and the ground's not cold
I had the best time ever when I recorded Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go.
I got there a few minutes ahead of my call, because it's the first time I've ever worked for Walt Disney Feature Animation, and there was a ton of paperwork to fill out.
Filling out the forms was a challenge, because I kept losing my focus when I'd hear the voice of Brain, as in "Pinky and the" come out of the guy sitting across from me. Then there was the jaw-droopingly beautiful Tia Carrere, who positively floated into the lobby to work on Lilo and Stitch.
The fact is, the lobby at that studio was filled with a "who's who" of voice talent, and I was just stunned that I got to be around them.
I got my forms filled out, signed in for the session, and sat there, breathing deeply and repeating to myself, over and over again, "Don't go fanboy. Don't go fanboy. Don't go fanboy. Don't go fanboy."
By the time I was called into my session, I was (more or less) calmed down. Well, as calm as one would expect, given the circumstances.
I walked down a long hallway, and into the recording studio. It looked just like you'd expect: Two engineers sat at a huge desk covered with dials and faders, a producer sat on a small couch, and another producer sat near him at a table covered with pages from the script, character drawings, and a sweating can of Diet Coke. The whole room is dominated by a large glass window that looks into the sound booth, which is empty except for a music stand, headphones, and microphone.
When I walked in, I shook hands with the producers, who introduced me to the actor who had just finished. You wouldn't know his name, but you'd sure know his voice! He said to me, "It's great to meet you! I've been seeing your name all over town."
"In a good way?" I said.
"Yeah! You're on voice sheets all over the place. What have you been working on?"
"Well, I'm Aqualad on Teen Titans . . . "
He snapped his fingers. "Yes! That's it! I was just over there. Man, they love you!"
I had to bite down on my lip to prevent a Howard Dean Scream from escaping. I smiled, and hoped nobody noticed my trembling hands.
"That is so cool!"
One of the producers said, "Did you see the Master of Games episode that was just on?"
"Oh, you mean the one where Aqualad gets punked by Speedy?" I said with a laugh. "No, I was out at a show the night it was on. But I think they're sending me a tape."
He laughed along with me. "That was my episode."
Uh-oh. Did I just piss him off?
I tried to save it with a joke. "Why you gotta be hating on Aqualad?"
"It was part of setting up Speedy," he said, "but I tried to make Aqualad as scary and tough and cool as possible."
"Rock." I said, and threw a little, mini-goat by my waist. I noticed that my pinky was still shaking, so I put it down quickly.
"Well, I've got to get out of here," the actor said. "It was great to meet you!"
"You too," I said.
The producer called me over to his table, and showed me the character sketches. He gave me a run down on the show, and then he said, "I really like your voice, so just do whatever you want to do with this."
"Really? Cool!!"
"Yeah. When Disney asked me who I wanted to play this role, I told them to get you, because I knew you as Aqualad."
This is where I would have done a backflip, just like Todd Bridges on Diff'rent Strokes, if I was able to do that sort of thing. See, until he said that, I didn't know why I'd gotten this job. I thought it may have been because I used to be on Star Trek, or because I was a minor celebrity, or something like that. Those are okay reasons to get a job, I guess, but he just told me that I earned this job because of my work on Teen Titans,and that's the greatest feeling in the world.
"Gosh, thanks, man. That's so cool! I hope I don't disappoint you."
The session director, a young woman who immediately puts me at ease, tells me that they're ready, so I walk into the booth.
When the door closes behind me, it's like I'm standing in the Cone of Silence. The only sound I hear besides the ringing in my ears is the excited pounding in my heart. On the other side of the glass, I watch the director press a button on top of what looks like a garage door opener. Her mouth moves as she looks at her script. A moment passes, and she looks up at me, expectantly.
I realize that, in my excitement, I've forgotten to put on my headphones. Whoops.
"I guess I can hear you better with these on," I say with a laugh, and they laugh back.
The producer and director talk a little bit about the character, and give me incredible creative freedom to play around with different voices.
This is the most amazing thing in the world. I can feel their confidence in me, and it creates twice as much confidence in myself. I feel like I can do no wrong, so I clench my hands into fists, grit my teeth, tense up my whole body, and deliver some lines into the mic in this voice that I think sounds kind of cool.
