Willy’s Wonderland was an interesting movie, to say the least. Just recently on Marooners’ Rock, we got the chance to watch the movie ahead of release. You can read our full review by clicking here. With the movie out for all, we were granted the opportunity to chat with David Sheftell. Herein, we discuss the film, what it was like working with Nicolas Cage both as a producer and an actor, and so much more.
Acting is a somewhat enigmatic profession so it was interesting to hear about Mr. Sheftell’s exploits in the industry. Without further ado, here’s our chat with Willy’s Wonderland star David Sheftell!
Marooners’ Rock: What was the audition process like for Willy’s Wonderland and what attracted you to the project?
David Sheftell: The audition process was great. I had to send in a self tape as my character Deputy Sheriff Evan Olson and from there a few more rounds of auditions. Producer Grant Cramer really championed me for the role and I’m incredibly thankful to both him and director Kevin Lewis and producer Jeremy Davis for believing in me.
The thing that attracted me most to this project was getting to work with such an amazing group of actors and to have scenes alongside Nicolas Cage, Beth Grant and Emily Tosta. Plus who wouldn’t want to go toe to toe with some Demonic possessed Chuck E Cheese style Animatronics?
Marooners’ Rock: What was it like working with Nicolas Cage both as an actor and producer? What’s a moment from filming that stands out to you?
David Sheftell: Working with Nicolas Cage was a dream come true. I am such a fan of him and his films and have grown up watching them. I can distinctly remember my friends and I going to the movie theater to see “The Rock” for the first time and absolutely loving it.
He is such a kind, giving scene partner and was incredibly collaborative to work with, and loved when you would throw out ideas to make the scene better. I’m a big superhero fan and Nic and I really got to geek out on Superman, my personal favorite superhero, as well as a bunch of other stuff. And I didn’t know, until we started taking about it, but Nic is a huge Godzilla fan, as am I. We started talking about the classic Toho Films as well as the new Monsterverse movies coming up. I think we both would love to be in a Godzilla or King Kong film!
Marooners’ Rock: What’s something you learned on Willy’s Wonderland that you will take with you to your next?
David Sheftell: Something I really learned on this film was taking your time. When making a movie, so much of it can be quick, quick, quick and you feel you have to rush to finish one scene so that you can move on to the next. On this film I learned that some scenes really do need to breath and you can take you time with it.
Marooners’ Rock: What makes Willy’s Wonderland stand out from other films out there right now?
David Sheftell: What makes Willy’s Wonderland stand out is that it harkens back to that classic cult horror movie that people love. It’s got everything you could want! Horror, Comedy, Gore, and of course Nic Cage! It’s a rollercoaster ride of fun that once it get’s started you won’t want to get off. I just think it’s an incredibly fun film to watch and think people will really enjoy it.
Marooners’ Rock: How has your writing impacted what roles you choose?
David Sheftell: My writing has definitely help make me a better actor. It is after all the “entertainment industry” so I have tried to immerse myself in as many aspects of this business as I can. I have written TV pilots and films, directed, and even helped cast projects and it has all made me better.
When it comes to my own writing, I always try to write the TV show, the movie, or the cartoon I would want to see or be in myself. So when it comes to choosing roles I look at how the character is written. What obstacles and goals does that character have to overcome and want to achieve in the piece. Not just the overarching Obstacle and Goal but in every scene. In each scene do they have a target they want to hit, and what is standing in their way. And does the character change, is that character different at the end of the film than they were are the beginning. That’s the way I like to write and that is what I look for in the projects and roles I choose. If the character has these things, they are usually compelling to watch in my opinion.
Marooners’ Rock: Your career has been rather eclectic with both soap roles and voice work. What was it like working on Young and the Restless and Family Guy? How did those experiences inform your role in Willy’s Wonderland? What are some of the differences between doing television voicework and Voiceover work on games such as your work on Days Gone? What stands out to you about both?
