David Harbour Reveals the Secret to Great Acting

David Harbour doesn't actually have any real relationship with the fictional character Will Byers from the Netflix Original "Stranger Things", but somehow he has to make you as an audience member feel as if he's going to be heartbroken if Will dies. How does he do it?
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[@BabyBearRudy]

Wow this snippet is a gem for actors, especially his superb analogy, The Gangster is to Prison as David is to What?

[@CharlesVanNoland]

I imagine his self-imposed prison of alcoholism/addiction, speaking from experience.

[@hamzariazuddin424]

I think I could listen to this guy for 24 hours straight without blinking

[@evalynn1863]

This is fascinating. This is why so many people love Hopper. Because it's not just David pretending to be Hopper, he created this person. We may not see the whole process but you can feel it. He is his own being and that builds empathy in the people watching him.

[@Goreillaa]

thank you for reiterating everything he just said :)

[@Zarghami]

The secret is empathy!

[@8cstokes]

I’ve never commented on KZbin videos before but I read as Jonathan Byers at the very first table read with the entire cast. As soon as David walked in the room, there was a sense of holy shit this guy is about to create something incredibly special. definitely an experience I’ll hold onto for forever.

[@Ethan-dk]

Chase Stokes. That’s rad, are you an actor?

[@8cstokes]

Ethan 84 I am!

[@Ethan-dk]

Chase Stokes. Must be crazy for you knowing you did a table read for that Stranger Things, which then turned into one of the biggest shows of the last few years.

[@evalynn1863]

That's so cool! Best of luck with your career. I always wanted to be an actor but my crippling fear of failure has kept me from it.

[@reeseruss]

Stank Nugget Why would you say that? It’s not that unbelievable that he did a table read.....that’s not that crazy....

[@nimanwozo1332]

This interview showed the extent to which this man’s talent goes like wow this is a true actor

[@gerard1657]

it's the opposite, shows he doesn't know much about acting

[@ragnarok283]

He’s not that good. Most of the kids in the show are better actors than him. He can’t even tear up a little while this little girl Millie couldn’t stop crying for 8 hours…

[@rrbcraftergames3361]

@@ragnarok283 umm because his character is an adult….and Millie’s character is a 14 year old kid….why the fuck would an old chief of police man be bawling his eyes out??????

[@therealarien]

Such an interesting guy! He clearly loves his craft

[@tkinsey3]

All of this work was evident from the moment you meet Hopper in S1. I was so, SO impressed with that character and how much of it was SHOW, not TELL. Such good writing, and even better acting from David.

[@vigouranddash6077]

This guy is seriously brilliant. I hope he gets picked up for more serious (academy award type) roles in future because dude is worthy

[@evenoble8968]

I’m watching this now, and wow he made a great appearance on Stranger Things to legit becoming a marvel superhero. True talent

[@gerard1657]

academic brilliance has nothing to do with good acting

[@shukis17]

This reminds me of a day I had studying at Playhouse West where we watched a short scene these two actors did and it was fantastically dramatic. The male actor in the scene has a moment with a very long pause after his gf in the scene says something hurtful. That pause just felt so emotional and painful you could see it in his eyes. Then after the play was over he revealed he actually forgot his lines and he was trying to remember it in that moment. But he was so in tune with his feelings and emotions in the scene that he was still projecting them even when he was struggling to remember a line.

[@andreaandrea6716]

Wow.

[@nebulousisgod]

I’ve never heard any method of acting articulated so damn well. That’s deep man. I do love Jim Hopper. To me, the best part about Stranger Things is the acting. All of them are fantastic and they vibe beautifully. It’s a silly show in a lotta ways but it’s so intimate and acted so convincingly that it feels real. I love it

[@523Artist]

He thinks that this "work doesn't get seen"?? He has quickly become one of my favorite actors of all time and not just because of Stranger Things, but because he puts everything he has into his characters. And it is very noticeable. He brings a kind of personal feeling and attachment to his characters that I haven't ever felt before. I hope he is able to realize how much of an impact he has had on people who watch his performances and how his determination to put his all into what he does is so inspiring.

[@frankb5728]

I think you misunderstood what he said. he's talking about the work to get into the character, not on-screen.

[@523Artist]

I understand that part of what he said. I just still find it difficult to believe that anyone could not notice the work her puts in even if they dont see behind the scenes. How much he tries is very noticeable In his work.

