February 28th, 2010 Interviewee: Jack Wilson Auditioning for Role: John Watson Function: Sidekick, blogger
Profile: Jack Wilson was scouted for the role of John Watson based entirely on his skillset; he is a medical doctor and a military veteran, qualities which the public will demand in their Watson and which will, in fact, be invaluable to S as his career develops. He suffers from a moderate case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, for which he is seeing a therapist. If cast, he has stipulated that he be allowed to continue treatment. The only potential drawback of casting Dr. Wilson is that his condition is associated with a psychosomatic limp. However, there is some hope that this will resolve with continued treatment.
Points of Interest: Psychological profile is promising but risky. If cast, Wilson will need to be closely monitored for signs of intractability.
Transcript Excerpt:
MH: I’m sure this isn’t the sort of invitation you receive every day. What made you accept the chance to audition?
JW: I’m—I suppose it’s…a bit hard to say.
MH: Because you don’t know?
JW: (laughs) Because I’d rather not! It’s—look. I don’t have a lot going on, right now. This is better than...
MH: Anything is better than nothing, is that it?
JW: Basically. Yes. But also, yeah, I do love the show. I mean, I grew up with it, with him. It’s like…like a fantasy world. An escape—look, I know how that sounds, but, you’re the one who brought me here, so.
MH: I expect you have some questions for me.
JW: A few, yeah. Uh—one. I’m not an actor. What makes you think I can be convincing? I mean, to Sherlock Holmes, in particular?
MH: A reasonable worry. But remember that the whole point of Sherlock is that it feels like real life; it’s seamless. If he finds it convincing—and he does—then you should have no trouble. There will be a few scripted encounters, but for the most part, all you would have to do is relax, play along, be your charming self. Sherlock, don’t forget, is not an actor, either. All you have to do is interact with him as you normally would. No pretending necessary.
JW: Hmm. Hmm, okay. That might…work. Maybe. I’ll think about it.
MH: Any other questions?
JW: Yeah, um, can you just—and I don’t want this to sound like I’m not interested, because I am. But I’d just like to hear from you, from your own mouth: how can you justify doing this? To your brother?
MH: Surely that’s been covered in the media.
JW: I mean, yeah, I’ve heard the interviews, where you explain his…mental illness. But that’s never quite seemed like the whole story, to me. I mean, there are easier ways to protect someone from the world.
MH: Easier, perhaps. It’s true that he could be institutionalized, or drugged, or simply kept sheltered on an estate somewhere. But I love my brother, and I want him to have what the average person never gets: the chance to be the hero of his own story. To struggle, to achieve, to live in the certain knowledge that his life has a purpose, that he is doing what he was born to do. It’s the greatest gift any of us could hope to receive. Putting it on television is simply a way to make it pay for itself.
Fill Part 5
Interviewee: Jack Wilson
Auditioning for Role: John Watson
Function: Sidekick, blogger
Profile: Jack Wilson was scouted for the role of John Watson based entirely on his skillset; he is a medical doctor and a military veteran, qualities which the public will demand in their Watson and which will, in fact, be invaluable to S as his career develops. He suffers from a moderate case of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, for which he is seeing a therapist. If cast, he has stipulated that he be allowed to continue treatment. The only potential drawback of casting Dr. Wilson is that his condition is associated with a psychosomatic limp. However, there is some hope that this will resolve with continued treatment.
Points of Interest: Psychological profile is promising but risky. If cast, Wilson will need to be closely monitored for signs of intractability.
Transcript Excerpt:
MH: I’m sure this isn’t the sort of invitation you receive every day. What made you accept the chance to audition?
JW: I’m—I suppose it’s…a bit hard to say.
MH: Because you don’t know?
JW: (laughs) Because I’d rather not! It’s—look. I don’t have a lot going on, right now. This is better than...
MH: Anything is better than nothing, is that it?
JW: Basically. Yes. But also, yeah, I do love the show. I mean, I grew up with it, with him. It’s like…like a fantasy world. An escape—look, I know how that sounds, but, you’re the one who brought me here, so.
MH: I expect you have some questions for me.
JW: A few, yeah. Uh—one. I’m not an actor. What makes you think I can be convincing? I mean, to Sherlock Holmes, in particular?
MH: A reasonable worry. But remember that the whole point of Sherlock is that it feels like real life; it’s seamless. If he finds it convincing—and he does—then you should have no trouble. There will be a few scripted encounters, but for the most part, all you would have to do is relax, play along, be your charming self. Sherlock, don’t forget, is not an actor, either. All you have to do is interact with him as you normally would. No pretending necessary.
JW: Hmm. Hmm, okay. That might…work. Maybe. I’ll think about it.
MH: Any other questions?
JW: Yeah, um, can you just—and I don’t want this to sound like I’m not interested, because I am. But I’d just like to hear from you, from your own mouth: how can you justify doing this? To your brother?
MH: Surely that’s been covered in the media.
JW: I mean, yeah, I’ve heard the interviews, where you explain his…mental illness. But that’s never quite seemed like the whole story, to me. I mean, there are easier ways to protect someone from the world.
MH: Easier, perhaps. It’s true that he could be institutionalized, or drugged, or simply kept sheltered on an estate somewhere. But I love my brother, and I want him to have what the average person never gets: the chance to be the hero of his own story. To struggle, to achieve, to live in the certain knowledge that his life has a purpose, that he is doing what he was born to do. It’s the greatest gift any of us could hope to receive. Putting it on television is simply a way to make it pay for itself.