Slashdot Mirror
Ask Wil Wheaton Anything (Part Deux)
A little over three years ago Slashdot interviewed Wil Wheaton, at the time best known for his role as Wesley Crusher on ST:TNG. Since then his blog WWDN has allowed him a creative outlet that has made the world sit up and take notice. Wil is now a regular participant in ACME Comedy Theatre, has published two books ( Dancing Barefoot and Just a Geek ), has done voicework for video games such as GTA: San Andreas, cartoons such as Teen Titans, and speaks regularly at conventions such as Gnomedex and Linucon. Wil enjoyed the first Slash interview so much it appeared in Just a Geek, and we're glad to have him back for a second go-round. Feel free to fire away, one question per comment please. We'll post his responses once we get them back.
Sorry for the Star Trek question, but it is something that I have wondered for quite a while. With your character in ST:TNG, he(/you) left the ship with 'the traveler' to do great and wondrous things. I always wondered when you were going to come back and save the ship from some otherwise horrible fate, it of course, never happened. At the time, did you see that exit for your character as an easy way to write you out of the script for good, or as a combination of plot advancement for your character, while still allowing you to work on other projects?
paul reinheimer
That said, if you do still follow Trek I'd be curious to hear your thoughts on the progress of "Enterprise" given your status as someone framiliar with the entertainment industry (esp. as it relates to this particular line of shows).
I have been so impressed by the last two seasons (except the Nazi arc at the start of this season) that I'd go so far as to group them with some of the best episodes of season 3 TNG. The characters are finally starting to fill out, the plots have gotten away from the standard "it's the Borg again!" horseshit and they've even had relatively decent dialog.
I get the impression, however, that it's not going to be enough to save the series based on the timeslot it's been relegated to. While my TiVO stays in Fridays even though I don't, I can't believe that even Trek fans regularly stay home Friday nights in sufficiant numbers to save the show, not to mention all the people who stopped watching in season 1 or 2 and won't end up flipping past sometime to give it a second chance now.
Is "Enterprise" as doomed as I think it is?
Every year during my review, I just pray the words "slashdot.org" aren't mentioned.
In "Just a Geek" you pretty much ended the book by saying that acting (tv/movie, not ACME) is no longer a priority. Are you still looking for a Big Part or have you given up on that altogether?
Do you use pepper spray, tear gas, or mace on people you meet on the street who call you Wesley Crusher?
I Am My Own Worst Enemy
Are you disappointed that you did not turn out to be that hunk that Q turned you into as an adult, then changed you back by your request?
I never had any of the disdain that seems to paint your detractors, Wil, yet I also never found myself admiring you until I began to read your blog.
What has your newfound share of fans and admirers taught you? Was it always your intention to, via the internet, change people's minds about who you are and what you've been trying to accomplish?
I know this is one of those things that was asked to Gabe and Tycho of Penny Arcade, but as Ashley Judd's first on-screen kiss, do you have any advice on finding women? ;)
On that matter, what do you think priorities should be in looking for that sig. other?
/^[A-Z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z]{2,4}$/i
Looking back from where you are today, Mr. Wheaton, what would you consider your greatest achievement that you take the most pride in? Your work as an actor? Your widely-acclaimed blog? Or maybe your published memoirs?
And, on a related note, are you anywhere close to where you expected you'd be by now?
Wil,
You talk alot on your blog about your experiences, not only in your personal life, but also your professional life.
Now with two books under your belt, has anyone ever pitched the idea of writing a 'Acting in Hollywood for Dummies'?
Basically what to expect in the process of agenting, casting calls, marketing yourself, how to deal with rejection, overcoming fears, etc.
I think with your writing style, this would be a fun book to read, and accessible to non-actors who would be interested in what the 'real' Hollywood life was about.
Support FSF: Stop thinking with your wallet, and think with your imagination. (cc/non-commercial)
In your response to a comment titled "Usenet," from the previous interview, you make it quite clear that people hating you for being Wesley pisses you off. Do you have anything in particular to say to the people who like you for being Wesley?
tasks(723) drafts(105) languages(484) examples(29106)
Would you let your own children enter the tv/film industry? Why or why not?
"It takes considerable knowledge just to realize the extent of your own ignorance." - Thomas Sowell
Will you ever put a leech on your nuts in another movie?
I know from reading your blog that you've had to deal with some sticky issues reagarding people leaving comments to your posts. My question is: In your opinion, what do you feel would be a better way of having people comment on a story without having the moderation power of a Slashdot type site at your disposal? Or is this even feasible given the way most blog type scripts are designed.
Eddy.WriteLinux.Com
It's a serious question. What keeps the roof over your head?
