Burning

The Daily Beast

I’ve heard that you’re a private person, which is a hard thing to be in the TMZ 24-hour news cycle. Was that something you struggled with while you were on Prison Break? Is that one of the reasons why you took a break from acting—to get your privacy back?

Went

No, I took a break from acting because I was burned out. And I think I needed a moment—several moments—to breathe and get my figurative house in order. And that took some realigning, some reprioritizing. Some growing up. All of which was best done in private, away from the cameras.

Me
We KNOW ..and we were in chronic need - most of us in Wenthab!!!! But I am sad that he felt burnt out - not surprised however.

Went

I have a different, more flexible definition of “privacy” today than I did when I first hit my stride as an actor. Which is helpful, because it feels like “fame” and “celebrity” have longer legs than they used to. The show’s been off the air for years but thanks to Netflix and Hulu, people are discovering Prison Break every day. Someone will come up to me and mention some moment in season 2 episode 12 that they just watched last night and I’ll have no idea what they’re talking about because we shot that seven years ago.

ME
I said that !! On here!! Newbies everyday loving your moments as Michael. Not sure I accept your excuse Went however that you don't know what "they" are talking about !! I am certain all your scenes are imprinted in my memory. I also love Went that you have "longer legs" and are more "flexible" - brings a smile to my face. *wink

Went

But my favourite is when total strangers corner me on the street and start grilling me about my career prospects. “What are you workin’ on now? You got a movie comin’ out?” And I’ll be like, “No. Actually I’m writing now.” Then I get to watch the light in their eyes flicker and die. They’re just like, “Huh.” And I’m like, “Yup. Writing.” Then they look at me like I just confessed to a crime and now they don’t know what to say. Then they start backing away..

ME.ME,ME

So this is the crucial part of the WHOLE interview from @thedailybeast.

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE???? 

WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD WENTWORTH MILLER LOOK (GAZE) INTO THEIR EYES???? 

WHO HAS GRILLED WENTWORTH MILLER ON A STREET CORNER??? 

WHY WAS IT NOT WITNESSED?? OR REPORTED?? 

HE MAY HAVE NEEDED (MY) HELP????

AND WHY HAVE THEY NOT TWEETED ABOUT IT???? 

THEY ARE DEAD -that is why!!! They must be-BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT HEARD ABOUT IT!!!!

What we are saying also is that Went was SO CLOSE to these "STRANGERS"  that he noticed the "light in their eyes flicker and die" !! 

 I want to be that close -PLEASE!!! My light will not be flickering and dying I can assure you.

Infact visions of volcanoes and hot, steaming Magma spring to mind - embarrassing on a street corner in Larchadena. Thinking about it , I am a bit concerned at the type of streets he might be frequenting - with these "strangers".!!

I say it again WHO ARE THESE PEOPLE??? WHAT IS WRONG WITH THEM??? 

Clearly they do not READ THIS BLOG!!! Otherwise "they" - the "strangers with the funny eyes - would have kept up to speed with Went and his career,his brilliant writing and the fact that his Went"fan"dom is alive and kicking - infact "burning bright"!!!

So  Went I am telling you now - you meet a fan who loves you and your MacPro - you will be looking into the eyes of someone who cares,is interested and can hold a conversation and who will stand your "steaming" ground. They will look into those eyes and appreciate every moment and then share it with the Went World because they know HOW LUCKY THEY WERE.!!!

They might die later of course - delayed shock or "serious burns" but there is NO WAY that a Went Fan's light flickers or dies because they are NOT interested!!!! 

No!! Some kind of UTOPIA will have befallen them. And if anyone" backs away" it might be you Went - a true Went fan should know better.!!

It is possible that they may collapse,in a smouldering mess and need mouth to mouth of course but that is acceptable - for the Went Cause.

I put myself in this category. After holding you in deep,eye-to flickering-eye conversation about Uncle Edgar Stoker who is Disappointed and Scares Me - for starters - I wouldn't be able to hold it together for too long - but I am going to the gym to overcome that problem.

A final thank you to Went for sharing these words of magic via @thedailybeast - who in turn had asked Went brilliant questions.

