Acting & Performing Arts

Film & TV

Break Into the Entertainment Business

Bring Unforgettable Characters to Life

Overcome Stage Fright & Gain Confidence

Polish Your Acting & Nail That Audition

Study Voice Acting & Refine Your Diction

Teaches Acting

Samuel L. Jackson

You know Samuel L. Jackson from iconic films like Pulp Fiction and Die Hard with a Vengeance. Now he’s your acting teacher. Sam shares his goals for his MasterClass, as well as his mindset toward acting: it’s an adventure.

1. Introduction

Introduction

Learn how Sam imbues every role with a sense of purpose and complexity of character—even if they only appear on screen for a few minutes. In this lesson, he shares the fundamentals of his characterization process.

2. Creating Characters

Creating Characters

Sam dives deep into the myriad ways actors can use their bodies to reflect their characters’ personalities. Learn how to use posture, gait, voice, and physical appearance to add complexity to your characters.

3. Physical Characterization

Physical Characterization

Sam breaks down the nuances of his characterization process and performance as Romulus, a prodigal but schizophrenic and homeless concert pianist, in The Caveman’s Valentine.

4. Case Study: Caveman's Valentine

Case Study: Caveman's Valentine

Sam directs student actors in a workshop, and the first scene on the docket is the iconic diner scene from Pulp Fiction. In this lesson, Sam helps them break down the script to gain a deeper understanding of the characters’ intentions.

5. Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 1

Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 1

Get inside Jules’s head as Sam breaks down the Ezekiel passage and walks the students through the different ways the character could perform the scene.

6. Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 2

Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 2

Creating in-depth character backstory is an integral part of Sam’s process. He pushes the students to develop a connection with Jules by imagining his life story and how he got to this moment in the diner.

7. Student Session: Character Biographies

Student Session: Character Biographies

One of the student actors puts a unique spin on Jules, showing that there are many “right” ways to create characters.

8. Student Session: Make It Your Own

Student Session: Make It Your Own

Sam reveals how his childhood experiences have informed his approach to character voices throughout his career, and discusses his method of developing a vocalization plan.

9. Voice & Character

Voice & Character

Sam directs the actors to perform a scene from The Negotiator in which two characters—Danny and Farley—are on opposite ends of the power spectrum. Students play the scene and then switch roles.

10. Student Session: Plumb Your Emotional Depths

Student Session: Plumb Your Emotional Depths

Sam analyzes the students’ choices of power positions when playing Danny and how movement and stillness can each convey power in a different way. He shows how posture works on each side of the phone as each character is pushed to their limits.

11. Student Session: Use Your Voice, Use Your Body

Student Session: Use Your Voice, Use Your Body

Learn Sam’s tried-and-true methods for developing strong working relationships with directors.

12. Working With Directors

Working With Directors

Sam describes the movie set environment as “a moving circus.” Learn his code of on-set conduct, which has earned him respect throughout the industry as a true professional.

13. On-Set Collaboration

On-Set Collaboration

On the surface, this Kingsman scene is a simple conversation between two characters. The actors’ task is to dig deeper, access the subtext of the exchange, and create characters who will make the otherwise “bland” dialogue more interesting.

14. Student Session: Developing Characterization

Student Session: Developing Characterization

When it comes to characterization, it’s better to show up with too much rather than not enough. Sam pushes the student actors to take risks and commit to their choices.

15. Student Session: Making Bold Choices

Student Session: Making Bold Choices

Sam encourages you to nurture a sense of curiosity and explore stories set in worlds that you are unfamiliar with, so that you have a more expansive view of the characters you take on throughout your acting career.

16. Enriching Your Acting Practice

Enriching Your Acting Practice

Don’t walk into a casting room thinking about the job; go in with the goal of demonstrating your skill as an actor. Sam gives you this and more time-tested rules for auditioning.

17. Auditioning

Auditioning

Sam walks you through the most important business relationships you’ll form as an actor, and offers wisdom on how to best work with them.

18. Growing Your Acting Career

Growing Your Acting Career

Learn how Sam got “plucked” from the Negro Ensemble Company, where he performed alongside Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman, to go to Hollywood.