"Hold on, Wil." She says, and turns to the producer. Her thumb slips off the "talk" button, and all now I can see them talking, but I can't hear a thing they're saying. Judging by their body language, they're happy. There's a lot of nodding and smiling.
Wow. This rules!
I watch as the director nods vigorously, and thumbs the "talk" button. "That's fantastic, Wil," she says, "Let's record this."
What? I hit it on my first try? Really?! Cool!
This is the same thing that happens when I work on Titans: all the people involved, from the producers to the director to the actors, are super supportive, and encourage a creative environment, so I feel comfortable taking huge risks and playing characters that I'd never try on my own. I know it probably seems like it would always be like this, and maybe it is in the voice over world, but for the past several years, the bulk of my on-camera "acting" has been in auditions where that supportive, creative environment simply doesn't exist.
We roll tape, and start recording. After most of my lines, I watch through the glass as the producers and the director talk with each other. I can tell that they're happy with what I'm doing, and my spirits just soar. I totally haven't let them down, and a few times, the producer talks to me himself. "That's just awesome, Wil," he says, "That was really, really cool."
Man, I wish I could do that backflip. This is really fun.
I only have 17 lines in this show, plus some crowd voices, a few random kids, and stuff like that, so I'm finished in less than an hour. When I take my headphones off, and step back into the Cone of Silence, I understand why so many people work so hard to make it into the voice acting world, and how lucky I am to be here.
When I walk out of the recording booth, one of the producers, who has been sitting on the far side of the room with a sketchpad, (either looking at character models to see if the voice I'm doing matches up, or sketching character models based on my voice -- I'm not sure) jumps up and meets me at the door. He extends his hand, and tells me how much he liked what I did, and says, several times, "We're going to have you back. We're going to work with you again."
I try to remain professional, but I can't completely contain my enthusiasm. I tell them how much fun I had, and that I hope to come back for more shows in the future. They all assure me that I will.
Comments
dips on first comment
Posted by: kiki | March 22, 2004 09:51 AM
Congratulations on nailing that voice job, Wil.
I hope you get so much work you have to pick and choose and even turn down some stuff because you're so busy.
Way to go!
Bill
Posted by: Bill | March 22, 2004 09:53 AM
Nailing it on the first try. Now that is impressive! :)
Posted by: jamenta | March 22, 2004 09:55 AM
Excellent Wil!
Congrats.
Sharfa
Posted by: Sharfa | March 22, 2004 09:57 AM
Sweet!
Posted by: Ness | March 22, 2004 09:59 AM
Despite my feelings about Disney in general (I'm sure you know what I mean), I'm happy that your experience was awesome. Congrats.
Posted by: Reena | March 22, 2004 10:01 AM
Rock on! Didn't Tia Carrere used to be in that anthropology show a while back?
Posted by: emily | March 22, 2004 10:03 AM
Just don't forget where your animation career began!
/own pinky shaking horribly
Posted by: Farkman | March 22, 2004 10:05 AM
Way to go, Wil. Nice to see you having a great day. Can you talk at all specifically about the project? Direct to video, theater release, etc.
Posted by: Damian | March 22, 2004 10:05 AM
That would be Relic Hunter... WOW what an awful show :)
Congrats on the kickass job Wil! Just think about this: Down the road, people are going to be looking you up on IMDB and saying "OMG! He was Aqualad? He was on Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go!? WOW! I loved those shows as a kid! And now he's a super famous writer! :P
Posted by: Ryan Waddell | March 22, 2004 10:07 AM
\m/ Rock on Wil. That is so extremely cool. I can't wait to see that show that your in.
Posted by: DarkYoda | March 22, 2004 10:10 AM
Way to go Monkey Boy !! Congratulations.
Posted by: Lorraine | March 22, 2004 10:10 AM
That is so cool Wil. Congrats on getting this one. Also, congrats on doing such a good job. When I heard about this show, it was before I knew you were going to be doing voices for it. Now that you are on the show, I am doubly interested in watching this show. Keep up the good work, and yes, isn't voice-over work the bee's knees?
