Master Class with Alumnus Jason Alexander

BU College of Fine Arts alumnus Jason Alexander (CFA’81, Hon.’95) leads a private master class for School of Theatre students and faculty. Student participants include Maria Timonina ('15),Harrison Grant Meacham ('15), and Kaylyn Bancroft ('15).
Hosted by the College of Fine Arts in the TheatreLab@855 on September 22, 2014.

[@bosoxfan2525]

I have no aspirations to become an actor, or anything in show biz, but I could listen to him talk all day about it. He is just incredibly fascinating and so well spoken.

[@davemiller6055]

Same here.

[@ADCFproductions]

if you do become an actor, remember to hide the technique.

[@jsmooth452]

He said oh like aahh thousand times. Smh

[@danmyers9372]

Agreed.

[@ramiroalvarez1227]

“To teach something you first have to know a lot about it George”.- Elaine Benes

[@arisrogersii]

"Because the actor is having an emotional experience, doesn't mean the audience is" - Jason Alexander That was a strong statement, that put in perspective the importance of technique and acquiring various techniques as an actor

[@mikekillagreen9432]

He said something like that on Curb. Lol

[@juju-lm2zq]

what does it mean

[@veritasnow57]

Well that’s what makes him a great actor, he can pretend that he has feelings.

[@thunder8bunny]

Loved this: "you don't yell at a bud because it isn't a flower yet. It's gonna be a flower, but it opens when it's time for it to open. ... Tomorrow. I'll make another choice tomorrow.'

[@LuxAeterna22878]

It's wonderful, is it not? Seems to apply to everything else as well.

[@SrSacaninha]

I feel like his advices could hlp other professions as well.

[@trawlins396]

Definitely.

[@The_Scouts_Code]

he's actually a really intelligent guy.

[@AdamWestish]

He's so good at playing a weirdo like George Costanza. I always imagined he was really George, but made better life decisions 😂

[@MekonenMeteor123]

Yeah the guy is thorough

[@jordandangelo180]

He is extremely intelligent and has the ability to deliver in the moment when the pressure is on and when it really counts. He delivered arguably the best sitcom character of all time for 9 seasons. A character that he had nailed from the first episode. Michael Richards developed Kramer over several seasons, but Jason had that character nailed from the first episode. He developed the character and got better but the ground work of that character never really changed and he knew exactly how to play it. I haven’t seen another television character in the comedic realm, really nail the details and choices the way Jason was able to. I’m a guitar player and went to a music school similar to this acting program in college and you can play the best shit in the world during rehearsal or in your bedroom or basement and know all the theory/material inside and out but if you can’t deliver when the pressure is on, intelligence is important but his ability to deliver such brilliant performances impressed me the most.

[@Brainbuster]

10:47 Because the actor is having an emotional experience, doesn't mean the audience is. 14:20 I know your heart and soul is Hamlet, and you would be a profound Hamlet. You will never play Hamlet. So you best get good at Falstaff. If you want to play at this, go the way you're going and roll the dice. If you want to succeed at this, you will learn to do comedy and love it. 15:17 If you're thinking about the real world, it's time to start thinking about 'Where do I fit in the marketplace?' because in the real world you are an item on the shelf, and if you are a vegetable in the meat aisle, you are not going to get sold.

[@Oscarji888]

"You imitate the guy you thought should have gotten the part". Love it, makes no sense yet is probably very common. Sets a great foundation for the students to be themselves

[@jaredbond7908]

When he first got the part of George, he thought the character was written like Woody Allen, so he just did a Woody Allen imitation at first.

[@superlu9258]

Self awareness and self assessment is hard sometimes when you are in a profession that hinges on imagination and a sense of illusion, but here you get how powerful it can be as an aid to talent, hard work and vision.

[@Gabriel-kz3gl]

Jason is such a great guy, and legendary actor!

[@MisterMotel]

He truly is a master of his craft. And a great teacher at it.

