Jenna Ortega begged to be a producer on Wednesday’s first season aged 18 as ‘it made sense for her to be involved’ – as actress reacts to backlash over ‘changing lines on set’
As a fervent admirer of Jenna Ortega, I must say her candor and honesty about her experiences on Wednesday is truly commendable. She’s not just grateful for her success; she’s using it as a stepping stone to share her challenges and grow as an artist. It’s inspiring to see someone so young tackle the complexities of the industry with such grace and maturity.
In a recent interview with Vanity Fair, Jenna Ortega openly shared that she pleaded to serve as a producer during the first season of Netflix’s popular show “Wednesday.”
Last year, the 21-year-old actress, labeled ‘difficult’ after admitting she often altered her script during the show, explained that given her constant screen presence, it seemed logical for her to take up a role as a producer.
The teenager who starred in the first season of Wednesday expressed: ‘I understand my role as an actor, I know I’m not the one calling the shots…. However, given the character of Wednesday, who is present throughout the series, it seems logical for that individual to be deeply engaged with what happens off-screen, as they are on-screen constantly during the entire project.’
She mentioned that it’s uncommon for actors to create content during their debut season, further explaining that many of the tasks she took on and discussions she had often leaned towards those typically handled by producers.
For the upcoming second season of the show, Jenna has been promoted as an executive producer; Tim Burton remains the showrunner.
Previously, it was criticized by both fans and professional television writers when Ortega admitted to frequently altering her Wednesday script, which was perceived as almost unprofessional.
In a chat with Dax Shepard on his Armchair Expert podcast, the actress caused a stir by confessing that she wasn’t content with the script at times and subtly modified her dialogue during an interview.
In an almost uncharacteristic moment of zealous devotion, I found myself stepping out of my usual professional boundaries, daring to tweak the dialogue, as if the characters themselves were urging me to express their thoughts more authentically.
She clarified that the script supervisor believed she was proceeding with a specific plan. This would lead to her needing to meet with the writers who would question, “What about the scene?” In such cases, she would need to discuss and justify why she couldn’t execute certain actions.
I can’t help but feel empathy for the writers who are finding themselves at the receiving end of such presumptuous comments. As a writer myself, I know how much blood, sweat, and tears go into creating something that resonates with audiences. It’s disheartening to see someone claim credit for a project’s success without acknowledging all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes.
Ortega admitted she might have expressed herself more effectively, stating: ‘To be honest, I believe I could have chosen my words more wisely when discussing that topic. I often find myself talking too much. I think, in hindsight, if I had presented the situation more accurately, it likely would have been better received.’
Everything I expressed seemed overly dramatic to me… It gave off an eerie, dystopian vibe, making me feel as if I were a distorted version of myself.
Last year, she found herself growing tired of constantly seeing her own image, stating that if she opened her phone to find the same woman with a trite saying or something similar, she too would feel uninterested. In simpler terms, she felt overwhelmed by the repetition of her own face everywhere and expressed understanding for anyone feeling the same way.
In the Dax Shepard interview, Jenna expressed that she may not have asserted herself as strongly on a film set as she did on Wednesday, more so than any other day.
According to Ortega, the actions portrayed by Wednesday, as well as the scenes where she was required to participate in a love triangle, didn’t align with her character at all. In his view, this romantic entanglement seemed illogical or out of place.
She mentioned the dress she must wear for the school dance, and she exclaimed, “Oh my god, I love it… ugh, I can’t believe I just said that. I genuinely despise myself.” To which I responded, “No.”
The Disney alum also put her foot down about the circumstances leading up to her now viral dance.
She originally planned for it to become an impromptu dance party, where she would initiate the dancing and others would join in and dance along with her. This is what she revealed.
She clarified, “I rejected it because I couldn’t see her agreeing to that. My suggestion was either remove it, or let Wednesday take care of the situation by knocking someone out, and then we can move on.”
As a lifestyle enthusiast, I must confess that my plate has been quite full lately – juggling lessons in fencing and cello play, among other commitments – which left me unable to collaborate with a choreographer for the dance routine. Fortunately, I was given the freedom to design the moves myself, ensuring a personal touch to the performance.
She was also unhappy with some of the ‘morbid’ things Wednesday had to say.
When children say things that are dark or disrespectful, it seems amusing and adorable to us, often prompting reactions like, “Oh, you’re so innocent, you don’t realize what you’re saying.” She clarified this point.
As someone who has worked with many teenagers throughout my career as a teacher, I can confidently say that becoming a teenager is often a challenging and confusing time for young people. They are grappling with hormonal changes, social pressures, and the desire to assert their independence, which can sometimes lead to moodiness, irritability, and defiant behavior. However, it’s important to remember that this phase is temporary and that many of these behaviors are a normal part of growing up. At the same time, there’s less excuse for outright rudeness or disrespect towards others. It’s essential to find ways to communicate effectively with teenagers, listen to their concerns, and offer guidance and support during this crucial period in their lives.
‘Podcast host Jordan Crucchiola expressed admiration for Jenna Ortega’s openness regarding her work on Wednesday, stating that one can appreciate success without being overly thankful while still being present. He hopes that she continues to be forthright about her struggles.’
In another part of the same interview, Ortega spoke for the first time about Percy Hynes White leaving the program, a departure that had sparked dating rumors between them.
In the play, he portrayed Xavier Thorpe, a student with psychic abilities at Nevermore Academy. This character was one of the two primary male roles and had a romantic connection with Wednesday (Ortega).
He departed from the show following several accusations of sexual misconduct on the internet, allegations that he has refuted.
She expressed that the absence of Hynes White feels quite odd and confusing, especially since there are numerous new characters being introduced. However, she believes this abundance might cause it to be overlooked. Additionally, she finds that the setting of Wednesday’s world seems a bit off-balance already.
In September 2023, DailyMail.com revealed an exclusive report stating that he was removed from the series following allegations that he intentionally intoxicated women at a party he hosted in Toronto, with the aim of taking advantage of them sexually.
In the beginning of 2023, White was confronted with a string of accusations related to sexual assault. He firmly maintained that these were part of a ‘disinformation campaign.’
Last June, he made a statement about the now-removed anonymous social media posts from early January which were posted previously.
In a heartfelt message, I shared: ‘At the start of this year, an individual unknown to me launched a malicious misinformation campaign against me on the internet. Consequently, my family’s personal information was exposed (doxxed), and my friends have been targeted with threatening messages. Photos of me, taken when I was underage, were misused, while actions portraying my character were presented in a malicious manner.’
Later, he spoke at length about how his friend had been unfairly depicted as a victim and criticized the unfounded, damaging allegations.
Despite not coming back on a Wednesday, he indeed has multiple upcoming projects. One of them is a romantic comedy titled “Winter Spring Summer or Fall,” which he co-scripted with Ortega in Utah and is scheduled to hit theaters in June 2024.
Read the full story in Vanity Fair’s September issue and on VanityFair.com
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2024-08-06 20:37