Posted by: Keith Coogan | March 22, 2004 10:16 AM
Congrats Wil.
You know what they say, if you work at what you love then you'll always love your work.
And then we'll all love your work too.
You can always tell when someone's loving what they do and I appreciate you letting us see your world through your eyes.
C.
Posted by: NolanC | March 22, 2004 10:16 AM
Awesome, Wil !!
mini-goats back at ya, Aqualad.
Posted by: richard | March 22, 2004 10:17 AM
Rawk. I've wanted to do more voice stuff since I left radio - it really sounds like you've found something new you love. Congrats.
Posted by: Michael Doss | March 22, 2004 10:21 AM
Way to go, Wil. Now all ya gotta do is work on that back flip!
Posted by: Jules | March 22, 2004 10:21 AM
That is very cool Wil.
My sister is in her last year of Animation, and last year worked as an intern at an animation studio, designing and working on various characters. Last week, they gave her an audition to do the voiceover for the very character she designed! Her 'baby'. heh. Some christmas special with Leslie Nielson as Santa.
Man, you guys are having all the fun.
Posted by: Elly | March 22, 2004 10:21 AM
WOO-HOO!!!!
Damn, I hope Toonami plays that TT episode on this side of the pond soon ^_^
} {
^_~
Posted by: Devil Girl | March 22, 2004 10:22 AM
Yeah, Wil! Go, Wil!
Posted by: Eva | March 22, 2004 10:26 AM
How very cool!! Congrats!!! Can't wait to hear about the next job you get. =)
Posted by: Laura | March 22, 2004 10:27 AM
BWhaha!...
... Ok.
Fanboy? I can hardly picture anyone but an uber otaku at Pawpets Megaplex 2004 going fanboy and not bathing for a full week and collecting everything someone had touched, and omigod I'll never wash this tshirt again since a great Disney animator touched it...(like they ever washed it before)...
Don't feel bad for feeling the admiration and adoration slip from you, heck, I bet you like it when you get a fanboy once or twice who doesn't say 'used to' when it comes to your acting ability. ...(Loved Jane White is Sick and Twisted! ... I'm a fan of mind numbing humor at 4 AM...)
It can't be any worse than a complete stranger giving you a hug, sort of odd at first, but then it makes you feel warm and fuzzy in the deeper reaches of your emotional cockles.
Congratulations with the animation/voice actor that you've landed! I've heard from a few... uhm, contacts that Disney is okay to work with, though sometimes they'll own your soul if you exude any sort of consistent talent =) (Let's not forget everyone having to learn Maya on the Disney animation teams...) *grin*
(They'll own your soul, Wil!)
/Kendra
Posted by: Kendra | March 22, 2004 10:28 AM
Wil, that sounds very exciting. And nice feeling to know you've earned it. In your FAQ it says you'll eventually have some section up for aspiring actors. I look forward to that, and would probably find voice acting even more interesting. So when you get the time don't forget about that section. ;) Anyway, happy for you!
Posted by: Shauna Skye | March 22, 2004 10:29 AM
Jesus Wil! Was that YOU at the Buena Vista gate with the cardboard sign that said "WILL WORK FOR DISNEY"?
By the way, this isn't a slam on you. It's a slam on Mauschwitz.
Not to mention the fact that I'm a bitter jealous bastard.
Posted by: Billy Reno | March 22, 2004 10:30 AM
When I walked in, I shook hands with the producers, who introduced me to the actor who had just finished. You wouldn't know his name, but you'd sure know his voice!
Dude, don't presume. Who was it?
(Yeah, am a huge VA geek. ^_^)
Posted by: Lampbane | March 22, 2004 10:38 AM
The next Don LaFontaine? :-)
Posted by: Mark H. Anbinder | March 22, 2004 10:40 AM
Yey for more voice-work! I can't wait to see the show when it comes out :D
Posted by: Ashli | March 22, 2004 10:41 AM
Wow! Congrats Wil! That is so awesome!
Posted by: Sue | March 22, 2004 10:48 AM
Congratulations, Wil! You sound like you're having a great time, and doing amazingly creative work. :-)
Posted by: Adele | March 22, 2004 10:57 AM
and if the ground's not cold, everything's gonna burn
That's gonna be stuck in my head all day now. ah well.