David Sheftell: I have been incredibly fortunate to work on many different types of projects as you said, from the world of Soap Operas on The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives and mini-series like Stephen King’s Bag of Bones with Pierce Brosnan. And then animation with Family Guy, American Dad, and the Cleveland show, as well as video Games like Days Gone, and countless commercials. I loved working on all of those projects and have such fond memories from all of them. I think my theatre training has really helped with this, because in theatre you get to play so many different types of roles and do so many different types of shows, you have to be adaptable. From performing Shakespeare in a park to a Robert Schenkkan play in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, it has all informed my career. I get asked a lot, “what do you like more? On-Camera or Animation? TV or Movies? Cartoons or Video Games?” And I just don’t know how to answer; it’s like asking which of your kids do you like better? You love them all!
From working on shows like The Young and the Restless I learned a lot. The first words I ever spoke on television were on The Young and the Restless so it holds a special place in my heart. Also that show is such a phenomenal training ground because they move so quickly, and sometimes you only get one take! You really have to know your lines, know your intentions, and know what you want in the scene and be ready to go.
Working on Family Guy, American Dad, & The Cleveland Show is a dream come true. I have been such a huge fan of those shows, those writers, that cast, and Seth MacFarlane since those shows began and I am constantly pinching myself every time I go in to record. Linda Lamontagne, the casting director, gave me my first break in voice over and advocated for me to keep going in this business and even helped me get my first agent and for that I will be forever grateful to her.
So it is safe to say that all of those collective experiences have informed how I worked and performed my role of Deputy Sheriff Evan Olson in Willy’s Wonderland. Again when asked what the big difference is between On-Camera Film work and voice-over work for animation and video games it is all very subtle. It’s all acting and you approach the work in the same way, with just slight variations. When doing Theatre you have to play to the back row of the audience. When dealing with Film and TV the camera is the most important thing because that is the window for the audience but you have to ignore it and play to your scene partner. With voice over it’s all about the microphone, your distance from it, and your relationship to it. Too soft and you won’t be heard, too loud and you could blow out someone’s eardrum so you have to know when to back off of the microphone as much as lean in, especially with regard to those big video game death screams!
Marooners’ Rock: What are you working on next and where can people find out more about you and Willy’s Wonderland?
David Sheftell: Right now I’m on a show on Facebook Watch called Rival Peak with Wil Wheaton. It’s an amazing interactive show that is a video game, much like The Sims, and a TV show that is like Survivor meeting Lost. Wil Wheaton hosts the after show called Rival Speak and interacts with our characters. I play a loveable Australian larrikin named Christopher “Saabun,” which is his spiritual name that means, “soap.” Each of our characters are competing in this 12 week competition to get to the top of Rival Peak and win $10 Million dollars, and the audience gets to vote by playing their favorite characters to see who will win. I hope people will go to Facebook Watch and check it out!
I also have another movie that has come out called “Show Me What You Got,” which is a really beautiful film. Svetlana Cvetko who is an amazing cinematographer makes her directorial debut with this film and she was just such an absolute pleasure to work with. The story is about three young millennials who subtly challenge social norms surrounding love.
I’m also a member of the Writer’s Guild of America and have become the newest host on their podcast 3rd & Fairfax: The WGAW Podcast. We interview writers to talk about how they got started in the entertainment industry, as well as their process for writing, and their latest projects. I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking with Judd Apatow for my first interview to discuss his latest movie with Pete Davidson, “The King of Staten Island.” It was an absolute dream come true to speak with one of my comedy heroes and I hope people will go to whichever podcast platform they use and give it a listen. I also hope people will follow me on social media. My handles are: Instagram: @davidsheftell Twitter: @davidsheftell Facebook: @Dsheftell Website: www.DavidSheftell.com IMDB: www.imdb.me/davidsheftell
We here at Marooners’ Rock would like to thank Mr. Sheftell for his time and wish him luck in his future endeavors. Willy’s Wonderland is now streaming. Stay tuned to Marooners’ Rock for more interviews!
