finally back to me
Remember the audition I had last week at Nickelodeon?
I had a crush on this project as soon as I read the breakdown. After I met the director and grokked what sort of story she wants to tell, I was hopelessly in love with the project. I really, really hope I get this job.
I don't spend a lot of time thinking about jobs after an audition. In fact, I have a ritual where I take my sides, and dump them into the first trash can or recycling bin I find, so I can let go of the whole thing, and put it into the hands of The Universe -- or a higher power, like the producers. But this one was different. I felt such a connection with the character, and had so much fun looking at his character model and creating the voice and character it inspired, I thought about the show every day, and called my manager about it several times.
I probably shouldn't disclose too many details about the story that I auditioned for, but it is a wonderful, funny, charming animated short about a geek and a goth who are starcrossed lovers.
I'm sure you're all surprised to hear that I read for the geek. I used my sense memories to recall the Kyra crush and did my best to be the kind of guy who "you want to take his glasses off, and mess up his hair, because he's so cute and he doesn't know it," according to the director, who I really, really liked.
Just now, as I was about to make my daily call to see if we'd heard anything, the phone rang (true story). It was my manager.
"Remember [name of project]?" He said.
"You mean the one I call you about every single day?" I said.
"Yes, that one." He laughed. "You got it."
I lept out of my chair and hollered. "What?! Are you serious?!" Which is a stupid thing to holler, because he wouldn't call me if he wasn't. "Really? I really got the job?" Which is also a stupid thing to say, but I'm passing this one off on the surge of adrenaline and seratonin my brains released upon receiving the news.
"Yep. I called to see if they had made a decision yet, and [casting executive] told me that she was just about to call me with the news!" He went on to tell me that the director could have picked anyone in the whole world to do this part, and she chose me.
I'm going to say that again: she could have picked anyone she wanted, and she chose me. Man, that feels so good. I mean, it feels tasp good.
I hung up the phone and ran around the house like a hummingbird being chased by a dog that shoots bees from its mouth.
After all the times I've written about the audition that went great, but didn't work out, or the audition that was a lot of fun, but it turns out I'm not edgy enough, it's so insanely awesome to write about one where I not only had a great time, but actually get to do more than just the audition sides. When this show is animated and released, for the rest of time, I will be the actor who helped bring that guy to life -- and I really love this character. I am so excited! Squee!
Anyway, I had a blast reading for this project, and I was so excited when I left, I totally forgot to steal a camphone snap of the hawesome four foot tall SpongeBob made out of LEGO in the lobby. If I get the job, or the next time I'm at Nick, I'll grab a picture of it on my way in, because I'm usually skipping with nerdy excitment whenever I'm on my way out.
I'll be sure to snag a picture of the giant LEGO SpongeBob on my way in when I record my dialogue next Wednesday or Thursday, and I'm taking a gift to Don, the most awesome security guy ever, who works at Nick and is always so awesome to me when I go there for an audition.
Comments
WOOHOO!! Congratulations :)
Posted by: Kim the fangirl | April 26, 2006 6:50 PM
Ask not for whom the w00t tolls. It tolls for thee.
Posted by: Joker Cross | April 26, 2006 6:54 PM
w00t!!!!!!11!1
GO WIL!!!
Posted by: Princess Anna | April 26, 2006 6:57 PM
YAY!!!!
Posted by: kat | April 26, 2006 6:58 PM
Good stuff, Wil. The Universe must have known you were The Geek.
Represent.
Posted by: Dave | April 26, 2006 7:00 PM
Oh, Wil! Congratulations! I am so happy for you! Whenever I read that you got the part, I literally yelled "Yes!" and threw my hands in the air. I yelled so loud that my family asked me what happened. lol
Posted by: napoleondynamitefan | April 26, 2006 7:02 PM
What makes this great is not just that you got the job, but that you've been passed over for other jobs before and you've kept at it. I know how easy it is to lose faith in yourself when you get turned down for a chance at doing something you love again and again and finding that determination to keep plugging away isn't easy. Seeing you get this job is just proof that you can't let it get you down.
