Ask Wil Wheaton Anything 492
Wil Wheaton [IMDB] is our latest interview victim. Best known here as Wesley Crusher on TNG, Wil has a history doing movies both good (Stand by Me) and, uh, otherwise (see his FAQ). His movie
"The Good Things" just won the grand prize at the 27th Festival of American Cinema at Deuville. His currrent project is "Jane White Is Sick & Twisted". Post your questions for him here, one per post, and we'll forward a few of the highest rated ones to Wil.
How do you pronounce "FAQ"? (Score:0, Interesting)
Python (Score:2, Interesting)
Ashley Judd - Please clarify (Score:4, Interesting)
"Is it true that you were really Ashley Judd's first onscreen kiss, and you ruined her for the rest of her life?"
To which you reply:
"Yep. It is 100% true. Ashley Judd played Robin Lefler, in the episode "The Game", and Uncle Willie went to bootytown"
Now, let's be clear here. You "knew" her in a biblical sense?
Seeing as how she is one of the most attractive and emotional actresses in Hollywood, what was the experience like back then?
Just wanted some clarification..
Wheres the parties, dude? (Score:5, Interesting)
Thanks, I enjoy alot of your work.
The TNN TNG Marathon (Score:2, Interesting)
I loved the TNG Marathon played on TNN..the first time I ever watched the network for more than 15 seconds. The character segments in between were great too, but why on Earth did they make all of you run on that stupid treadmill? It was so distracting...and watching Michael Dorn get out of breathe wasn't exactly funny.
Final Frontier - thoughts on your career (Score:4, Interesting)
Questions like:
Did you ever get to see Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troy) nude?
Was there any behind the scenes booty-calls between cast members that you are comfortable releasing?
How difficult is it for a new actor to get a recurring role on a Star Trek series 'generally'?
More importantly to me..
Would you ever do a movie with Bruce Campbell? If so, have you let him and his people know?
And finally,
I know you were happy to leave the show, and I am glad you retained your integrity and ability to do what you wanted. However, I have often wondered, did you like the WAY you were written off the show?
Superhero Movies (Score:1, Interesting)
Star Trek, of coure (Score:4, Interesting)
Wesley Crusher jokes (Score:5, Interesting)
Enterprise (Score:5, Interesting)
I liked your brief appearance in the Sprite commercial
wilwheaton.net (Score:2, Interesting)
Hated? (Score:2, Interesting)
If you're not man enough to admit your envy, then please don't try to satisfy your ego by expressing hate.
To Wes: Great job on TNG....wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Kaypro...
NewTek and the Video Toaster (Score:5, Interesting)
So you read Slashdot, eh? (Score:5, Interesting)
The Trekkie Circuit (Score:5, Interesting)
Usenet (Score:5, Interesting)
When did you first hear of the classic usenet group, alt.ensign.wesley.crusher.die.die.die, and what was your reaction?
Wil's job at NewTek's Lightwave (Score:5, Interesting)
for a while. What did you do there? Do you thing you'll get back into tech again someday?
Hollywood Activism (Score:5, Interesting)
You have made comments to the effect of poo-poo'ing celebrity opinions about issues in general. Yet in your blogs, you spend a lot of time discussing politics, and you make no bones about which side of the isle you favor. As someone in the public spotlight - and especially as someone in the geek spotlight (being a celeb that has your own self-coded web site) - do you consider it a duty of sorts to be an activist? Does being a celeb bring any more responsibility over the common, first-amendment-empowered citizen in voicing your opinion? Also, do you feel that you have qualities above and beyond other Hollywood celebrities that makes it important that you share your feelings?
Thanks,
dk
Re:Funny Wil Wheaton interview on BBSpot (Score:2, Interesting)
According to the log [bbspot.com] it's for real. Wil has even admitted to it [wilwheaton.net].
john
Comment removed (Score:3, Interesting)
Radio Free Burrito (Score:5, Interesting)
Who got a worse deal from fans... (Score:4, Interesting)
You've played one of the most despised characters in the history of science fiction; do you have any advice for Jar Jar as to how he should handle the rancor of obnoxious fans?
BTW, congrats on moving beyond Wesley and having what looks like an interesting career. In the end, you've done better than some other cast members of ST:TNG! At least you're not narrating alien autopsy videos... ;)
Your Career Choice (Score:4, Interesting)
With all the hype ... (Score:2, Interesting)
What are your opinions, agreements, and disagreements with these bills that are passed?
Wesley vs. Adric (Score:5, Interesting)
Linda Park (Score:4, Interesting)
PS: I happen to like the Wesley character (aside from his final episode, which was lame), so there!
Hey Wil... (Score:4, Interesting)
My question to you is:
How often have you gotten first post?
Are you the gloating first poster, or just the simple "first post, 'nuff said" kinda first poster?
Dear Wil (Score:5, Interesting)
You mention in this LA Times [latimes.com] article that you dumped Linux for Windows because
"While I'm a champion of open source, I don't think Linux is there yet"
Was there a specific bug in Linux that prompted you to dump it, or was it just the entire operating system?
Thanks!
Fan Fixated Moment? (Score:5, Interesting)
Kirk Russell, on the commentary to the Big Trouble in Little Chinia DVD, talks about how his trip down the elevator on the way to confront "the ultimate evil spirit" has generated more comments then any other. Fans are always quoting back lines from that scene, particularly in elevators.
Here is the question. Are there particlar lines from one of your roles that fans repeat back to you? Which role do people most often identify you with when they see you in the real world? If you could change this defining moment to an alternate scene or line, what would it be and why?
RPGs (Score:2, Interesting)
I like things that are traditionally nerdy, like role playing games.