Congrats. :)
Posted by: Lauren | March 22, 2004 10:59 AM
That sounds very cool, Wil! Thanks for bringing us into the sound booth with you, so to speak.
Posted by: Winona | March 22, 2004 11:01 AM
i recently got some kudos for a job well-done on something i had worked hard on as well. doesn't it make you feel great?!?!? oh - and the pixies! yay! i have got to save up for coachella so i can see them play.
Posted by: arifa | March 22, 2004 11:03 AM
Wow! Wow. I am so jealous. You were even in the same room as Maurice LaMarche! al;djfa!! I would have died right there. That's so awesome. I always thought you seemed like a natural when it came to voice acting. Secret of Nimh and all that. :)
Posted by: Christy | March 22, 2004 11:03 AM
after the worst weekend ever of getting dumped my bf if 2 years, i found myself wishing youd update your blog. i got dancing barefoot in the mail today and just finished it, and, well, im not crying anymore.
im glad you had fun with the new show.
Posted by: julie reppert | March 22, 2004 11:05 AM
So... cool. Nailed it on the first take! > I think I'll call up my agent and see if they FINALLY have got any VO gigs for me here in the Twin Cities. So, Wil, how many agents did you go through before you got one that actually understood you?
Posted by: Gary Brown | March 22, 2004 11:08 AM
Great Job Wil! Glad to hear that things are working out so well for you. I don't think we get Teen Titans up here in Canada bu I'll keep an eye out for it!
Posted by: Tore | March 22, 2004 11:08 AM
I deeply appreciate some of your stories about your battles to gain acceptance outside ST:NG. I've had a rough couple of days and today's story on hitting the mark was top notch. It gave me a sense of hope.
Posted by: Paul Leclerc | March 22, 2004 11:09 AM
Mucho congrats, you big water-breathing telepath!
You'll get that air-conditioner yet!
Posted by: Kroeme | March 22, 2004 11:10 AM
Really cool, Wil. I'm so happy for you.
Live the dream.
Posted by: synchronicity | March 22, 2004 11:13 AM
That is absolutely awesome, Wil. I'm so happy that you're doing what you love to do.
And not that you need the props, but I want to let you know I never hated Wesley on ST. He was the reason that I was never ashamed of being the smart kid in school. Wesley made me feel that I asn't alone.
Posted by: Tricia | March 22, 2004 11:15 AM
That's so cool! I've always been curious about that industry and thought how awesome it would be to do cartoon voices. You know, I don't think the Simpsons have addressed blogging yet (I am sure if they have someone will immediately correct me) -- you should so be on that episode.
Posted by: Kristen | March 22, 2004 11:16 AM
Hey, have you seen Mark Hamill's "Comic Book the Movie"? Most of the parts were played by veteran voice actors. The actual movie is OK, but the best part is the extra feature showing a discussion panel of voice actors at the San Diego Con. Reading your description of the Lobby O' Voice Talent reminded me of this. You have to get this (or at least rent it). Of course, this may not be that big of a deal to you since you are Mr. Big Time Voice Guy now!
Congratulations!
ps - I'm really happy for you. It sounds like things are really going well.
Posted by: Sumo | March 22, 2004 11:20 AM
Congrats, Wil!
Definitely keeping my eyes open for Teen Titans and Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go, for whenever it might be airing all the way here in Belgium. :)
Posted by: Grace S. | March 22, 2004 11:21 AM
Congrats. Aqualad rules. Now I'll have to have Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go when it comes out.
Posted by: Maarten | March 22, 2004 11:24 AM
Wil!! That is so awesome!! Is it weird to say that I'm proud of you? If that's creepy, sorry. I am just very pleased that you're in such a positive space right now. \m/
Posted by: Abby | March 22, 2004 11:27 AM
What an awsome experience. You are so fawken lucky. Aqualad would be proud. Maybe one day there will be a crossover show. 2 wil's for the price of one.
Good Job Monkey Boy from another Monkey Boy.