Maybe it's the situation itself, maybe it's the way you write about it, or maybe it's a bit of both, but reading stuff like this gives me a bit of hope or perhaps validation and that's one of the reasons I keep coming back here.
Congrats Wil, you've earned it.
Posted by: Dakushna | April 26, 2006 7:03 PM
Thus spake the universe...
You got it goin awwwnnnnn
(heh....you said tasp)
Posted by: Jennifer | April 26, 2006 7:04 PM
Congrats Wil. I've been pulling for you to get a part since you started posting your daily jibes about the process. I hope you keep us updated with the show (as much as you are allowed too).
Its really kool mahn. Gud jawb!
Triston
Posted by: Triston | April 26, 2006 7:06 PM
Congrats Wil!!....
I hope you get alot more work down the road... :)
Posted by: Keith L. Dick | April 26, 2006 7:11 PM
Nifty! Congrats to you! When can you tell us what it's called so we can be on the lookout?
Posted by: Liz | April 26, 2006 7:13 PM
I hung up the phone and ran around the house like a hummingbird being chased by a dog that shoots bees from its mouth.
Dude. I have to remember that one. Congrats on the job! :D
Posted by: lomara | April 26, 2006 7:16 PM
Man, that rocks! Congrats - can't wait to hear it is and what it's about!
Posted by: YankeeAmanda | April 26, 2006 7:22 PM
Congratulations, Wil! I'm so happy for you. They recognized your inner geekness (well, maybe not so inner, eh?) and what you could bring to the role.
Heh. You wrote Squee!
Posted by: watcher652 | April 26, 2006 7:23 PM
Very cool, Wil. Congratulations. I've been wondering about this project off and on ever since you mentioned it. Glad you got the part. How soon can we get a look at the project? Is there a site for it yet?
Posted by: Karl Erikson | April 26, 2006 7:29 PM
Congrats!!
Posted by: TimGundrum | April 26, 2006 7:33 PM
clearly, the universe is unfolding in the way it should.
woot!
Posted by: rmd | April 26, 2006 7:35 PM
I think that was the first time a blog has ever made me gasp out loud.
Congrats, Wil. This post has brought me from full-time lurker to comment-poster.
Posted by: Michael Beaty | April 26, 2006 7:35 PM
You will nail this! I can't wait to hear you. :-)
Sounds like a very cool story.
Posted by: tamara | April 26, 2006 7:36 PM
Many many congrats, Wil!
Guess your karma and the mojo we sent finally merged and made, erm...whatever the lovechild of karma and mojo make when they merge...
Yeah.
\m/
Posted by: Chris the Tiki Guy | April 26, 2006 7:37 PM
Congratulations, Wil!! I am delighted for you. Ah, a happy ending to this story.
Posted by: R | April 26, 2006 7:44 PM
Congrats, Wil! I was really crossing my fingers for you. =)
Posted by: Morgan | April 26, 2006 7:45 PM
Congratulations! :-D
Posted by: Whistlebinky | April 26, 2006 7:45 PM
Heyyyyyy! Congratulations!
Posted by: Jordan | April 26, 2006 7:56 PM
That is so awesome that scientists are using it to calibrate their awesomeometers,
Posted by: Heath Allyn | April 26, 2006 7:58 PM
Congratulations Wil! You're the 2nd person I know who booked their dream role this week. Have a hawesome time :D
Posted by: SpaceCadette | April 26, 2006 8:16 PM
Rock on, Wil. My favorite part of the post, other than the fact that you got the job, is the part where you wrote "Squee!" Never heard that before, but I love it.
Posted by: timmyweb | April 26, 2006 8:16 PM
If it makes you feel any less silly for being all "ZOMG are you serious!?" to your manager, when I read the part about you getting it, I clapped my hands together up near my chest and squealed. And that's sillier, because it's a blog and I don't know you.
Congratulations!
Posted by: blackunicorn | April 26, 2006 8:19 PM
Superb!
Posted by: Annika | April 26, 2006 8:20 PM
I knew you'd get it! ;-)
Posted by: Aja | April 26, 2006 8:41 PM
Take a wild guess what my new favorite television show is going to be (Other then TNG of course)
--Hey just think-- now I have a legitimate reason to watch Nick *mwahaha life is wonderful*
Congrats Wil, Squee is really the best word to describe it!