[@blushskies1148]

David is an amazing actor , i am literally so impressed. Now thats the reason why we fell in love with jim hopper when we first saw him.

[@larislalalaris]

The brilliant thing about how he plays this character is that he creates the depth Xer. Hopper has by bringing this front of harshness, but leaving the gem of his big heart and good intentions well-polished as well, hidden beneath it all. The inability to express his emotions though they run deep make this character the one we want to succeed, although he stumbles through being hard headed and this persona of I don't give a damn, I'm a brute, I don't care but feels every hit deeply. There's so much more I want to see from this actor! I think he has a lot to bring to so many characters I don't even know about. I wish him the BEST! (too)

[@nikap543]

I could listen to him speak for eternity

[@YassinAdam]

David Harbour is a true actor.

[@JasonSmith-lp6wg]

I don't know how you get this level of conversation from your guests, but it's brilliant. Thank you, so very much. J

[@razzle1964]

Yes! Someone who, I felt, comes close is the guy who hosts that show where they plow thru’ various levels of chilli sauce! He had a fascinating 20m interview with Mark Ruffalo & I don’t think they mentioned ‘the Big guy’😉 once. You could see the beam across Ruffalo’s face at the end.

[@ScreaminSavior]

I love hearing David talk about acting (his Actors on Actors with Kyle MacLachlan is suggested next seeing) because he's so passionate and open about his process. I differ from him in that I enjoy filling the shoes of whatever character I am and trying to live their exact moment and being fully in the context of the scene. I do love how he talked about having the character's inner psychology then also they're psychology of who they're trying to be to the world! That's interesting.

[@sophiarodriguez3706]

So glad Sam interviewed David Harbour. I've felt he was underrated and underutilized for years. Thanks!

[@urekmazino6519]

Best interview I've seen. David Harbour put into words the very quality of acting that I value and that generally sets apart good work from the bad.

[@andreaandrea6716]

Sam Jones, you listen with ALL of your being. I LOVE that. This show is perfect (I do wish the 'snippets' of interviews were more like 10 to 15 minutes). You ABSOLUTELY know what you're doing: NO DISTRACTIONS!!!! Good lighting, excellent camera work, NO BACKGROUND NOISE (music), and ... (brilliant) IN BLACK & WHITE. Ahhhhh! Thank you.

[@theoffcamerashow]

Just in case you weren't aware, the full hour long conversations are available on several platforms. You can find the full archive at www.offcamera.com. We also premiere on DirecTV's Audience Network every Monday and you can find the first 3 seasons on Netflix. If you're a podcast person, you can find the full conversation in audio form updated every Thursday.

[@andreaandrea6716]

@@theoffcamerashow Thank you!

[@danthemovieman153]

He wanted us to love Jim Hoper but we all fell in love with David Harbour

[@ianbauer4703]

Love David Harbour...and his analogy.

[@clarissar1528]

You are an amazing interviewer. I love everything about this show.

[@afz7529]

He was so good in Violent Night too ❤️

[@HumbleT4]

Just wana Have full on conversation with David. He seems Like so damm down to earth.

[@mctheplaywright]

What a fantastic deconstruction of the “Method”. I’ve always had problems with the use of it to find an actors truth in performance, and he interpreted it perfectly

[@bobafeet1234]

That's a really articulate explanation of his process. David's a really good actor. Hope he continues to get roles that showcase that.

[@ashareeoo]

This. Is. Remarkable.

[@lourdesdejesus1633]

I’m fascinated with this man, he is an amazing actor. How he made Jim Hopper his own, he is so real, a man that you could spend hours listening and having a good conversation. I love this guy. Great interview, I really liked it. Love David. 🙂❤️

[@gemmapenney6108]

I could listen to David for hours. He's so intelligent and articulate. Love him! ❤

[@JukeHighwalker]

"Like, like, like." You're both morons...

[@sallyversace6784]

I love him so much ❤️

[@divergentgurl1414]

this is freaking amazing. what the hell.

[@stewartmoore5158]

Colour me fascinated and charmed.

[@seidenschnabelfederflugel5441]

Wow this is the best thing about acting i have ever heard.

[@09nob]

Fascinating.

[@brettdavenport7583]

That was one of the most interesting nuggets of acting wisdom I ve heard

[@latricechandler4403]

Wow. 👏🏼🤯

[@lowinterrence]

I felt moved by his explanation of the fact that his character would not be ok. The man is onto something there.