[@sam68617]

Jason, I want to thank you for your kind words and of course, the selfie you took with my son and I outside the Cort Theatre (7-12-15) after your great performance in Larry David’s: “Fish in the Dark.” I have two sons, and I/we have a tradition that once they graduate High School and before they head-off to college, that we make a trip up from Virginia to NYC to do whatever they/we want to do. My eldest son decided he wanted to go watch the Mets play at the newly opened Citi Field. Why the Mets you ask…Because both my mother and father were both born, meet and married in the city (as were I…), and I have such fond memories as a kid, driving up 95, and then the good old Turnpike, and then finally into and out of the Lincoln Tunnel, to visit both sets of grandparents: Irish immigrants- for holidays or just a visit. Back to the Mets…When my father was growing up, his favorite baseball team was the New York Baseball Giants (he also loved the nyc football Giants as well). But once the Giants moved to San Francisco (and the Dodgers to L.A.), he had no team to root for... I mean, he wasn’t going to root for the hated Yankees, no way. So he waited, and when the Mets came to town, and we were still living in Virginia, he now had his team, we all had our team, and it was the Mets. I know, I went a long way around to get to the Mets…But that weekend, for some reason either the Mets weren’t in town or… but we still wanted to do something fun. That “fun” was to go to watch you do what you do best…make us laugh! I just hit 63 and see from your bio that you will be hitting that “number” in September. Well good luck -you’re a great actor and for my money, you and the Costanzas where the backbone of Seinfeld. Jimmy

[@shikmalagbas9721]

“You don’t yell at a bud because it isn’t a flower yet” I’m not an actor but I felt that

[@j1jh002]

This is the best advice I've heard about finding your place as an Actor. Thank you. I needed to hear this, not just for Acting, but for my life.

[@tw364]

This guy is very honest and down to earth.

[@ninogaggi]

He always comes across so genuine love the guy

[@CooManTunes]

Seinfeld, Pretty Woman, Jacob's Ladder, Dunstin Checks In, etc.. Legendary, versatile actor!

[@hawlikd]

Being an actor is a tough gig, I applaud people who try to make it their career.

[@jeezez666]

i love listening to him

[@metricdeep8856]

Jason was very real and to the point with this. This applies to most industries. Will my next choice take me closer or further away from what I WANT to do?

[@mariomunoz6883]

my favorite actor in seinfield so wanted to know more about him. talented smart man. He is a natural story teller.

[@Liface]

What an opportunity for those students. Amazing.

[@ptanyuh]

Thank you for uploading this, BU! Ahoy from Newfoundland.

[@MCHOKUM]

I love listening to him speak.

[@peterlim4084]

Great respect for Jason! So much wisdom!

[@avallach2061]

Wow I don't act or even aspire being an actor or something but watched this because I'm a big fan of Jason and need to say a lot of the advice here is easily transferable to other professional/personal areas. Really great answers, you have my thanks and admiration.

[@tawnysue620]

Happened on this video the same way you did, and I thought the exact same thing. I would go see him as a motivational speaker.

[@murrynathan]

Each side of Jason’s hair is in the shape of the United States and his sideburns are Florida.

[@kdmdlo]

Maybe ... but then Maine got clipped a little.

[@Talkinknicks]

I had this same exact thought

[@AkSamurai69]

I love his answer to that first question. Several months ago, after a long hospital stay, i had to go through a psyche evaluation. When i told the doctor that I act out scenes from productions I've been in, or want to be, or I have written, when I'm alone. He told me i was disassociating from reality because of depression and PTSD. I'm like, uh... im an actor and comedian. Kinda my jobs...

[@kiarareypittman]

If Adam Sandler and Jonah Hill can do film Jason Alexander CAN DO FILM.

[@AMETHYSTANGEL216]

This talk should be mandatory for ALL CREATIVES! 💜💪🏽😉

[@jonnygranville281]

This is really inspiring and I've no desire to be an actor.

[@richardforgetcanada]

Such Finality to his last comment LOL. “Have a great lives, have great careers…“

[@BadWebDiver]

Fine words spoken here! From real experience!

[@LukasiMusic]

that girl in the back with the red shirt, don't know who you are or what you do these years after since this clip was made but you can be anything you'd like, you have a very big range of characters you could play, don't give up. Hope this message finds you well.

[@sarathim7302]

Later part of this video has some great substances for all professionals especially youngsters. Dont miss it

[@Historian212]

He was there for over an hour and this 18-min. clip is all we get? Sad.