Posted by: Thrasher | April 26, 2006 8:54 PM
I'm really happy for you Wil. Let us know what to look for. I have to say though, that I still very much enjoy watching Wesley everyday. Those shows still amaze me and I love them dearly. Congratulations.
Posted by: Carolyn | April 26, 2006 9:00 PM
First thing that came to mind when I say this entry was WOOT Wil!
Second was from 'Just a Geek', when you asked Sean Astin, "Why do we do this?". Well I think you just got your answer today.
Good job Wil!
Posted by: towers16 | April 26, 2006 9:03 PM
\m/ \m/
yes. that's a double.
Posted by: jbay | April 26, 2006 9:06 PM
Congrats that rocks! Man keep us posted of every little detail that you are allowed to when you get into it! Winning an auditon ... Oh what a feeling!
Don
Posted by: Cthulhu Geek | April 26, 2006 9:09 PM
That reminds me...
Until today, I though that I'd made up the terms "ZOMG!" and "Squee!"...Either I have really bad long-term memory, or I have an evil twin on the West Coast. Either way, I'm trippin' out.
Posted by: Morgan | April 26, 2006 9:10 PM
Way to go, Wil!!!
Posted by: MamaSlyth | April 26, 2006 9:11 PM
YEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS.
Thats awesomely awesome. Know when its gonna come on?
SUpercongrats. You deserve it :)
Posted by: SandieK | April 26, 2006 9:17 PM
C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S ! ! !
Posted by: Nadia | April 26, 2006 9:17 PM
I normally don't comment here because my reply will get lost in the deluge of other posts, and so with this...but I can't help it, I just had to say congratulations! This project sounds really fun, I can't wait to see it.
Nice work, Wil. You deserve it.
Posted by: sarahalyse | April 26, 2006 9:18 PM
Way-cool surreal-type experience of my evening: As I'm reading this post, Queen's Princes of the Universe randomly shuffles onto Winamp... which happens to be a pretty HAWESOME celebration/triumph-type soundtrack, that shant be denied.
Here you belong, Unlce Willy!
Posted by: DCB | April 26, 2006 9:26 PM
There's something weird about feeling excited for someone whom you don't really know except through their blog... but I did a really excited jig for you! Congratulations!! I know what TV network I'll be watching often when I finally get cable!
Posted by: June | April 26, 2006 9:38 PM
Very cool. Congrats. I'm really happy for you (and me cuz now I get to read about it all here!)
Posted by: Rene | April 26, 2006 9:48 PM
Congrats! And squee??!!?? I had to laugh as it is a very common term in the rat world. It is used when we see too much cute. Squee!!
Should we put up a map of where we are? http://www.frappr.com/
My rattie list had done this and it is kind of cool.
Posted by: dragonfey | April 26, 2006 9:59 PM
That's so awesome. Congrats! Looks like all the hard work and patience is paying off.
Posted by: kblue | April 26, 2006 10:13 PM
Oh, that's so great! And crazy, because I'm totally excited for you and yet do not know you at all. Hawesome!
Posted by: Ericka | April 26, 2006 10:21 PM
That is so cool! You're going to have to tell everyone the title and when it will air so we can all set our TiVos.
And my other half is all asquee about your LoSH gig.
It's SO cool that you heard good news about two great projects in one day!
Posted by: rednikki | April 26, 2006 10:22 PM
Good on you, Wil. This is fabulous news, and you totally deserve it. "The wheel has turned." :-)
Posted by: magdala | April 26, 2006 10:29 PM
That's good news. Could we be witnessing the genesis of the next Billy West?
Posted by: Pete | April 26, 2006 10:44 PM
Yea, Wil!
Posted by: rowdykatie | April 26, 2006 10:46 PM
huzzah! :3
Posted by: nkicroft | April 26, 2006 10:58 PM
Congratulations!
And I don't know much about managers, but if you ever have a conversation with one that goes something like, "You got the part! Just kidding... they gave it to someone else." then I think maybe you should fire him.