(i was born in the year of the monkey)
Posted by: Terry | March 22, 2004 11:28 AM
Congrats on the job, and I hope that this means they'll have you back as Aqualad on TT sometime soon.
Can't wait to see this new show :)
Posted by: Wayne Ligon | March 22, 2004 11:28 AM
I saw Deep Six in the weekend. Had it timed all wrong and thought it was supposed to be NEXT weekend, so I couldn't tape it.
Bring on Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go!
Posted by: Matt | March 22, 2004 11:32 AM
Hey Wil-
Well, I'm 18 about done with my first year at University and was directed to this site by my crazy Trekkie of an older brother. Now, I never liked STNG, but I remember liking your character. Cool, anyway, I'm also a writer, love reading your stuff. I'll read your book this summer. Want to read mine? Ha.
Anyway, kudos on all the great stuff you're up to. Later..Lisa
Posted by: Lisa | March 22, 2004 11:36 AM
Rock on, Wil! [debbil-horns!]
Yoo Da Mang.
CU
Posted by: Chad Underkoffler | March 22, 2004 11:44 AM
Wow, that's so awesome, Wil. I'm very happy for you.
Of course, when I think of Wil Wheaton Voice Actor I think:
"I'm not even afraid of..of..The Great Owl!"
Which is my all time favorite animated movies.
Posted by: druidGirl | March 22, 2004 11:45 AM
Way to go Wil. Job well done.
Posted by: Artemis | March 22, 2004 11:52 AM
Seems this show will be a reunion of sorts...
I just found this info on coreyfeldman.com:
Corey has just begun a new Disney animated series called "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force, Go!" The series will also star Mark Hammil (Star Wars) & Tom McKinney (the voice of Sponge Bob SquarePants). The series will be used to launch a new channel in September created by Fox & Disney, called Jetix!
Posted by: John | March 22, 2004 11:54 AM
Congrats, and thanks for sharing your experience with us. I was always curious about voice-overs , and I now I have a much better idea about how they work!
Posted by: Lainie Petersen | March 22, 2004 11:56 AM
Wil,
Way to go! Not only on the v/o work, but also on the ability to write it down an put us there.
Posted by: Nathe | March 22, 2004 11:59 AM
Dude! This so rocks! Sure, you're working for the machine that is Disney, but still, you're working! And it's good stuff, too!
And we can all trace this back to The Secret of NIMH. One of your first major voice roles, so to speak. It's all coming around now, and noone deserves it more than you!
And hey, now that you have a recent body of work to be proud of, you don't have to feel like you're pandering when you call Sean... Hint hint...
Posted by: Eric | March 22, 2004 12:12 PM
Wil,
THAT IS AWESOME!
WTG!!!
I shall do a few cheers for you.
I wish you many more visits to this studio. You deserve it.
Jason
Posted by: Jason Bickings | March 22, 2004 12:21 PM
Congrats Wil, I am so happy for you!
Posted by: Josie | March 22, 2004 12:28 PM
/me double back flips while doing a double mini goat.
Cool. Rawk on, Aqualad.
Posted by: Greg | March 22, 2004 12:43 PM
I was just thinking, Wil, with all the twists and turns, and ups and downs, that your life seems to take, when you write your final autobiography it'll be classified as an epic. Joseph Campbell could have used you as an example, dude.
Posted by: synchronicity | March 22, 2004 12:44 PM
Why am I reminded of Krusty the Clown showing Lisa how it's done.
Posted by: dave | March 22, 2004 12:53 PM
GO WIL! That's awesome man, keep up the great work!
Posted by: Michael Ducker | March 22, 2004 12:59 PM
Congrats on a good job. Can't weight until the movie comes out.
Posted by: Sherrie | March 22, 2004 01:05 PM
W00T!
Here's to more of that.
*clinks and imaginary pint of Guinness*
Posted by: Delphine | March 22, 2004 01:05 PM
Nice entry man, with a name like:
Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go
I figured they'd have to have a cool crew.
But you should have described in detail everything Tia Carrere was wearing... :)
-Scott
www.TwoPeanuts.com
Posted by: TwoPeanuts.com | March 22, 2004 01:12 PM
Woot! Good on you mate!!
g
Posted by: Gayla | March 22, 2004 01:14 PM
Dude: I have a new favorite villain (after Mojo Jojo): Skurg! I'm happy for you.