 It may have been virtual but they didn't back away - they coped in the "heat".  

  

Twitter Addendum

HAD to quickly post two very important Went Tweets that take us into new realms of Wentdom.

Firstly the lovely people at Celebration Theatre told us that Went had joined them on May 5th as below. 


Then we learn that Went has been a judge at the recent UCLA Student Shortake Festival.

Remembering that he soon enters his 41st year,I am elated that his many talents and his inspiring personality are being both well utilised and appreciated.

Pictures of both his talents and "said" personality would be gratefully appreciated -as always of course.!! But we thank our tweeters nevertheless. 

Congratulations Went and all those at Celebration and UCLA for all their combined artistic talents.
  ..

@Celebrationthtr: So pleased to have had Wentworth Miller join us for the reading of Black/Out Stories tonight! #latheatre

http://allevents.in/Los%20Angeles/BLACK-OUT-STORIES-Reading-of-a-New-Play/553266191384510#

http://www.celebrationtheatre.com/

http://dailybruin.com/2013/05/07/uclas-shorttakes-festival-screens-student-films/

Previously..on Prison Break

I am all for moving onward in step with Wentworth -that is Wentworth "writing" more than "acting". For example,he is currently writing/adapting SCARE ME (Richard Parker) as a screenplay from the book published May 2nd meaning that he and his Mac have "gone to the mattresses",with a full cupboard of quick,accessible (probably unhealthy foods) and we won't see him for weeks..

http://booksandwriters.wordpress.com/2013/04/11/wentworth-miller-to-adapt-richard-parkers-novel-scare-me-for-relativity-media/

Sometimes though - like the "newbies" mentioned here before  - we go back to the previous Prison Break life,perhaps with new,fresh eyes taking in every detail missed on the first 10 or so viewings(!).

The wonders of HD, for example, means that you can see the different epidermal layers of that awesome face that I never tire of - then or now.

Something shocked me however. Clicking on "Cell Test" I have had cause to question the practice of our beloved Dr Sara Tancredi.

*SPOILER ALERT*.
Michael has a traumatic incident involving garden shears! He is brave even in his tears - and probably at this moment of actual transmission - the majority of people fell in love with Went. Real tears and stoicism-brilliant acting. 

BUT (back to the storyline) we see Dr Sara only look at the problem.The injury needed URGENT attention such as painkillers, a tetanus "butt" shot (missed a GREAT opportunity there to see more of Went aka Michael!!),wound strapping if not sutures OR even a blood transfusion.The Dr had no idea of the amount of blood loss  due to not following protocol because she WALKED away back to Bellick asking him to "investigate" the matter!! 

Investigate !!? How about looking after Wentworth /aka Michael !!? We are seriously very lucky that Michael made it to Series 4.!!

I agree that we see his foot/toes/skin being carefully bandaged with a discussion of anitbiotics later on in an act of redemption, leading him to talk about the nightmares of "monsters  in the closet". I personally think the trauma of being "abandoned" in his medical crisis gave Michael  the nightmares!!.

As we know of course Michael tried to move mountains for Sara, and with fresh eyes I will revisit her devotion through the series. 

As we write - *SPOILER ALERT*-Michael is apologising to Sucre regarding his lack of Conjugal's brought about by Michael's Cell Soap Test.Michael is now staring out T-bag - and I have to stop watching in order to finish this blog in a coherent fashion.!!

I did also learn another thing - Prison Break helped Wentworth hone his DIY skills. He once told us that at Princeton he was asked to mend a toilet - the evidence is pictured below. We assume of course that he wasn't trying to escape from Foulke Hall in such a dramatic fashion as pictured but I have no doubt those valuable skills have served him well. We all need "plumbers".

Next blog I will complete my critical analysis of The Daily Beast article.

@wmsource

For Hire...

The Went drought is a few weeks in now. We saw him shop,eat while learning that he had been hired to adapt "Scare Me". And now he is "back to the mattresses" as they once said in the Godfather - preparing for his war on words,his constant revision and acting out of his ideas and emotions that have all been put on paper.

