All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Introduction

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E02 Creating Characters

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E03 Physical Characterization

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E04 Case Study: Caveman's Valentine

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E05 Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 1

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E06 Student Session: Breaking Down a Script - Part 2

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E07 Student Session: Character Biographies

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E08 Student Session: Make It Your Own

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

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

  • S01E09 Voice & Character

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E10 Student Session: Plumb Your Emotional Depths

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E11 Student Session: Use Your Voice, Use Your Body

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E12 Working With Directors

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

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

  • S01E13 On-Set Collaboration

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E14 Student Session: Developing Characterization

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E15 Student Session: Making Bold Choices

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.v

  • S01E16 Enriching Your Acting Practice

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E17 Auditioning

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E18 Growing Your Acting Career

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.

  • S01E19 Sam's Journey From New York to Hollywood

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

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

  • S01E20 Hollywood Lessons

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

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

  • S01E21 Conclusion

    • December 1, 2017
    • MasterClass

    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.