Hey...and update us on how D&D is going.
Posted by: Peter | March 22, 2004 01:22 PM
Congrats Wil! Keep it up!
Posted by: Brian Roberts | March 22, 2004 01:46 PM
Congrats on the big job hon, and kudos to you for nailing it on the first try. If you meet Mark Hamill please PLEASE let us know! Or just let me know...:) And thanks for a little insider info on how it's done, partially answered one of my questions in one of my last comments.
Posted by: Lawless1 | March 22, 2004 01:58 PM
\m/ RAWKING! That's awesome! Congratulations...hang on while I do a backflip for you!....pause....crickets chirp....okay, I have to go now, Ambulence is here to take me to the hospital.
Good Job!
Posted by: Tim | March 22, 2004 02:00 PM
Wil, when you're done enjoying a wonderful hour of work, don't forget to pat yourself on the back for Yet Another Beautiful Blog Entry.
Then of course you can go back to enjoying a wonderful hour of work.
Or you could practice your backflip. You may need it one day.
Posted by: tjeu | March 22, 2004 02:06 PM
RAWK! :)
Posted by: nessa | March 22, 2004 02:15 PM
That is so cool Wil, congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!! Remember the old Ketchup commercial, good things come to those who wait, or as I like to say are patient!
Posted by: Marie A. | March 22, 2004 02:20 PM
Wil, you've managed once again to bring us right into the same room as you through one of your entries. i am so impressed with the way you write about life. by the way congrats on all the good stuff thats come your way lately not only with the vo stuff but with the family stuff too. one other thing i always did love secret of nimh and bought it for my kids the first time i came across it. just about worn out now from being watched so much. brook
Posted by: Brook | March 22, 2004 02:20 PM
I am happy and excited for you Wil because you
are happy and excited. Sounds as if you have
found a juicy gig.
Congrats
Colleen
Posted by: Colleen S | March 22, 2004 03:00 PM
Great Job!
BTW, will you be doing an Audio Book of Dancing Barefoot?
Posted by: BoltBait | March 22, 2004 03:01 PM
Hey Guys
FYI - If you live in the UK the show should be airing on the newly relaunched Fox Kids Channel (renamed Jetix) on the SKY Digital system later on this year.
Enjoy!
and well done Wil,
Chris.
Posted by: Chris Branscomb | March 22, 2004 03:12 PM
You realize, of course, that with you and Mark Hamill working on the same show, this will ultimately end up starting another Star Wars vs. Star Trek War.
SWSTW-II
(And now you have to watch Comic Book: The Movie, because you are going to end up running into Mark Hamill, and he is going to want to know if you have seen it.)
Posted by: Phelps | March 22, 2004 03:42 PM
Kick ass, that must be one hell of a rush to do that and also have so many people loving what you do. Congratulations.
Capt.
Posted by: Captain | March 22, 2004 03:58 PM
That is so great that everything went so well :-) You are the best Wil and I look forward to getting to hear your voice in "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force Go."
Posted by: Eppy | March 22, 2004 04:01 PM
I'm just going to rather pointlessly add my own congratulations :) I wasn't so happy and pleased when *I* got a job :)
Posted by: Mike | March 22, 2004 04:08 PM
Schpoik! What an awesome view into what must have been a truly fabulous experience, Wil.
Rock on!
Posted by: goatmonkey | March 22, 2004 04:08 PM
You got to work with Maurice LaMarche!! Oh, Jesus, I've been in love with that guy since he was Jeremy Hawke. That's freakin' awesome that you'll both be in the same show.
(And you TOTALLY underestimate your fellow nerds if you think that none of them would recognize his name, especially considering his work on Futurama and The Critic.)
Posted by: Pigeonrat | March 22, 2004 04:30 PM
Very Cool, Wil!! I would love to do voice acting back of all the great anime's I've seen...but I doubt I'll get to 'cause of my lack of experence.
Anyway, way to go!!!
P.S. Aqualad is very very cool!!! Go Titans!!