A lot of my favorite actors (you're included in there) will work for a little bit and then disappear for a great length of time.
A good example is Bruce Campbell. You see him in a small film like Bubba Ho-Tep or a quickie walk-on like in Spider Man, and then he disappears from the face of the earth. And I always wonder, what pays the grocery bill meanwhile?
How do you manage it? And please feel free to ignore this if it's too personal.
Weaselmancer
rediculous.
Do you think you'd get modded +5 nearly as much if you weren't Wil Wheaton?
Never confuse volume with power.
I'm a longtime reader of WWDN and I know you're big into poker. ;)
Is there any chance of you making an appearance on Celebrity Poker on Bravo?
It'd kick ass to see you on there in action
What do you think of Stargate (SG-1/Atlantis)?
You claim to be a geek/nerd, but yet you have a 6 digit slashdot userid (129189). How do you explain this discrepency?
See my Home Theater
Do you find it interesting/annoying/strange/etc. participating in the geek culture (i.e. being a geek), while at the same time being such a recognisible influence or member of that same culture? For example, say you go to a ST convention. What does it feel like to sort of admire or follow such a phenomenon, but at the same time you are thinking "Yea, I remember when Pat Stewart and I did that scene." I guess it just seems that you might have a different experience than most of us /.ers, in that we are more observers than contributors.
/. community!
Hope that makes sense. Cheers for responding to the
You won't hate yourself in the morning if you don't get up before noon.
I think the whole world wants to know..... any Oedipus action with Gates McFadden? (C'mon Will, surely you at least thought about it.)
Wil,
We in the non-Hollywood scene see a fair number of outspoken individuals on one side of the political spectrum, a few on the other, and it *always* gets press anytime anyone on either side speaks out about any political issue.
Having seen it from the inside, how pervasive is politics in the workplace in the projects you've been involved in? Is it something that comes up every once in a while, like the rest of us, during office discussions... or is it something more "tangible", where you basically know where everyone around you stands - and you'd better hope you either stand the same way or don't say much?
Have you ever felt pressure from someone with regard to politics? Have you ever felt that your political viewpoint would affect your chances of working on a project?
Thanks!
When you were compiling your geek code, did you get a kick out of the fact that you could put a $ after "t"?
"You're older than you've ever been, and now you're even older."
How did you come up with such a clever nickname?
Use Ctrl-C instead of ESC in Vim!
Seven of Nine
or
Uhura
This
It occurs to me that you're not much older than I am, and probobly younger than most people on Slashdot. Do you ever find yourself wondering, "What will I do with the rest of my life"? Do you have a plan for your life, or are you just making it up as you go along?
Does having had a career and achived fame(at least among us geeks) at a young age give you a different outlook on life than the rest of us young folk, who are just getting out of school and looking to start a career? And any advice to us geeks seeking a family and job would be appreciated : )
Oh, and on a lighter note - you may be a famous actor and author, Wil Wheaton - but I still have a lower Slashdot ID than you! Take that! : )
Hi Wil. I know you're not about dwelling in the past when it comes to your acting career, but I did want to say that I think "Young Harry Houdini" is an oft-overlooked film that you should be very proud of. Okay, so maybe I was only like 10 when I saw it, but as an amateur magician it really had an effect on me, and I thank you for your role in it.
A related question then: What advice can you give (beyond saying "be born with raw talent") to folks like yourself who see themselves as creative types with an interest in acting, writing, speaking - the public arts, if you will - but who also don't want to tread the over-worn path of mainstream media and every other Hollywood actor-wannabe? You seem to have done an exceptional job being a part of the underculture - sci-fi TV, self-publishing, blogging, small theater, etc., so it would seem you have some insight into how to participate in these arts without becoming corrupted by the process of getting involved.
Thanks!
Silas
When I read Just a Geek, I was struck by the similarity between the reaction to your 25 August 2001 WWdN post (A Look Inside My Mind) and the reaction to the Slashdot and Fark stories about my TRON costume. The 26 August 2001 post (My Velouria) was something I could have written, at least in tone if not in details, if I were half the writer you are.
What would you tell the anonymous, average geek who has Internet fame suddenly dropped on him? How would you help him get through the flood of negativity and get to the point where he can ignore the naysayers and just have fun?
Disinfect the GNU General Public Virus!
Can US foriegn policy be reconciled with the prime directive?
Was your appearance in Outer Limits as the space cadet (or something like that) who ended up not so much saving the day a conscious contrast for Wesley? Was it fun playing havoc with that expected typecast?