So what do you play? How often? Ever try Over the Edge? If so, what did you think of OTE?
Rainbow Jumpsuit (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Cheerios contest (Score:4, Interesting)
My question: Do you remember who won the contest? Was he/she cool? Did he/she actually make it into an episode?
Gdarn Moderators on crack, how is this OffTopic? Krelboyne, Ive got karma to burn - Ill re-post for you.
Do you ever want to do anything serious? (Score:2, Interesting)
I took my copy of Titus Andronicus (Anthony Hopkins) to a friend's house this weekend, and we all remarked at how this story of the consequences of unthinking violence has tremendous bearing on recent world events.
I also remember hearing Joseph Campbell in one of his many lectures state that the artist has a responsibility to set the moral tone for the culture.
I have seen you in a number of your roles (the last being The Invisible Man if I am not mistaken), and while your parts have great entertainment value, they do not IMHO have much to say about fundamental aspects of the human condition.
Is this an avenue that you might want to explore in your career, even at the cost of financial liquidity?
Ask him anything huh? (Score:1, Interesting)
weblog changing your life (Score:5, Interesting)
How has having this weblog changed 1) your daily life, 2) your views of technology, and 3) your views of celebrity?
Benefits of being a Star Trek actor (Score:4, Interesting)
I assume you've learned to handle the celebrity-side of "Ohhh - he was on Star Trek" by now but how does it affect you in your day-to-day life, particularly when you've been involved in the high-tech industry?
Does it ever get to be annoying when folks get fixated on your former role? Do you ever take advantage of it and get invited to events you wouldn't be otherwise? How about bring it up when dealing with phone-support ("If I can fix a dilithium interociter & phase through space I can be trusted with the ntp server address!".) How about vendors, try and get new gear out of shops: "But I'm Wil Wheaton, y'know, Wesley from Star Trek - it'd be great PR for you if I said I bought my Whizbang2000 at your store so howzabout it half-off and with that sweet wireless card thown in?"
Or is it you just make headlines when you slap a Beverly Hills cop ("Nooo mooore Beverly!...")
Industry insider? (Score:5, Interesting)
Would you be interested in becoming a (scifi/hollywoood/?) contributor to Slashdot (a la Jon Katz)? I'm sure you could get lots of exclusives from Paramount, actor friends etc
.. assuming of course you're prepared to be a lightning rod for all the Katz-haters cum Wesley-haters
Re:NewTek and the Video Toaster (Score:1, Interesting)
To Wil Wheaton (Score:2, Interesting)
I also did like your character on Star Trek TNG.
I have to admit that after a while, like most, got really cheesed at your character but it's not your fault you were playing a boy genius.
You represented the next generation of star trek actors. How come you are not casted in the star trek movies? Are we going to ever see you back on board the enterprise?
Born a geek, or did ST push you in that direction? (Score:5, Interesting)
Personal feelings towards TNG cast? (Score:2, Interesting)
Were there any who you constantly butted heads with?
What characteristics of Wesley are completely unlike you, and vice versa?
Typecasting? (Score:2, Interesting)
What sort of problems have you had, if any, with typecasting, and what did you do to break those? I would imagine you could get pidgeonholed into the "brainy adolescent" or "anything sci-fi" parts and productions, especially with the mythical proportions that Trek can get to within the industry (positive and negative).
(And BTW, your little spot on TNN is funny.)
(And I think
Do scripts ever get proofread? / Trek careers (Score:4, Interesting)
While it sometimes works to abandon logic or science (Armageddon comes to mind), this trend seems to backfire more and more often (Godzilla comes to mind, a movie that even Roger Ebert dissed for its science goofs).
How come that the way technology or science is depicted on screen (computers, technology, sci-fi) hardly ever gets proofread in Hollywood scripts? You seem to be a tech-nerd - do you ever correct something in a script? (If you know a script-writer who needs a proofreader, give him my e-mail address
2nd question: Do you think that having been a member of the Trek franchise was good or bad for your career? I'm a big trek fan, yet it often amuses me how Trek actors can consider themselves superstars in the Trek world, but nobodies outside.
I often feel sorry for the dead-end careers that it meant for Nichelle Nichols or DeForest Kelley. I often wonder when I will finally see the TNG actors in bigger roles. (Don't tell me that Brent Spiner's recent work was a stellar career. Why doesn't he get better roles? Or Marina Sirtis? Or almost any other Trek actor?)
Describe your job, please. (Score:2, Interesting)
So, I always wondered how actors choose their scripts - what is your job like when you're not acting?
What kind of scripts do you get offered? What silly (or not silly) scripts did you turn down? Can you talk about roles or projects that you were chosen for and then it didn't work out?
Relationship to gay issues (Score:5, Interesting)
Years ago, I heard some stories that said you were outspokenly antigay. The story went that you held gays in contempt for religious reasons, resented speculation about your own sexual interests, and endured friction with two allegedly gay actors on the ST:TNG set -- Brent Edwards and Michael Dorn. Note: I never saw substantiation for rumors about your attitude, religion, or the sexual orientation of any cast member. (I'm frankly not enough of a Trek fan to care. :) )
Yet I see here [rumpus.org] that you said the following regarding homosexuals: "I'm sorry that I don't play ball with your team...but I always cheer for you when I'm in the stands."
Could you clarify your feelings about homosexuality, past and present? Many thanks,
--
I've got some questions for Wil (Score:2, Interesting)
Your Take on Babylon 5 (Score:2, Interesting)
I know Babylon 5's run was near the time you were driven out of Florida by the "pigs-in-a-blanket-fiasco" so you may not have gotten the chance to see it.