Posted by: Brandon | March 22, 2004 05:18 PM
Your getting your name out there for VO work, did
you know that is so very hard? You probably do, but I just had to say it anyways. *Cracks knuckles and looks around for tv and movie producers*, now we have the voice, all we need is to see you on tv and movie. Seriously though, great work, and cheers, to much more success.
Posted by: angry penguin | March 22, 2004 05:39 PM
hey wil,
that is sooo cool! you totally sound like a natural at this! i'm so happy it all went well for you! i can't wait to see it!!!
congratulations!
take care
rach
Posted by: rach | March 22, 2004 06:41 PM
I can totally relate to the Cone of Silence routine. I had the same experience last week when I auditioned to be a reader for the non-profit I work for (we record audio books that are sent to the disabled; anyone who's interested can check out our web site (it's still a work in progress but a helluva lot better than what we used to have!). The worst part was I took my purse in with me (hey, it's a woman thing), and my cell went off -- fortunately it was before the audition started.
Anyway, to make a long story short, I totally nailed it. (insert pat on back here) Still waiting to see when my regular reading stint will be; may just start out as a fill-in for when a reader cancels or is a no-show.
Okay, so this is all about me and not about you, Wil -- but I think you prove a point; no matter what insignificant thing you do in life, always put your best effort into it, because you never know when it might be noticed by someone with real authority. Heck, that's how I got my current job in the first place!
Glad to hear things are going well...so, how goes the planning of the D&D campaign??? *grin*
Posted by: Roberta | March 22, 2004 06:48 PM
"I had to bite down on my lip to prevent a Howard Dean Scream from escaping." Oooh, that was so hilarious. Congratulations!
Posted by: Sarah | March 22, 2004 07:55 PM
Congratulations on the VO job, I mean, not on the Dean Scream line...
Posted by: Sarah | March 22, 2004 07:57 PM
It would be so awesome if we could all have as much fun at our jobs.
I am super happy for you, Wil. Rock on! \m/
Posted by: Amber | March 22, 2004 08:06 PM
I thought you were a writer.
~shrug~
Posted by: probitysmarts | March 22, 2004 08:32 PM
Awesome Stuff, Wil!
You must have been stoked nailing it like that! I know you will get more gigs like that after knocking 'em dead.
I have to find out when Aqua Teen is going to be aired up here in Canada. At some point soon I hope.
Cheers,
Mike
Posted by: Mike W | March 22, 2004 08:55 PM
Wil said:
repeating to myself, over and over again, "Don't go fanboy. Don't go fanboy. Don't go fanboy. Don't go fanboy."
Did you ever wonder how many other people in the room are saying "Don't go fanboy..."?
Posted by: Glen | March 22, 2004 10:05 PM
it's nice to see how honestly hard working you are at doing what you love; even more to see you succeed at it; and most comforting to see that even people who have succeeded at various levels in their career still have moments of anxious hope and fear and struggles with geekdom.
thanks, it's fabulous that you're doing what you have such passion for [and doing it well], and hopefully you know that you give us [working at it] creatives some motivation and inspiration.
cheers,
andi tron
Posted by: andi tron | March 22, 2004 10:53 PM
I bet it's nice to have lines and speaking parts that you can put emphasis and strong heartfelt emotion behind, and be encouraged to do so, instead of having to do a timid, barely audible "boy" voice, which usually ended in the character you were playing being told to "SHUT UP WESLEY!" by other people who got to put emphasis and strong heartfelt emotion behind.
Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything against Patrick or Brent or Micheal, LaVar, Frakes, or even Colm, Marina or Gates. In fact they are all some of my favorite performers..but man, it's good to see YOU getting the spotlight for a change, and having a blast to boot!
Rawk on!
Posted by: WebNuT! | March 22, 2004 11:11 PM
BRAIN: Pinky, Are You Pondering What I'm Pondering?
PINKY: Uh, I think so, Brain, but burlap chafes me so.
(See link for more ponderings.)
Posted by: Brian | March 22, 2004 11:58 PM
Ok I am totally living vicariously through you right now. RAWK! \m/
Seriously man, the way you wrote this, I felt like I was you and I was so excited and happy and proud and I am so happy for oyu.