Posted by: Alan | April 26, 2006 11:10 PM
Just wanted to add my huzzahs to the many you have been receiving. Congratulations! I hope it's a wonderful experience for you, so that it can be a wonderful experience for US to enjoy as viewers once we learn more about it.
Nicely done! I hope you do something fun to celebrate. You've earned it!
Posted by: oregonchick | April 26, 2006 11:42 PM
Congratulations, Wil!
Can't wait to see the whole thing unfold. :)
Posted by: ReiTei | April 26, 2006 11:52 PM
Mazel tov! This is highly awesome.
Btw, when you said "Kyra crush", I initially read that as "Kira crush" and automatically assumed that you meant Kira Nerys. Clearly, I need more sleep. Or something. Maybe it was because *I* had a crush on her… Anyway.
Congrats, please keep us posted on this highly awesome cartoon thing that I am so going to watch as soon as it comes out.
Posted by: Batshua | April 26, 2006 11:53 PM
Hey, Congratulations! Way to go! It's always a mighty fine feeling when the universe actually chooses to give us something we want. :)
Posted by: MacGeekGuy | April 27, 2006 12:16 AM
Yay for Wil!!
It goes without saying, but you totally deserve this. Because you are Hawesome. (That word makes me gag, but you seem to like it, so, yeah...)
Oh, yeah, you forgot to tell us how the family feels...
Posted by: Zkid | April 27, 2006 1:15 AM
Well done Wil!
Posted by: Edsynth | April 27, 2006 2:20 AM
Congratulations Wil!!!
Huzzah!
Now if only I could see the show without the horrible Danish overdubbing.
Posted by: Mconley | April 27, 2006 2:21 AM
Hawesome.
...now if we could just get you hosting that scifi show you auditioned for....
Posted by: wolfger | April 27, 2006 2:22 AM
Nuh-icccceeeee!
Congrats, Wil! Dude, everyone's so proud of you. Rightfully so!
[heh. you said... umm, I got nothin'.]
Start throwing goats!!!
\w/ \w/
Posted by: EdwoodCA | April 27, 2006 2:31 AM
YAHOOOO!!!!! YIPPPEEEE! That is wonderful Wil and keep us posted as to the air date. I will be anxious to watch. Many, many kudos to you.
Posted by: Kathy L. | April 27, 2006 2:44 AM
HAWESOME news, Wil. Have fun when you go back to do the recording! Any news on the hosting gig yet?
Posted by: Chuck | April 27, 2006 3:11 AM
Congratulations on the Job. I'm a fairly new reader of your blog and am really enjoying it. I recently viewed a video of a book reading appearance at (I think) Gnomedex. It had the William F'n Shatner story at the end. Really enjoyed it and look forward to reading your books. I'm a musician and maybe I can help you come up with a Flying Burrito theme song? Eh??
Posted by: Gerkemon | April 27, 2006 3:42 AM
Congratulations! Keep us posted so we will be sure not to miss it!
:)
Posted by: Micky | April 27, 2006 3:46 AM
Rock on! I've had a really rough week, and it's great to hear some good news!
Posted by: John | April 27, 2006 5:12 AM
\m/
Posted by: BadBlood | April 27, 2006 5:27 AM
Wil,
Congrat,I think of you as a friend, even though we have never meet and wish you all the best. I have husband your age,so we see you as a peer and it's wonderful to see good things happen to you.We have a 4 year old boy, so I know for a fact that he and I will be watching your cartoon together.Good luck.I'll be sending you happy work mojo.
Posted by: Angi | April 27, 2006 5:31 AM
Congratulations! I know that we don't really know each other, but thanks to your blog(which I read daily), I feel like I know you at least a little bit. I'm so sincerely happy for you. You deserve it!
Posted by: Jenn | April 27, 2006 5:32 AM
Got to add my MUCHO CONGO-RATS!!! I never watch Nick but I will when your show's on! This is excellent news.
