Wil Wheaton feels a certain way about AI
Actor and author Wil Wheaton stopped by our studio at the Festival of Books to answer some Very Important Questions and tell us his favorite book as a kid and which word is his favorite (hint: not kid friendly.)
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Geek Tyrant
10-05-2025
- Geek Tyrant
Fascinating Video Essay Explores The Characters of STAND BY ME and The Real Pain Behind The Acting — GeekTyrant
I've got a very interesting video essay here for you to watch which explores director Rob Reiner's 1986 classic film Stand By Me , and how each actor's background, home life, and trauma was similar to the characters they played. The video comes from The Back Focus and it came with the note: The Stand By Me cast gave some of the most emotionally honest performances in film history-but what if it wasn't acting? This video breaks down how Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, River Phoenix, and Jerry O'Connell brought shocking truth to their roles. What makes Stand By Me so powerful, even decades later? In this in-depth video essay, we take a closer look at how each actor's real-life trauma, background, and personality aligned with their character in eerily perfect ways. We explore behind-the-scenes stories, interviews, and the raw emotional weight each child brought to the screen-sometimes unknowingly reliving their own pain. Jerry O'Connell as Vern offers joy and innocence, the comic relief of the film, and the only cast member untouched by personal tragedy at the time. Wil Wheaton as Gordie channels years of emotional neglect and parental disconnection with heartbreaking authenticity. Corey Feldman as Teddy brings real rage, rooted in a traumatic home life, to a role that mirrors his own childhood. River Phoenix as Chris shows wisdom beyond his years-grounded in personal hardship, cult escape, and a deep sensitivity that made him unforgettable. We'll look at how director Rob Reiner intentionally cast real kids who were their characters, how that decision shaped the film, and why these performances still resonate so deeply. If you love Stand By Me, or you've ever wondered why it hits so hard, this is the video for you.
Los Angeles Times
27-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
30 book recommendations from 30 people at the 30th Festival of Books
The L.A. Times returned to USC for its 30th annual Festival of Books. Bookworm correspondent @bexcastillo stopped by to chat with some people and find out what people are reading. Got any must-read recommendations? Let us know in the comments.
Los Angeles Times
26-04-2025
- Los Angeles Times
Photos: Speakers and authors at the 2025 Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
As the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books kicked off Saturday across the sprawling campus at USC, the event once again became a magnet for a mix of celebrity authors from across the entertainment world and beyond. Special guests like poet Amanda Gorman, actor Wil Wheaton, singer JoJo and comedian Hannah Berner popped by our photo studio to pose for portraits between their busy schedules speaking at panels in front of crowds at the festival. Here are some of our favorite portraits of our special guests from this weekend. Amanda Gorman, author of the 2025 picture book 'Girls on the Rise,' is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. The award-winning writer who graduated cum laude from Harvard University, came to prominence after her recitation of 'The Hill We Climb' at the inauguration of President Biden. Nikki Toscano is a writer, producer and showrunner for television who served as co-showrunner and executive producer of the show 'Hunters' on Amazon Prime and as showrunner and executive producer of Paramount+ miniseries 'The Offer.' Andrew Plotkin is executive vice president of drama development at Sony TV. Author Liz Moore is the author of the 2024 New York Times bestselling novel 'The God of the Woods.' Actor Wil Wheaton is known for his role as Wesley Crusher in 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' and other classic roles including Gordie Lachance in the film 'Stand by Me,' Joey Trotta in 'Toy Soldiers' and Bennett Hoenicker in 'Flubber.' Singer JoJo (Joanna Levesque) launched her career in music releasing chart-topping R&B and pop music, including breakout hit 'Leave (Get Out).' She gained prominence as a young artist, and has also made a name for herself in acting and released a book in 2024 titled 'Over the Influence.'
