In this episode, Wil Johnson shares his experience working on "House of the Dragon" as Vaemond Velaryon, and how being part of a large-scale production shifted his perspective on filmmaking. We dive into his nearly 40-year career, including his time on "Emmerdale", and his thoughts on managing an actor's ego and motivation. Wil also opens up about his journey into directing, his respect for colleagues in the industry, and how to maintain energy and freshness during long theater runs. Instagram: @wil.johnson_ Represented by IAG Talent CHAPTERS: 00:00 - Coming up 01:44 - Intro 02:25 - Almost 40 years of acting 04:40 - Directing a first play 11:03 - Types of directors 13:10 - Actor's journey 18:08 - Nerves 19:53 - Critics and ego 23:18 - Watching yourself on screen 25:35 - Self-tapes and auditions 31:50 - Motivation 33:28 - Working on House of the Dragon 1:14:15 - Working on Emmerdale 1:23:16 - Appreciation and hardship in acting 1:31:21 - Screen vs Theatre 1:32:25 - Giving 100% every night in "Jitney" 1:35:35 - Etiquette on set 1:41:09 - Magic of keeping it alive in theatre 1:48:31 - Are actors narcissist? 1:52:50 - Keep going 1:54:52 - Bucket list 1:56:40 - BLITZ 1:59:19 - One Cool Thing 2:03:08 - The End Beyond Reel Talk is a podcast where I invite entertainment industry professionals to ask them about their journey, their professions, challenges and motivation. #beyondreeltalk #interview #podcast #videopodcast