;)
(I liked the episode, by the way
Do you get drunk white trash from stand by me? Cause thats scarier than a treckie any day.. or what about latin american freedom fighters stalking you? Toy soldiers was my favoritte movie growing up? Honestly, I'm guessing that you probably have a huge number of people on the street come up and ask if you were Wesley Crusher, but do people come up and recognize you from other movies?
What are we going to do tonight Brain?
In the book I reverently refer to now as JAG, you speak of getting off your "Hey, I'm an actor! Get me a scone!" high-horse and being... JAG. Now that your books have hit a noteable success, have you had any close encounters with turning into Mr. "Hey, I'm an author! Get me a crumpet!"?
Are your friends, fans, and family helping you keep a level head?
There isn't as vocal of an opponent to movie and TV show filetrading as Lars Ulrich of Metallica was during the Napster heydays (music filetrading). What's the general attitude among actors and other peons of the industry towards filetrading? Are they worried about their jobs as the MPAA wants us all to believe (filetrader and non-filetrader alike)?
Linux at home
You've done work for the EFF and digital rights. What if anything has Hollywood done to let you know the "error" of your ways?
Wil, I suppose my question for you is: although I recognize that most all of us are prone to it, why does self-doubt seem to still be an especially strong theme in your psyche, at least as I perceive it through your writing?
You seem to doubt yourself a lot, yet you have (at least IMO) strong talents in writing, acting, and comedy, and, most importantly, an extremely loving wife and an amazing relationship with your stepchildren.
As depicted in Dancing Barefoot and Just a Geek, you seem to have already come far in your battle against your inner doubt, yet it seems (again, just through my perception of your writing) that very often minor defeats set you back a considerable ways.
I suppose to those of us who go through life without some of the incredible good fortune you've had (and I speak not of your acting past, but of your loving family and your recognized writing and comedic talents), it is hard to understand why your inner demons appear to still be so strong.
...but my wife say's you're sexy. How much to take her off my hands? :)
People that believe in their opinions don't post AC.
Let's see, he could be shanghaid by a rogue pirate who teaches him the trade while telling each night, "Have a good sleep, for more likely than not I'll kill you in the morning" and then retires, leaving Wesley the ship and crew.
Wesley could then return to Starfleet headquarters, looking for his true love (an upperclassmen he met during his brief time at the acadamy) only to discover that she has become betrothed to an evil planetary governor who, unbeknownst to her, has ambitions to take over neighboring star systems and start interstellar war.
After being left for dead after being tortured using an octopus like extra-terrestrial creature that attaches its tentacles to major nerve bundles by the governor's minions. The purpose of the torture was to gain the vital "warp energy" that Wesley has learned to harness so the governor's assassins, can more through space like ghosts. Wesley rebuilds his strength and storms the governor's stronghold only to find out that the governor is his long believed dead father.
In the climactic battle, Wesley defeats, but does not kill his father. Wesley's true love does kill Wesley's father in a pique at being used to draw Wesley in. In his dying breath, Wesley's father renounces his evil and Wesley gives him the full starfleet funeral that he deserves.
Wesley realizes that he has evolved beyond common man and despite his feelings for the girl resumes his wandering of the universe, looking for wrongs to right and balances to be restored.
Hey, it's better than anything Rick Berman has produced in the last 10 years.
myke
Mimetics Inc. Twitter
That said, (a) Do you ever regret doing so? and (b) Do you think it's fear of unstable people, overwork, or a holier-than-thou attitude toward the proles (or a combination of the three) that keeps other celebs from being as visible, open, and honest?
I say this because I'm amazed at the down-to-Earth nature of those like yourself, J. K. Rowling, and others who aren't afraid to speak out for what they think and feel. With technology, one may wonder why others might not do so.
Like your blog, btw. Good to see you back on /.!
In the Somethingawful.com vs. Fark.com Photoshop contest a while back, why did you rule in favor of Fark, despite the fact that Farkers displayed extremely poor aptitude at Photoshop and made wide use of annoying cliches like Admiral Ackbar?
If you don't understand any of my sayings, come to me in private and I shall take you in my German mouth.
Let's say that you come into posession of a large ( $100,000,000) stack of money and you have a burning desire to make a movie that you know your fellow geeks would enjoy; what would it be?
What is missing in most movies today, if anything? Is it possible to make a geeky movie that has a chance of commercial success? Are we stuck importing Japanese anime?
Why do I have this? I don't smoke.
Did Jordi ever start reading his lines, then stop and say "You can find out what happens by reading this script. So blast off to your local library today." pissing everyone else off?
A slashdotter who didn't build his own computer is like a Jedi who didn't build his own lightsaber.