Seriously, Went must be exhausted while emotively writing with such feeling and prose - that we know he has - as he sets the scenes that are possibly rewritten later on in the process even before a single element is taken to celluloid.

As below c/o @thedailybeast Went mentions here that he has been "hired" to write and has delivered on "Something About Harry" (the foreign remake),"Edgar Sawtelle" (novel adaptation),"The Disappointments Room" is one of his original screenplays bought by Voltage Pictures and Killer films ..and another ?? Yet to be seen/talked about/sold?

So with STOKER and Uncle Charlie so that makes 6 written with SCARE ME being written as we speak.Not bad for Wentworth Miller screenplay writer. What we want now is.. "written,starring and produced/directed by Wentworth Miller". He co-produced STOKER so anything is possible.

Missing you Went of course but still immensely proud. 

Nurture those incredible hands and fingers - they are your tools now - not forgetting your overarching cerebral input naturally. 

What really appeals ,however is that Wentworth can be"hired".!!! My cerebral input is in overdrive with possibilities.!!
  

@thedailybeast

Is it true that you’ve already written a prequel to Stoker? Is it getting made for sure? Will it star Matthew Goode? Are you writing any other films/projects?

Yes, the prequel is called Uncle Charlie and I wrote it while we were negotiating the sale of Stoker. When the studio bought Stoker they also bought the creative rights to the characters, so the prequel is theirs to make if they so choose. Will they? No idea. But naturally my hope is that the actors would reprise their roles. I think it’d be jarring for the audience otherwise.

I’ve written two more original scripts since then and I’ve also executed my first foreign remake and my first novel adaptation. I’m especially proud of those last two because they were my first official “for hire” gigs.

Obsessive Revision..

I cannot believe that I have not been here for 15 days!!!
Real life really took hold - and despite - my multi tasking,diary planning -I JUST couldn't get here.I am Went bereft and I apologise to you all as your Wentpimp for leaving you SO long.

Before I dive into that Went bubble I have to add as always we are united in recent world events that come along and "rock" us to the core. So heartfelt thoughts to those especially in Boston,Texas and China.

So back to the NOW and I make no apologies for analysing another part of the Daily Beast's brilliant "virtual" interview.

What’s your writing process like? Do you write in spurts? Do you have a specific place where you write? Do you have movies that you watch over and over, and study for structure? Do you revise a lot? Did you read books about screenplay writing?

Answering the above in order...

"What else does he do in order-I wonder??"

1. I like to pick out or make a soundtrack for each script and then listen to that and only that until the script’s finished. It helps me get in—and stay in—the necessary groove. The soundtrack for Stoker was The Hours by Philip Glass. I must’ve logged well over 300 plays.

We are so alike - meant to be!! I write to music,work to music. Unconsciously I realised that one of my degrees was completed to an Alannis Morisette shuffle mix. After a stressful day - despite the rich pickings on the Wentpod - it is often the quiet,surreal and haunting Kate Bush that accompanies me home. Philip is now on the Wentpod by the way - a reminder of the film not watched for "Hours" (*sorry !!) and of the fact that Went listened to this countless times while creating his first screenwriting success.

2. Yes. Sometimes I’ll write for 10 hours straight. Then I won’t write for days. Depends on my mood. (And my deadline.)

So - MOODY!!!! We knew didn't we.! ? Has his "don't ..want to/feel like it moments like the rest of us - so moody in that sense.

10 hours straight??!! 
So my fears of you NOT eating,
NOT drinking or maintaining a body fluid balance is justified then.!!!

Clearly too -Went has the TIME, fortitude and drive...and TIME!!.

3. My desk. Or sitting on a stool at the little island in my kitchen. I’ve never tried writing at a coffeehouse. I just know instinctively it’s not for me. Someone chewing with their mouth open to my right, someone watching porn on their laptop on my left ... too many distractions. Plus, I like to act out the parts as I write them, which the other patrons probably wouldn’t appreciate.

Last blog - but I still love this part - porn in the coffee shop.

4. No. But looking back, I learned a lot from my four seasons on Prison Break. It was a relentlessly plot-driven show, and the writers were very good about making connections and tying up loose ends. I think I absorbed a great deal about story structure during that period, albeit unconsciously.

