Waiting for Woody

Waiting for Woody
Directed byGrant Heslov
Screenplay byGrant Heslov
Produced byRobert Bauer
StarringGrant Heslov
Edited byDavid Klandrud
Music byJay Gruska
Release date
  • 1998 (1998)
Running time
30 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Waiting for Woody is a 1998 drama featurette directed by and starring Grant Heslov.[1] The film depicts a fictional audition for Woody Allen.[2][3] The cast includes Heslov himself in the main role, George Clooney[4] and Jennifer Aniston.[5] The film is based on a true audition Heslov had passed for Allen.[6]

Premise

The actor Josh Silver has great expectations before being auditioned for a film by Woody Allen.

Cast

Accolades

Year Award Category Recipient Result Reference
2007 Art Film Festival Jury Award Grant Heslov Won [7]
Florida Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Best Short Won [8]
Molodist Best Short Fiction Film Nominated [7]
New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Best Short Comedy Won [7]

Release

The film premiered at the Newport Beach International Film Festival in 1998.[9]

Production

Heslov had a "documentary-style idea" in mind before starting the film.[4]

The actual Heslov's audition for Woody Allen lasted "about one minute", he reported, and he didn't get the part.[10] In an interview for the Los Angeles Times, Heslov told Mary McNamara: "The audition went a certain way, and when I told people about it, they said I should make a movie."[11]

Reception

The film was described as "reasonably clever" and "constructed in the tone of an Allen feature" with the actors "giving amusing renditions of themselves".[2] It was screened at 30 film festivals.[10]

According to Rachel Abramovitz in the Los Angeles Times, the featurette is "a kind of actor’s anxiety dream about auditioning for Woody Allen, inspired by his own experience. It caught the attention of agents, but Heslov admits he wasn’t sure about how to proceed with his career."[12] Mary McNamara reported the short was "well received".[11]

The character of the impotent actor[13] played by Heslov presents "neuroses that rival those of the Oscar-wiinning filmmaker", allowing the short to take "unexpected turns".[14]

Notes

  1. ^ Adelman, Kim (2004). The Ultimate Filmmaker's Guide to Short Films: Making it Big in Shorts. M. Wiese Productions. ISBN 978-0-941188-89-0.
  2. ^ a b Pratt, Douglas (2004). Doug Pratt's DVD: Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult, and More!. UNET 2 Corporation. ISBN 978-1-932916-00-3.
  3. ^ Schulz, Berndt (2000). Woody Allen Lexikon: alles über den Autor, Regisseur, Darsteller, Komiker, Entertainer und Privatmann aus Manhattan (in German). Lexikon Imprint. ISBN 978-3-89602-276-9.
  4. ^ a b Hudson, Jeff (2003). George Clooney: A Biography. Virgin. p. 180. ISBN 978-1-85227-994-3.
  5. ^ Film Review. Orpheus Pub. 1999.
  6. ^ Johnson, Ross. "For Those Who've Tired of Glory and Riches". The New York Times.
  7. ^ a b c "Grant Heslov Premios - GABY". GAWBY (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-11-08.
  8. ^ "Florida Film Festival Awards Gala". Ink 19. 1998-08-14. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  9. ^ Ragland, Jennifer. "A Night Filled With Stars". ecms.newportbeachca.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  10. ^ a b Sjostrom, Jan (December 12, 1988). "'Waiting' star, writer drew on experience". Palm Beach Daily News. p. 5. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
  11. ^ a b McNamara, Mary (2006-02-26). "Dates with George Clooney". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  12. ^ Abramowitz, Rachel (2009-11-07). "'Goat' herders". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-10-28.
  13. ^ Boca Raton News. Boca Raton News.
  14. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. Eugene Register-Guard.