Out of some curious notion, I did a web search for your /. nick (CleverNickName) just to see where else you might be posting. Turns out you have a lot of imitators. How does that make you feel? Where you aware that people are trying to imitate the real you and not the old Crusher character?
US Democracy:The best person for the job (among These pre-selected choices...)
It's a vital plot point in my screenplay.
Escape Pod Films: Sketch Comedy and Web Series
It seems that most child actors end up growing up to be crack-heads, drug-dealers, low class porn actors/actresses, and/or dead from bullets or drugs.
How did you avoid all that mess? Was it easy or hard to avoid? Was there a point in your life where you had to make a conscious choice? What would you say to other child actors to help them avoid the pitfalls of early fame?
--jeff++
ipv6 is my vpn
Ok I've been itching to ask this to a real actor who also happens to be a geek.
You know MPAA's been suing left and right claiming downloading movies are damaging to the industry as a whole. As an actor in probably the most popular science fiction series ever, how does piracy or file sharing affect you and your bottom line?
Does what the studios say about piracy is total bull? Or is it the truth?
Do you find your celebrity here on Slashdot creepy at all? What are your thoughts on cults of personality in general in the geek world?
--------
Bleah! Heh heh heh... BLEAH BLEAH!!! Ha ha ha ha...
You wrote recently on your site about the doors Trek opens and the doors Trek shuts. Some actors have turned the convention circuit into their entire livelihood, perhaps for lack of other opportunities (you know the type and I'm sure you've shared the stage with one or two). They know they will never act again, and some have let their looks go. Acting for them is the occasional commercial endorsement. They mainly depend on the trek fan base for their living.
How much fear is there that the party is ending and that the fans have had enough? Do they talk privately about how trek has run out of gas and it's only a matter of time before there is no demand for another version?
Deanna Troy or Dr. Crusher?
Using their foreheads to CRUSH BREWSKis!
/attention-getting-but-not-too-funny-pun
Wil, A couple of months ago, at three in the morning, I caught the movie you starred in with Soleil Moon Frye, The Girls' Room. I enjoyed it a lot--not least because of your perfectly delivered line about why we don't call fraternities "frats."
I've heard that exact same line from a lot of actual Greeks, and it was impressive to see such a non-stereotyped portrayal.
But for all that it's a fun, interesting, and smart movie, with a unique role for you, it seems odd that you chose to make a film with another former child actor..?
Or was it?
You've come to terms (mostly?) with your early roles and their "residual" effects...Did you and Soleil discuss this?
Kid around about how you're the ones that made it?
Or did you just give her the cold shoulder because she no longer has that certain something?
One of the things that fascinated me about Star Trek: The Next Generation was the attention to detail in set design. I'm aware that Michael Okuda was responsible for a lot of the design work, like the LCARS interfaces for example (also referred to as "Okudagrams"). There was just an underlying subtle feel of logic and innovation behind it all that appealed to the computer nerd in me.
The touch screen interface standard was one; touch screens are an ideal graphical user interface because you don't need an indirect input device to manipulate the interface. I've actually read somewhere that NASA considers it to be a useful idea for manned space missions because it allows a user to access a whole range of controls with a simple touch screen, saving on space and weight when compared to the equivalent in physical controls. The PADDs were also a novel concept, resembling current PDAs and tablet computers. The LCARS interfaces also had recurring elements, like a round one I've read was nicknamed the "spinner", that looked like a control for 2D or 3D manipulation, kind of like arrow keys on a keyboard.
I also noticed that everything - devices, bulkheads, panels, containers, etc - all had the same kind of labels on them. They seemed like a standardised system for doing things like handling inventory, like barcodes. And there was a consistency across the board, the way they were also used as signs on doors and also appeared as LCARS interface elements. I've noticed that they've used them in the Star Trek: Enterprise series as well. (I've also read that they sometimes had jokes on them visible only to the cast during filming.)
Since you were working on the set, you must have had a lot of exposure to what went on behind the scenes with regards to the design process. And as a self-confessed geek, you must have had some interest in that part of the production. Was there an actual working concept behind LCARS as a real graphical user interface? What can you say about the fictional LCARS that would be applicable to real operating systems and graphical user interfaces? And what about those labels- were they based on a realistic system of organisation and management? What kind of concepts were the set designs based on, and how much detail did they get into regarding those concepts? I was just wondering how much of it all was just aesthetic and how much of it was based on real logic.
Wil, is it true that youre really the guy who makes all those Goatse posts?
It's worse than that. I have it on good authority that Wil Wheaton *is* the Goatse Man.
Either that, or Tubgirl, I forget which.
"Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).