[@dduem13]

Wow this is actually a very informative video. Very nice.

[@JamieChampagne]

Actors - do the work! Whatever your method is, prepare as much as possible, show up on time, hit your mark, have a good attitude, that's all you can do. And have a lot of fun.

[@wolverineiscool7161]

He makes PERFECT sense when talking about acting and daniel day lewis...I always felt method was useless too...you think it helps you but it doesn't help because it's not the character going through it, it's you....so try to compare that with what you have from your life

[@shadygroves8252]

best interviews online

[@Rugoll]

As an amateur actor I can say that this the is one of most profound videos I've seen. What a lesson

[@Elitesolider1023]

David harbor was born to play Hopper and Hopper literally went from a broken man to a healed man in the greatest hardest way possible where he was ready to get out of that cave and become a whole new man when he realizes he still has a second chance to make it right in life to live a happy joyful experience despite all that happen to him in the beginning and knows that he is still a person that can feel and care love and keep pushing into that direction is other part of himself drives into while healing the other part to become as one to be truly alive.

[@henryguzman5161]

This was great

[@FelixDharma]

I did fall in love with him and I want him to top me.

[@madisonharressey3981]

( This is the answer to what he put in the description of this video) it’s because he loves Joyce and he knows what it’s like to lose a child and he doesn’t want Joyce to go through that and he knows how Joyce feels with her child missing and he wants to protect Joyce ❤️

[@shantanu3231]

Voice of chief hopper 😍

[@allicat131]

i fell in love with jim hopper. and i hope david harbour will be okay! :) .

[@rafaelmartinez6922]

Exactly what I do!

[@abramsullivan7764]

Can't wait for Hellboy and STRANGER THINGS 3

[@calebprofile]

Very very wise words.

[@woodyboley9785]

This is great.

[@ayoshutduff]

I want/need to have a coffee with this guy.

[@kevinw712]

For my money David Harbour owns the single best & most powerful moment of acting in the entirety of Stranger Things, and it's when he's the only one in the room. About halfway thru season 1 when the lab is claiming they've found Will's dead body, as a way to "close the case" even for the town's point of view. Hopper sneaks into the lab's morgue set up and uncovers the body on a table. He knows immediately something just doesn't look right, and literally the only way to confirm it's a fake is to take a big slice right on into the body. On one hand learning it's a fake will prove the lab's nefarious roots and keep hope alive for Will himself, even if it means they'll all still maybe have a very long road ahead of them to uncover it all with justice. But if he's wrong, the whole mystery will have finally reached a natural ending where they'll know the truth, but he'll have desecrated this poor 11 year old's corpse (on the sly & quick, no less) that already died in a horrific manner, it'll be for no point at all. The moment he takes when he pulls back from the body right before the cut to pray he won't be wrong just fucking devastates me, I'm genuinely tearing up here again just picturing it all.

[@jackxiao9702]

I would argue that DDL is a special case, he probably did a lot of prep to get into character prior to experiencing the prison. Other actors might ape the method without doing prep.

[@Oceanmachine27]

Every actor has their process that works for them. DDL might go totally method and live as his character for six months. Robert Mitchum used to describe his acting as "I show up, hit my mark, say my lines, and then go home." And everything in between. It's whatever you feel you need to deliver your best performance.

[@ricco5951]

Wow that woke me up

[@bellaboomz]

👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@dawni5365]

This is very interesting

[@lewaldspecht2298]

Danke

[@barryblock3095]

HOLYYYYYY FUCK HE GETS IT

[@jackxiao9702]

Wow such a great acting class in a single line "use analogies"

[@madisonharressey3981]

You want people to fall in love with Hopper, ok David here’s what you need to do. Show up to work, stand in front of the camera and DONE we all fall for you (even Joyce does!) ❤️

[@marytaylor9001]

And that’s how I got into Julliard.

[@chesterules]

Well, it worked. Jim Hopper is my favorite character in the series.

[@newdan3469]

This was educational

[@1Dreamking]

Wow wow wow.... wow.

[@keithbrock2061]

Is anyone else having problem with the off-camera show website? I am not able to make a profile or use their platform at all.

[@joshc2971]

Have a total man crush on David Harbour. Can’t help it..