Posted by: TerryH | April 27, 2006 5:35 AM
Congrats! Now, will you be playing the goth or the geek? ;-)
Posted by: dansroka | April 27, 2006 5:37 AM
Congratulations! They finally realized that you were the perfect geek for the role!
Hawsome!!
Posted by: SteveM | April 27, 2006 5:42 AM
Hey Wil, Congratulations!!!
I said I'd keep everything crossed for you. Now I can relax. Ahhhhh...
Posted by: Julian Owen | April 27, 2006 6:01 AM
Woo hoo! Go Wil! Congrats!
Posted by: RandomSam | April 27, 2006 6:15 AM
Wil, can you take a photo of Don the swell security guard and post it on WWdN?
Posted by: Dave the CFRE | April 27, 2006 6:23 AM
Way to go Wil!
Posted by: Kim | April 27, 2006 6:32 AM
Congrats Wil!
Posted by: Sharfa | April 27, 2006 6:59 AM
Congrats, Wil! Score one for the unleet!
Posted by: ArchaicDome | April 27, 2006 7:07 AM
WTG WIL!!!11!1
That Rawks \w/ \w/
Posted by: Southpaw72 | April 27, 2006 7:26 AM
Suh-weet, Wheaton. This has got to be like cowboys finally holding up!
About time the universe is sending you back the love you give.
Posted by: sparky1234 | April 27, 2006 7:27 AM
Grats and w00t!
I'm married to a **struggling** voice actor who goes on those amazing auditions all the time and then 3 months later hears someone else on the (commercial, cartoon, etc.). He's now at the point where unfortunatley because of financial reasons he has to leave the dream of being the new (Mel Blanc, Tom Kenney, Daws Butler, Michael Bell, etc.) behind and get a day job. It's brutal and it sucks. You gotta love a guy for stepping up and supporting his family...
Hit on outta Chavez Ravine for us on this one (And send some good mojo to my guy, too. We really need it!)
Posted by: EmmaPeel007 | April 27, 2006 7:28 AM
Sweet!!! Way to go Wil, I'm thrilled for you. I can't wait to see the show.
Posted by: svenden | April 27, 2006 7:28 AM
Congratulations, that is totally wicked!
Posted by: Charlie | April 27, 2006 7:35 AM
Friggin. Awesome.
Posted by: tina | April 27, 2006 7:52 AM
HAWESOME!
Posted by: pylonian | April 27, 2006 8:01 AM
I gotta add my hawesome to the list. If you can, please give us some behind the scenes details when you go in to record your lines. Thanks
WOOOT!
Posted by: Pixel _Pusher | April 27, 2006 8:02 AM
OMG CONGRATS!!!!
You totally deserve it, after all the hard work you put in. And it helps that you absolutely love the character.
I'm so excited for you, this project... the whole thing!!
Let us know when you can *ahem* release more details! :D
Looking forward to seeing (hearing?) you!!! :D
Posted by: starshine_diva | April 27, 2006 8:04 AM
Go CubbiesWil!
Posted by: eppel | April 27, 2006 8:17 AM
Congratulations. Great news!
Posted by: Alan | April 27, 2006 8:27 AM
YAY!
Wil, I am so happy for you! :D
Posted by: cayleigh | April 27, 2006 9:04 AM
Congratulations Wil! May this be the beginning of a long string of successful endeavors.
Posted by: heather | April 27, 2006 9:19 AM
Rock on!!!
Blckbtch
Posted by: Juanita Harris | April 27, 2006 9:39 AM
"I hung up the phone and ran around the house like a hummingbird being chased by a dog that shoots bees from its mouth."
That's funny. Congradulations!!! I'm so happy for you! You totally deserve this. Right now I have the world's dorkiest grin on my face for you. I'm excited for you, man!! Go, Wil!! Woohoo!!
Posted by: shauna | April 27, 2006 9:41 AM
Attaboy Wil. I'll give ya one of these as well. \m/
I literally laughed out loud at the "hummingbird being chased by a dog that shoots bees from its mouth" line.
Sooooooooo, when do we get more details on the project?
Posted by: Graeme | April 27, 2006 9:53 AM
Yay! Congrats. What are you going to get Don?
