Enfnts Terribles

Willem De Schryver is only 19 years old but is already one of the most popular upcoming actors in Belgium. Thanks to his sublime performance in the Belgian web series WTFock, he gained popularity among teenagers and became a symbol of following your dreams. In his first-ever interview, we talked about his development as an actor, the power of social media, and above all, his immense passion for acting.

You just finished filming your first TV-series, the Flemish series Déjà-vu. How was this new experience for you?

It was a very interesting project, and I’m very grateful that I was able to work on it this summer. Corona made shooting a little bit difficult because we had to be extremely careful, and we were tested a lot. We even had to stop shooting for a couple of days, and the schedule changed a few times, but it was definitely an unforgettable experience to work on this big project.

I believe that the story of the show will please a big audience and many will recognize themselves in it. There’s a good twist to it, so it’s absolutely not an ordinary plot about dramatic situations.

What kind of characters do you think are more interesting? Those close to your own personality or the ones where you have to leave your comfort zone?

I think it’s important to make a difference between acting for theater and acting in front of a camera. When I have a theater play, I love to think about details like how my character walks, how he shakes hands, or what kind of accent he has. I like to explore how I can shape the character and invest all my creativity in it.

“I like to explore how I can shape the character and invest all my creativity in it”

Acting in front of a camera is another cup of tea. The two projects I already did were very different. It’s very interesting and challenging to portray someone who differs a lot from your own personality. I always try to think about how I can reflect my way of thinking in the character. I immerse myself in the environment of the persona and contemplate the methods I can use to be as natural as possible.

On the other hand, a film role close to your own personality is very comfortable and is a bit more relaxing to play because you don’t overthink too much. It doesn’t always have to be the easy road, but choosing between the two options is tough.

You write pieces yourself. What are they mostly about?

I must admit that the things I write are amateurish and are mostly for myself or my studies. I enjoy writing about things that happen to me. I try to put myself in the perspective of, for example, a woman I see on the street. Recently, I had a task where I had to write about a leaf that fell from a tree and was surprised by the number of directions you could go in. I try to not limit myself when I write.

What does a plot need to be interesting to you?

I don’t think a story needs to be thrilling and can be quite heavy and shallow. I like stories that are capturing moments or sentiments we witness or feel in our daily life. I want people to recognize themselves in the story, even if it’s turned into something artistic, and that it resonates. My goal is that the viewer leaves the venue as a new human and that it has a lasting impact on them.

I know it’s a utopian thought, but I want to change the world. Artists have the power to change our society and help people to get an insight into their life which may help them to be better people. I deplore that the arts aren’t appreciated like it should be, especially because initiatives like theater can break taboos and create new mindsets.

Speaking of creating new mindsets, your final thesis at high school was a very personal piece about your parents’ divorce. Did that help you conclude a chapter in your life?

When I was in my last year, I had to make an important decision between continuing with drama or studying something different. Thanks to this piece, I became aware that acting was what I am born for.

In terms of the story of the piece, the divorce of my parents, I don’t think I’ll ever have closure. It will always affect me and every decision I will make as a person. I told this story as the kid of divorced parents because I want to raise more awareness about it. I don’t want to generalize at all, but I often have the feeling that people think that a divorce is the easy way out. I understand that it sometimes simply doesn’t work out but children are often forgotten in that process.

“The divorce of my parents will always affect me”

I was six when my parents divorced, and I noticed that I couldn’t move on until I was seventeen. When I made this piece and ended my performance. I stood there with tears in my eyes because I was so moved by the applause. I saw my brother and friends in the audience with tears, and I felt that we were all united in that specific moment.

The situation was never convenient, but the performance made me feel as if everything was like I was used to; that we were reunited as a family. It was great to sense that emotion, and it surely had a huge impact on me. The whole experience partially closed a chapter in my life, but I think that the book will always remain open.