[@ohnono775]

Great advice for life, not just acting.

[@anshukumar3999]

Intro should include an Architect 😂

[@brianwilson4724]

And marine biologist.

[@Tremor1776]

3:33 love the analogies also love the “punchline” because it’s so true.

[@pooftertogs]

8:00 Just leaving this timeline reference for myself. I’m not even an actor; this is just a beautiful advice for life! ❤️❤️❤️

[@Crimsonphilosophy]

Girl with the bangs in the background wins the screen test.

[@basehead617]

WHEW no kidding

[@davidcastner921]

God Bless U Jason !

[@kiki13121984]

Am not an actor myself, but enjoyed J.A.'s speech. Especially one part of it, where he openly admits (or at least I understood it this way) that the movie stereotypes will always be a (vital?) part of any movie experience. Because, as he mentioned, paraphrasing: "you have to choose for yourself where, realistically, you can fit." If you're a pretty face, you'll do well on the movie screen. If you're a good actor, average looking actor, you'll do fine in both theater or tv movies, et cetera. Of course, it's not that simplistic, but I guess it goes with viewers' expectations - a handsome male hero saves the day, a chubby sidekick is there for a comic relief, a beautiful woman is a femme fatalle, and so on. So, ironically, we CAN point out about the sterotypes in the movies, but much often we actually rely on them, craving them on the screen. I mean, for an average audience, would anyone pay a ticket in the cineplexx, some big blockbuster, where Jason Alexander is a badass action hero? Not to say he won't deliver it successfully, but probably no one would believe it. In a way, it won't fit with more masculine archetypes like Brad Pitt, Jason Statham, The Rock and so on. So, it's interesting how the cinema play on our expectations. Of course, there are many examples to be not so, but in general those are a rarity. Like NOT all white or all black realistic/diverse family movies. Woman saving a man without changing herself (like "Trainwreck's" disappointing ending, where Amy Schumer must become her polar opposite at the end of the movie to be acceptable, etc.). True to his words, I agree people have to be realistic with their expectations in life, but I guess in the deceptive show business actors/actresses often have to play on the expectations of the others (audience)..

[@sinematographynaction]

Jason Alexander is so amazing.

[@yavarjn2055]

Great advices. Thanks

[@scmrjim]

He was pretty good in "Pretty Woman".

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Yes, a great villian.

[@michaeljohnson714]

Just wow. I am no actor and don’t want to be. But his advice on taking a serious look at your self and determining where you fit in is spot on and applies to any career. Don’t be a vegetable in the meat aisle.

[@vassa1972]

Great stuff loved him

[@englishincontext4025]

This is wonderful.

[@Eduard000F]

Wasn’t he an architect?

[@carlmswan4468]

Nah, he likes to pretend to be an architect

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

Railroads....

[@possiblypoet]

Starts at 1:30

[@just2potamos]

lots of beautiful people there

[@DrJones20]

No

[@tagekoolander]

Jason is the most beautiful

[@jaredbond7908]

13:12 Well, gotta be honest - I usually don't like JA off-screen. The thing I don't like is his lack of humility, maybe. But here's a part where he actually becomes humble, and says something very insightful.

[@ADCFproductions]

He is a bit full of himself at times. When Larry came out with the episode The Pen of Seinfeld (one of the best episodes actually) and Jason wasn't in on it he got really pissed and said that if they did it again he'd leave the show entirely. That did not sit well with me.

[@e.l.norton]

It's enjoyable listening to him speak. But, with about 2% of actors even making a living from acting, the reality is that for 98% they'll make more money waiting tables than they ever will from acting. That's something that should REALLY be addressed with students seriously before racking up six figures in student debt. Better "choices" might be another course of study and pursuing acting on the side. Passion for something is great. But, it costs.

[@rubensahak9178]

great point

[@lorettakuhn2514]

How many are getting grants and scholarships?

[@mapz00]

Or free college and push for more funding of the arts in public schools. I'm sure we can find enough teachers

[@devanshpandey7750]

This guy is awesome

[@jamessullivan300]

Is there one tonight? Because I’ll miss that one too... 😂😂😂

[@joeherbert4360]

brilliant speaker

[@williamyoung5038]

What a actor to pull off George

[@camitau]

he is the best!