Yes - the heady days of Prison Break. When we took you for granted thinking it would never end.. and it didn't thanks to the perpetual re-runs.But I still miss "you".

5. I revise obsessively. It’s important to me to have a clean page. I’m not a grammar god (by any stretch) but I try to keep a lookout. When I’m reading a script that’s got glaring typos, it pulls me right out of the story. It may sound cynical, but I never assume I’ve got my reader’s full attention or that they’re going to willingly slog through dense, illegible material. So I try to keep my writing as user-friendly as possible.

I love that you are "user friendly " Went. !! I could certainly think of many uses - for your written word naturally.I am sure however that you ARE a grammar god despite what you say here. Interesting that poor punctuation and the like puts you off - pulls you out of the story. Attention to detail and obsessive revision tells me that spontaneity is rare for you - your work/life plan has been thoughtfully constructed.  I must make sure that my letters too you are PERFECT.!! 

6. I’ve never read a book or attended a class on screenwriting. I’m not opposed to the idea, but I like what I’ve got going on naturally and want to protect that. The one question I will ask myself as I’m re-reading a script for the 60th time is, “Am I entertained? Still?” If the answer is “yes” I’ll assume other people will be too.

So you havn't read the one I sent you???!!!

I think we ALL agree that we LOVE what you have got going on naturally = and yes - we want to protect that too!!!

You still entertain us - I can "read and revise" you for "hours".Went assumes correctly - he keeps us constantly entertained - even in his absence - our Went drought.

Fridge Forage...

My favourite part of this interview ...

Do you have a specific place where you write? 
3. My desk. Or sitting on a stool at the little island in my kitchen.

Of course you do darling!!!!
You are in circumferential,arm's length reach of the poptarts,can extend your reach into the fridge and ping the microwave - all without leaving the page.

Okay so in attempting to calculate the reach of the Miller long,long arms I think we can all see that Went can literally forage in the fridge with one hand while dealing with his QWERTY,on the other. No doubt a little chocolate collection going on at the same time too.


I agree that that the "pierce and ping" is behind him and at his height, but if he changed the stool for a moveable office chair ,he could "scoot" over on a whim. Lets face it - no need for the cooker.!! I do worry about his posture however.. and his shoulders - sitting for long hours on the stool. Went is tall and elegant with marvellous postural bone structure - long may it remain so.

This picture shows where STOKER was finished and other scripts born. 


I’ve never tried writing at a coffee-house. I just know instinctively it’s not for me. Someone chewing with their mouth open to my right, someone watching porn on their laptop on my left ... too many distractions. .

Make NO mistake- this is a GEM of a disclosure.He instinctively knows? Sounds very factual to me.

Firstly #laptopporn in the coffee-house.!!?? All those times we saw Went LEAVING Starbucks with a coffee AND a PMF - now we know the truth.

Secondly - the Went stare at "a laptop " near you . He clearly has "stared" otherwise how would he see - or hear of course - what anyone had on their laptop screen.

Really Went - is that what you were doing as the Barista was fumbling with the Columbian Beans?? Behind the useful Raybans?

Going into my coffee-house I am saddened to see nothing very exciting at all on other laptops in the near vicinity, right or left. Only in the Went Coffee- House it seems you can get porn over the latte!!!

Eating with mouths open can sadly happen everywhere and I understand the issue here totally. But laptop porn surely is useful,if not helpful,especially shower scenes?? 

Too many distractions Went says - well I agree - I couldn't write with you staring at me or my laptop-Went-porn. You are my distraction.I wouldn't be able to do very much at all if you were in my vicinity.

Plus, I like to act out the parts as I write them, which the other patrons probably wouldn’t appreciate.

And we were worried about Went NOT acting??? He acts out the parts as he writes them !! 

I go back to the SHOWER SCENE...!!



@thedailybeast

WM English Major

You submitted the first draft of Stoker under a pseudonym, Ted Foulke. Where did you come up with that name!? And why didn’t you use your real name?

“Foulke” is the name of a dorm at Princeton, and a friend of mine used to have a particularly vicious dog named “Ted.” It seemed appropriate.