Posted by: manduca | April 27, 2006 10:04 AM
That's great Wil! Congratulations!!!
Posted by: barbq1 | April 27, 2006 10:08 AM
First off, congratulations Mr. Wheaton, SIR!
Second, HOLY SPAMBLOGGING! It's amazing how having a couple good things to write about makes you (both the generic "you" and the Mr. Wheaton, SIR! "you") want to clear out the cobwebs, become more vocal about what's going on in general, etc., etc., etc. Just a semi-random observation.
Posted by: JSc | April 27, 2006 10:08 AM
I would hope you would ask the producers if you could provide serious details on your blog. We love teh animated television pictures and can't wait to hear you. Voice work for animation is like Duke Ellington's compositions, well-structured, but full of breath and energy and soul. Way to go, enjoy it.
Posted by: Stu Mark | April 27, 2006 10:16 AM
Totally cool! I can't wait to see it!
Posted by: redheadwriter | April 27, 2006 10:17 AM
Congrats! Wow, becoming a cartoon character for Nickelodeon! You are totally living my childhood fantasy. Well, okay, you haven't manifested the power of telekinesis, but the voice actor thing puts you close enough, I guess. :)
Posted by: Jonathan Dobres | April 27, 2006 10:25 AM
*smiling from ear to ear at my computer screen* That's so awesome Wil, CONGRATS!
Posted by: Michele | April 27, 2006 10:36 AM
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!! AWESOME!!! Freakin' AWESOME! Congrats!
Posted by: eyduck | April 27, 2006 10:38 AM
Out. Freaking. Standing. Does it get more hawesome than this? Extreme w00t-age and a double goat for you! \m/ \m/
Posted by: iamhoff | April 27, 2006 11:13 AM
Awesome! Can't wait to hear more about it!!
Posted by: elysia1 | April 27, 2006 11:37 AM
Can't wait to get some sweet, sweet Wil on my Tivo!
w00t!
Posted by: sjistarr | April 27, 2006 11:53 AM
Can't wait to get some sweet, sweet Wil on my Tivo!
w00t!
Posted by: sjistarr | April 27, 2006 11:54 AM
Yahoo! That's wonderful news. Congratulations! ...wish I got Nickelodeon.
Posted by: AmandaB | April 27, 2006 12:13 PM
Great! I'm so happy for you, Wil. The last time I posted you were down on yourself and I felt moved to comment--just another stranger/fan trying to buck you up and help you see the infinite value in yourself. Now I have to pipe up to share everyone's good cheer. This sounds like a wonderful project--have fun with it and keep us posted!
Posted by: maycomb | April 27, 2006 12:18 PM
gotta hand it to you dude...its cool that you got the gig, and like everyone else i'm super proud of you...but i think the coolest part of this latest post is that you're going to bring a present to the guard..now THAT is CLASS...hearing you say something like that makes me have more faith in humanity...i just wanted to say that...very very very cool thing for you to do dude...he sounds like a very nice older guy...and i'll bet this makes his day, just as much as he makes yours when you go in for auditions..
well done
:)
tyson
Posted by: Tyson | April 27, 2006 12:58 PM
Tasp good is kinda scary, Wil. ;-)
But congratulations!
Posted by: Claudia | April 27, 2006 1:20 PM
Congratulations! SO happy to read this. You deserve this. Can't wait for details.
Posted by: mharding01 | April 27, 2006 2:28 PM
OMG! I'm so late on this but congratulations! :) This is such fantastic news.
Posted by: Denise | April 27, 2006 4:54 PM
Awesome. Congrats. Don't you love when this happens? Whoo Hoo!!!
Posted by: David Lawrence | April 27, 2006 5:26 PM
A little late catching up on your blog--congratulatons!!! Just read your next post and the director's blog. I can't wait to see this!
Posted by: Heather | April 27, 2006 8:25 PM
OMGOSH! That's AWESOME! CONGRATULATIONS!!
Posted by: hanna | April 28, 2006 9:20 AM
Wil, that's truly HAWSOME!!! I am really happy for you. Congrats!
Posted by: snapkat77 | April 29, 2006 7:01 PM