Actors, directors, and teachers now have the opportunity to study with the legendary actress and teacher Uta Hagen for the first time on DVD. Shot over the course of two years, the interaction between Ms. Hagen and the actors and audience puts the viewer right in the room. All ten of her celebrated Object Exercises are clarified and performed. Jack Lemmon, Whoopi Goldberg and Christine Lahti, among others - all former students - recall their classes with Ms. Hagen and her enduring influence on their work. As Ms. Hagen herself states, "When I believe that there is a human being in action up there, in that moment, alive - right there - then I get spellbound. When you really achieve that understanding of human nature, the ability to place yourselves in the shoes of another human being and reveal that life onstage, is to me the ultimate experience." 2 DVDS, 200 MINUTES TOTAL! Uta Hagen has received the Tony and Drama Critics Awards for her roles in Odets' The Country Girl and Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. She won an Obie Award for her role in Mrs. Klein and was awarded a Tony for Special Lifetime Achievement and the National Endowment for the Arts Medal of Honor. "Because I love the theater, and believe it to be not only the actor's training but testing ground, it is with great pleasure that I recommend this set." - Meryl Streep "Here is Ms. Hagen at her extraordinary best - witty, compassionate, inspired and inspiring. Will watching this make you a better actor, director or teacher? Yes, yes and yes!" - David Hyde Pierce "How fortunate that Hagen's teaching has been captured on film ... This is an important work." - Library Journal "It is absolutely required viewing." - Richard Brown, Professor of Humanities, New York University
A**A
A magnificant teacher in an excellent DVD
Uta Hagen is one of the greatest acting teachers of the 20th century. This DVD really captures her essence, her wit, her technique, and her insight. It truly is a treasure to see her. If you haven't read her book, you'll still get plenty out of it. If you have, you will love it all the greater. To really hear her voice telling all about her exercises and ideals is amazing. Anyone who loves the theatre and wants to be an actor would greatly appreciate, love, and find useful. I implore all of you to buy this!I certainly will use it for a long time to come!
R**A
If you are an actor - get this
Sadly, we actors do not have an opportunity to study with Uta Hagen today, but because of these videos, we have an opportunity to look through that window. If you're a serious actor, and you're serious about the Hagen technique, purchased her book and these DVDs together. I'm a lifelong believer and I'm still learning from her, years after the first day I purchased her book.
E**R
Amazing teacher, will go to NY and take her class!
I am a young actor in Europe, Sweden and I got Uta's books, Respect for Acting and, A Challenge for the Actor previously to my purchase of the DVD, Uta Hagan's Acting Class. So, I had already read through her books when I got the DVD which I felt when viewing the DVD is a must to understand the DVD.The DVD is not a technical help tool to show you how to warm up or prepare for a play a role or audition as I thought it would have been.Instead it is a quite amazing thing because you will from the very first minute of the DVD walk straight into the HB Studio's classroom and view everything as if you were doing a sit in for a course you might be interested in.One will then watch her students first get some instructions about each exercise that she has and then they will based on the chosen exercise go up on stage and play dialogues against each other. After some minutes she will stop the students and instead of telling them what they did wrong ask them If there is something they could criticize about what they just did, and why they believe it to be so?After that the students have talked about their understandings she will fill in with her own and give a very honest answer to everyone. It is obvious that she knows what she is doing and her feedback is always based on how the students have reached the goal of the exercises or not.I would say that it is worth buying if one is serious about acting but if one live close to NY I would say that you are better off saving those money and instead go down to her studio, the HB studio and use those money for classes! I don't know how the other teachers are at that school but her exercises, her technique I feel is just so authentic and great and something that every actor that is serious about his or her acting should master!The only thing about this DVD that is not so good is that it is a copy of an old video from the 1970's as I understand so the style and the sound recording is not the greatest or up to date with today's fashion. However, for the real actor that is probably irrelevant.So, overall I feeel it is a great DVD and I give it a 4 of 5Uta has created an amazing technique based on Internal acting and that I feel leads to authentic and truth like behavior on stage. I will most definitely go to NY and take her class!Good Luck to all Actors and Actresses in the world! Maybe I'll see you in NY!
J**Y
Wonderfully clear and focused presentation of modern acting technique.
Of all the great teachers of acting around, none are as clear and true as Uta Hagen. These two dvds cover a condensation of two semesters of her acting classes. Pretty much all the points mentioned in her books(if you decide to invest in this dvd, you might also consider purchasing her newest book: "Challenge For The Actor", which is essentially a revision and expansion of her first book: "Respect For Acting")are covered, if you pay close attention. No matter what your level of ability may currently be, you should benefit from watching this. In addition, you may find it entertaining! All performing artists should find this enlightening.
T**Y
Excellent
This dvd is perfect for the novice or the student.Ms. Hagen has a very engaging style and interacts well with her students. The different scenes are approached and critiqued in helpful ways without a lot of grand-standing or diva attitude. This lady is a professional and treats all with respect.Many comments from famous students like Amanda Peet and Whoopee Goldberg also add to the texture of the workshops.
B**T
BRILLIANT!!!
I graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1983 and when not acting on stage in New York I always took a class in scene study. I was so fortunate in having a teacher that taught very much like Uta Hagen and to this day, retired and doing volunteer directing with Seniors (we actors never stop acting) I use all these techniques when working. I live in Los Angeles now and miss my acting classes and watching this marvelous tape has filled a need of mine and affirmed and broadened my use of the craft. This CD is a gem and every actor, beginner or advanced, should get a copy in addition to reading "Respect for Acting."
G**C
worth every penny
Uta Hagen dedicated her life and work to the development of the actorshe trained generations of actorsher commitment was completeA great lady of theater
A**R
The substance of Uta Hagen's teaching
This is a compilation of Uta Hagen's teaching techniques. Anyone studying to be an actor can learn a lot. I only wish the lessons were longer.
M**N
Great addition to the drama department resources
Very useful for NC Acting and Theatre Performance: Acting Styles and Practitioners Unit. Use a variety of exercises to enhance acting skills.
L**G
Four Stars
Provides very good info to a style of acting
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