19. Sam's Journey From New York to Hollywood

Sam's Journey From New York to Hollywood

Sam shares three very personal lessons learned over the decades he’s spent in Hollywood.

20. Hollywood Lessons

Hollywood Lessons

When you finish this MasterClass and continue your career in acting, Sam urges you to remember your responsibility to your audience—and to the world at large.

21. Conclusion

Conclusion

Samuel L. Jackson Teaches Acting

variant_1

Enjoy 7 days free

The promo may be over, but your opportunity isn't. Dive into the full experience, worry-free, with our 7-day money-back guarantee.

The offer has ended

Amount charged now

Your 7-day free trial starts today

Proof you've trained with the world's best

Leadership and Decision Making Under Pressure

Get this certificate.

Proof you’ve learned from the best.

Steven Johnson

Nichol Bradford

Conor Grennan

Don Allen Stevenson III

Allie K. Miller

Manuel Sainsily

Brand Strategist

Ana M. Gómez Sanabria

Founder

Karol Baron

Service Design & Design Strategist

Meghan Preiss

R&D Manager

Morten Drost

Chief Technical Advisor

Doug Needham

Service Manager

Olafur Simonarson

Get 50% off an annual membership of MasterClass

Congratulations, you purchased an annual standard membership of MasterClass. A confirmation has been sent to your email. You will now be able to access 200+ classes in addition to your Certificate course.

You're all set!

Become fluent in AI – and prove it

The Innovation Playbook behind Google's Moonshot Factory

AI adoption. Simplified.

Calm is a skill. Train for it.

Pre-enroll now to save 30% on this AI Strategy course from NVIDIA.

Pre-enroll and save 30% on this AI Strategy course from NVIDIA. 

nvidia-preenrollment

This Mother's Day, help Mom feed passions, level up self-care, and more.

From TIME ©2022 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license.

Times

Wirecutter

Reviewed - USA Today

Creating characters

Working with directors

Growing your career

Scripting Your Own Success

Mindy Kaling

Teaches Creativity and Film

David Lynch

David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film

Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Misty Copeland

Misty Copeland Teaches Ballet Technique and Artistry

Teaches Music for Film

Danny Elfman

Danny Elfman Teaches Music for Film

Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Spike Lee

Spike Lee Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Mira Nair

Mira Nair Teaches Independent Filmmaking

Helen Mirren

Helen Mirren Teaches Acting

Teaches Comedy

Judd Apatow

Judd Apatow Teaches Comedy

Teaches Voice Acting

Nancy Cartwright

Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting

Teach Developing an Original TV Series

The Duffer Brothers

The Duffer Brothers Teach Developing an Original TV Series

A Film About Patricia Field

Happy Clothes

Teaches Filmmaking

Werner Herzog

Werner Herzog Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Simone Biles

Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster Teaches Filmmaking

Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Amanda Gorman

Amanda Gorman Teaches Writing and Performing Poetry

Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Ken Burns

Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking

Teaches Writing for Television

Shonda Rhimes

Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman Teaches Acting

Prepare to Be Unprepared

Amy Poehler

Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Issa Rae

Issa Rae Teaches Creating Outside the Lines

Teaches the Art of Negotiation

Chris Voss

Chris Voss Teaches The Art of Negotiation

Using Humor to Make Your Mark

Kevin Hart

Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Naomi Campbell

Naomi Campbell Teaches Modeling Fundamentals

Teaches The Art Of Performance

Usher

Usher Teaches The Art of Performance

Teaches the Power of Storytelling 

LeVar Burton

LeVar Burton Teaches the Power of Storytelling

James Cameron

James Cameron Teaches Filmmaking

Steve Martin

Steve Martin Teaches Comedy

Menu

GET 50% OFF THIS MOTHER'S DAY

GET 50% OFF THIS MOTHER'S DAY

GET 50% OFF THIS MOTHER'S DAY

Skills You'll Learn

GET 50% OFF THIS MOTHER'S DAY

GET 50% OFF THIS MOTHER'S DAY

Download