no! But your relentless dedication to life and living the fuck out of it despite everything is inspiring.If you have a bad day, please remember this. You are a delight.
Greetings from Berln
Dan
I’ll just write it. a few months ago I saw that there was a book called ready player one. Since I am a year older than you, played a lot of ABC 80’s game like space invader and tennis for two. I sorta drifted into that book. I love it. I Think it’s more suited for me than anything i’ve ever read. So then back in february I seacrhed for it on our local (Swedish) audio books app. And there it was. Ready player one, by Ernest Cline, read by Will Wheaton.
I’ve listened to ready player one about 40 times. I’ve been introduced to other books you’ve read and I am forever in your debt, Thank you!
I’m glad you had a good experience, Wil, come what may. You had a good day, and, as days go, that’s okay.
This blog is always so inspirational. I’ve mentioned you many times, particularly to my kids about developing their writing, art, etc, and not getting discouraged when their first attempts aren’t perfect.
One thing I noticed. You wrote, “Like, I’ll be disappointed when I don’t book this job, but it’s not going to destroy me and make me question my entire life and career choices the way it did as recently as six months ago. It’s profoundly weird to know this.”.
I understand and appreciate what you are saying, but I think it is ok to have thought, ” I’ll be disappointed IF I don’t book this job”.
Thanks for sharing your process, and keep doing your best work!
How about you turn Cory’s homeland book into a Movie? You are in the book anyway! Maybe start a new career
Wil Weathon you are an incredibly good actor, with an innate professionalism and human warmth. Your humility is worth admiring. I wish that any present or future project will be great, greetings from Spain.