I went with a pseudonym because I was worried people would see my name on the title page and jump to conclusions before they even cracked the script. Also, I didn’t want actors who might be right for the part of “Uncle Charlie”—like Matthew Goode (who I’d imagined in the role while I was writing it, actually)—I didn’t want these guys reading it, seeing my name on the cover and thinking, “Oh, he must have written this part for himself but then he wasn’t allowed to play it” (because I was only a TV star or whatever). I wanted actors to be able to imagine themselves as “Uncle Charlie” without any extra static.
@thedailybeast

A vicious dog named "Ted"?? Really? So not the Edward Foulke who left Wales and went to Pennsylvania.??

Don't tell Almondine (Edgar),Old Dan or Little Ann ( "Where the Red Fern Grows) let alone Bo,Sally or Himmler. At least it wasn't after THAT talking teddy bear.And what is a pussy cat like you doing with vicious dogs anyway ??

Went loved Foulke@Princeton and Princeton loves him - I think a Princeton "Wentworth Hall" is called for.

Foulke @Princeton

...however... "Cracked the script"??? Is that Princetonian Talk for an English Lit Major??

And "extra static"? Yes here is another thing we agree on - you create static Went. Things spark & sizzle where ever you go (mostly eating establishments if all the recent sightings(and historical detail) are anything to go by..)

Stoker takes places after the death of India’s (Wasikowska) father. Her creepy uncle (Goode) moves into her house, and there seems to be something off with her mom (Kidman). Can you talk about where you found the inspiration for the story? Did you think of it as a scary movie first, or did it evolve from a different genre in your head? It’s at times so dark that it’s difficult to watch. Where did that darkness come from?

Stoker began as a mashup of Hitchcock’s Shadow of a Doubt, The Stepfather with Terry O’Quinn, and bits and pieces of vampire mythology. I think one of the most interesting, most sympathetic interpretations of the Dracula figure is that he’s just another lonely soul schlepping through the years, looking for someone to love him, fangs and all. I think that speaks to the core of the uncle/niece dynamic in Stoker.

As to why the movie feels “dark,” on a surface level, my original screenplay wasn’t as gruesome as a Saw or a Texas Chainsaw Massacre. But you don’t go to those movies to invest in the characters. You go to see hotties getting butchered in new and creative ways. My hope with Stoker was that the audience would invest in the characters. Then, when horrible things happened, it would resonate differently. More deeply.
@thedailybeast


..and "Schlepping"??.. is this a secret Princetonian codeword? Does your mother know you talk like that AFTER a top class,very expensive education - English Education at that? Ahh now I get it - its a SCRABBLE word!!How many points do you get in scrabble for that then Went? 

(I won't tell you however that I LOVE the Went "drawl"  - the written "lazy" Went tones that permeate through the ether from your laptop to mine.Despite that,I am not really sure that "schlepping" is a turn on word but then in your voice anything could be - and probably is..)

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/schlep

"You go to see HOTTIES getting butchered in new and creative ways"!!!!!

Now Wentworth, a word of advice in your lickable ear. If you are in the early stages of a "being in love" and maybe meeting their family members soon, I remind you that you will make an impression easily through your very presence, your seductive tones and eloquent (usually- if you remove "Crack" and "Schlepping") speech.

Please don't mention "creative butchering" on the first "family" or any - date. For those who don't know you and your humour - the paradoxical trauma may be too much - External Beauty Vs "Inner"Beast ??

We have spoken on here many times about the slipped halo and devilish moments - all  marvellously satisfying to know but butchering is a "cleaver" too far. I hasten to add, I do NOT want to see you Went getting butchered or massacred thank you very much - you are a Hottie after all !!! But I do like creativity however.

So creative "torture" might be worth exploring such as hiding the Oreos, pretending the Pizza shop has closed or even donating the bucket hat to a charitable cause i.e. the Retired Cricket Umpire Association or Gardeners Hats .com 

I tease you Went - I am sorry. XX

I am not that cruel ..unless you would like me to be??

http://www.foulke.org/history/bios/edwardfoulke.shtml