I see a theme. Every entry I'm leaving a comment telling you I'm happy for you. I think that's a pretty cool theme.
Posted by: Jenny M. Finster | March 23, 2004 12:37 AM
WOW!!! YEEHARR! That's fantastic, Wil! Sounds like it's all going a dream, every aspect of this job is perfect so far!
Your enthusiasm just leaps off the screen in your writing, too, I just realised I've got this big happy bursting feeling inside of me, all excited just from reading about how you felt - thanks for doing such a good job of including me, too.
Lis from Aus :)
Posted by: Lis | March 23, 2004 02:43 AM
Congratulations, Wil. :)
-Alicia
www.thewagband.com
Posted by: Alicia | March 23, 2004 05:03 AM
Hey now, I would have recognised Mike Erwin (I probably spell that wrong however) if only from his role in Hulk as young Bruce Banner.
Posted by: Runt | March 23, 2004 06:19 AM
That rocks. I told the kids about the new show coming up and they are psyched and julia said "wait is that the friend of yours I met last summer?"
I said yep, same guy. She said that was just the
coolest.
thing.
ever.
Coming from a 9 year old that is a huge compliment. ;)
Incidently.. we will be tuning in for your debut.
Posted by: NephraTari | March 23, 2004 06:22 AM
Let me add to the list of folks recommending Mark Hamill's Comic Book: The Movie. An enjoyable movie, and the extras are great.
Don't tell my wife, but I think I'm falling in love with Jimmy Neutron. ;)
Paul
Posted by: Paul | March 23, 2004 06:30 AM
Oh please oh please OH PLEASE tell me you got to touch Maurice Lamarche!
Posted by: Adrienne | March 23, 2004 08:29 AM
That's so kick-ass! I love the way you write, I get excited right along with you.
I'm gonna check out Teen Titans this weekend.
Posted by: Almost Lucid (Brad) | March 23, 2004 08:42 AM
Congratulations!
I have always wondered what it would be like to do voices. It does sound like fun. Thanks for letting us in on it :-)
Posted by: Deborah | March 23, 2004 08:43 AM
Shoot, I wanted to know the names of the other people there. Some of us *do* know the names of VAs. :o(
Posted by: Dave | March 23, 2004 09:28 AM
Where did they get that gawdawful name?
Posted by: Mark | March 23, 2004 09:58 AM
Great to hear that you're nailing a lot of gigs as a voice actor. Maybe a voice part in Simpsons is in your near future? :)
Congratulations!
Posted by: Anne | March 23, 2004 10:16 AM
Rock on, Wil! Word is getting around on your voice work. More power to you. It's ok, too; I still haven't seen that "Teen Titans" ep.
Ariel
Posted by: Ariel in the South Bay | March 23, 2004 10:36 AM
Way to go Wil! Its nice to see you happy! I hope this goes well for you.
Posted by: Beth Rose Pizana | March 23, 2004 11:01 AM
I really dig your behind-the-scenes entries; it's cool to hear about how these things work.
Hopefully the VA work only picks up from here, as your resume builds and you keep getting more of this type of word-of-mouth (so to speak, heh) momentum...
And yeah, if you ever meet Mark Hamill... oh please, DO tell.
Posted by: Tracy | March 23, 2004 01:18 PM
By the way (and apologies if I missed this already being mentioned somewhere on WWdN), I read that Corey Feldman is also doing work on SRMTHFG... Any chance that Jerry O'Connell will swing by for a cameo too? ;-)
Posted by: Tracy | March 23, 2004 01:29 PM
Reading how happy you were to the good feedback and noticing my own reaction to it, I realized just how invested I've become in your life through this blog over the last couple of years.
Go, you!
Posted by: David Cartwright | March 23, 2004 02:07 PM
That is SO cool Wil! And it sounds like incredible fun!
Posted by: Lesley | March 24, 2004 01:26 AM
This post is yet another testimony to your incredible talent as a writer, seeing as -I'm- bouncing like an excited lunatic, when it's -your- triumph. ^.^
Way to go, Wil!
--------
Posted by: Cami H. | March 24, 2004 02:50 AM