[@rainmast180]

Jason at his height while acting without acting lmao

[@kepler240]

Jason Alexander is way too smart. It took somebody that smart to play George Costanza because I don't know if anybody else could've.

[@hawlikd]

Well, he did pretty good in the film Pretty Woman?

[@douglasedwards8472]

I really loved Jason Alexander in pretty women

[@steves.361]

I like this guy😊

[@davidcastner921]

Ur sooooo Great !

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Acting without Acting (Inside joke from Curb Your Enthusiasm)

[@TCM215]

I’ll read it with dinner

[@Caserta16102]

But you’re still acting.

[@ADCFproductions]

@@Caserta16102 you have to hide the technique, no one wants to see the actor at work!

[@dilanabey]

"Acting without acting" indeed

[@AustinWolters]

8:00 is when this video gets so good.

[@Roseland8]

It's not a lie if you belive it

[@wafflechick_]

14:15 Talk about life-changing advice!

[@theguardian6464]

As a drama teacher at school I wonder if he did a workshop as well...

[@williamstrother6027]

Jason alexzander was great in Seinfeld

[@benhoutteman]

The thumbnail needs to be updated so it doesn't make the great Jason Alexander's skin look akin to an Oompa Loompa.

[@handymanr4729]

Profound Words, That is all.

[@deadcorpert619]

This guy is so smart.

[@Herman-zc7te]

Wonderful

[@justinchalfant9140]

Great speaker also

[@torayujin3861]

Damn.... I didn't expect this

[@daniellegruskiewicz7629]

I wonder what specific technique he was referring to at 10:30...

[@BadWebDiver]

I'm guessing what's commonly referred to as "method acting"... Like Strausburg school.

[@AlphaNovemberTango]

Like before watching.

[@abhinavpatel9646]

why isn't any comment here?

[@lesregan3026]

Acting without acting?

[@manuelmedina8880]

Never knew he went to BU

[@barbaravyse660]

Gena Davis did too

[@travispatch4355]

Is that Aubrey plaza behind him😭

[@realpapamorty]

16:00 he was good in “Pretty Woman” 🤷‍♂️

[@rubensahak9178]

As an artist myself I can't help thinking statistically what percentage of actors ,painters ,comics etc actually make living from their craft.Extremely tiny number.. plan B may not be a bad idea unless you want to be waiter rest of your life...

[@ZulcanPrime]

I have noticed that the body language of the students behind Jason looks like they don't want to be there or be seen.

[@ADCFproductions]

they forgot their urban sombrero at home.

[@DrJ-hx7wv]

@@ADCFproductions 🤣🤣🤣

[@FRANANGELICOONA]

Nice

[@juaco42]

He is a genious

[@ricardoroberto7054]

I wonder what % of that class made it. Probably single figures.

[@Chrisdvc26]

Acting Without Acting...but...its still acting

[@erroldtumaque3430]

4:13 that audience mmmm

[@StuUngar]

Acting Without Acting by Jason Alexander

[@TCM215]

I'll read it with dinner

[@shiven513]

The new sienfeld spin off has George in a new job... intresting

[@jonnygranville281]

Co-stanza!

[@madhavacharya9912]

So “acting without acting”? Having said that…

[@edwardmoulaison1359]

George is gettin' cerebral!!!!

[@lret4100]

Acting without acting

[@stevegluck8990]

He's wrong about the "small" thing ... "bring it down" is the best advice an actor ... (especially an actor like him) ... can get … 😊 …

[@Historian212]

Not really what he said. He talked about how the camera will catch the nuance if you’re working in close with someone, but if you’re not, because of the nature of the scene, you don’t make it small. Of course, it depends on the director and so on. But since they’re students, he’s telling them not to take it down so much just because it’s film, if the scene requires physical distance and it’s a big moment, etc. That said, he is primarily a stage actor and carries that with him, for sure.

[@basehead617]

personally I disagree with him too.. I have loved small performances.. River Phoenix in My Own Private Idaho, for example.. on the other hand most Oscar winners are the big ones, as he said..

[@marcfromwhite157]

Acting without acting...