Waiting for Woody is a 1998 drama featurette directed by and starring Grant Heslov. The film depicts a fictional audition for Woody Allen. The cast includes Heslov himself in the main role, George Clooney and Jennifer Aniston. The film is based on a true audition Heslov had passed for Allen.
Premise The actor Josh Silver has great expectations before being auditioned for a film by Woody Allen.
Cast Grant Heslov as Josh Silver Samantha Mathis as Gail Silver Tate Donovan as David Richard Kind as Doorman Thom Mathews as Bike Messenger George Clooney as himself Jennifer Aniston as herself Ed Crasnick as Woody Allen Carol Ann Susi Pamela Adlon
Accolades Year Award Category Recipient Result Reference 2007 Art Film Festival Jury Award Grant Heslov Florida Film Festival Grand Jury Award for Best Short Molodist Best Short Fiction Film New York International Independent Film and Video Festival Best Short Comedy
Release The film premiered at the Newport Beach International Film Festival in 1998.
Production Heslov had a "documentary-style idea" in mind before starting the film.
The actual Heslov's audition for Woody Allen lasted "about one minute", he reported, and he didn't get the part. 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."
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". It was screened at 30 film festivals.
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." Mary McNamara reported the short was "well received".
The character of the impotent actor played by Heslov presents "neuroses that rival those of the Oscar-wiinning filmmaker", allowing the short to take "unexpected turns".
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