[@Bergenborn]

Most unorthodox looking artist

[@Luke-ofStoke-Factor]

GRAN TURISMO !!!!!!

[@knowmercysgrandadventuresr3688]

i respect Daniel Day Lewis' decision to retire as his method and roles were taking a huge toll on him. but at the same time, i feel like DDL is so damn good that he doesnt need to do all that destructive shit. i bet that dude could pickup a script/character over a weekend and do it 95% as well as if he did all this extra method stuff. only reason i say this is cause it saddens me hes not in the game anymore

[@urbanapache2]

But that was DDL way of feeling it, doing it, tricking it. He misses the point. You do you.

[@wasimalam305]

Oh,damn Disney give him the role of Life action Mr.incredible

[@MaQuinaMusic]

“The secret’s Ground Garlic...with a little bit of Soy”.

[@English2Elvish]

THE Best tribute to how awesome Jim Hopper as a character is: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3Lcn2ydhcaKgM0 (Se1 all the way, others get weaker...)

[@essikah9067]

But why was Daniel so amazing?

[@GR_BackingTracks]

Acting without acting.

[@cianjones5011]

d a d d y

[@touradbah1529]

Why does David sound like Louis ck? weird.

[@kodypendleton3151]

can't be unheard

[@SquareNevada1]

Why'd you do this

[@lucylincoln3285]

I swear, if he doesn't makes Western one day soon, I'm going to be *so* disappointed. He looks like he should be wearing a Stetson and riding a fast horse. All that's missing is a southern drawl. Which he'd obviously nail. Cuz he's brilliant. And hot. But mostly brilliant. And hot. Lawdy, I need I lie down now... #dadbod #thankgodhoppersalive

[@Pretendship]

take notes, other actors

[@BigLebowski2000]

Like eleven needed to think about something that made her really mad and she could use her powers better. :-)

[@gerard1657]

how can this dude talk about good acting, when he's not a good actor?

[@JukeHighwalker]

"Like, like, like." Terrible vocabulary...

[@thombendtsen399]

You should probably ask a great actor that though

[@gerard1657]

harbour doesn't have a clue about acting, or method acting

[@JukeHighwalker]

He stinks...

[@jonathanl123]

I think this actor makes a mistake by describing Daniel Day Lewis’s acting technique in absolute terms. Obviously DDL’s acting techniques are working for him. They may not work for this actor, but they certainly are working for DDL. This actor only comes off as arrogant IMHO, and what makes this especially funny is this guy does not even exist, relatively speaking, next to DDL. Like, are you really going to talk trash? No one gives a shit that you were on stranger things dude.

[@TALEOFA]

Jon L ahhhh many people care that he’s on stranger things I mean he’s been nominated many times for that show. And also has won a golden globe for it. Also he can describe any other actor style as he wants since it’s his opinion, but I do agree with him that living in that prison for a week wouldn’t do much besides knowing the in and out of a prison but you can also research that as well and talk to prisoners or see documentary video, and he also said that the character DDL isn’t in prison but it’s DDL that’s there.

[@jonathanl123]

Adrian Ventura A few golden globe nominations does not compare to DDL’s many accolades, and you’re saying that “it doesn’t do much” but obviously you can’t know for sure what it does for DDL’s performance. Like, how would you actually know?

[@TALEOFA]

Jon L I don’t know I just understand what he’s saying. That it’s not the character but you going to prison, yet what you can take from that experience is how the bed, waking up having to eat and pee feel like and also Showering feels like, but then after that week ends you go back to home peeing in private and eating either in private or with others eating what you want instead of what you’re given and showering in private.

[@cfinley81]

Ok, I love DDL as much as the next person and has been one of my favorite actors for years, but he's not the god of acting. And DH wasn't talking shit, he was just describing a certain method of acting that he didn't agree with and actually made a good point. He in no way said he was any better than DDL. Grow up.

[@randomdaveUK]

Jon you missed the point. He was talking about getting prepared mentally as a character. If said character would behave differently in an environment to you yourself then putting yourself in that environment doesn't work, you're still you imagining what the character would be thinking and feeling. That was his point. If DDL wants to experience an environment to then tether feelings to particular sounds, smells, visuals then that's fine. That's his way of working and it works for him. But he'll never be able to alter his mental state for a character by sitting in a prison cell for 5 days, on that point Harbour is spot on.

[@JukeHighwalker]

Wtf? This guy's a terrible actor...