The Four Muscles of Acting | Harry Mastrogeorge

Watch more of Harry's videos on acting at www.hieronyvision.com. It's a community where actors can explore and create.
Also check out the FREE Film School at www.watchmeetmake.com.

[@cupule_acorn]

"Acting is a state of mind. It's about priorities" - 4 muscles: 1. Childlike innocence 2. Imagination 3. Vulnerability 4. Concentration You're welcome ;)

[@jakemcbride7049]

Pull that childlike innocence out of that dark adult soul of sadness an use it to start your imagination an imagine your super vulnerable an then concentrate as hard as you can an then you can act like your happy as you walk into your 9 to 5 haha

[@1cashycash]

Thank you

[@lilzmj1321]

u have saved me a night of homework!!!!!!!!

[@rockhard2654]

this is what i say to get people to totally understand acting and it totally works every time when your in a theater watching a movie and its a good movie and your really absorbed with what's going on in the movie and it gets to a real tear jerking part and you start to mist up or cry THAT'S ACTING in the back of your mind you know nothing sad is happening for real BUT YOUR CRYING FOR REAL because your consciousness is so absorbed by your imagination THAT IT MIGHT AS WELL BE REAL, you are going to REALISTICALLY react, and your date sitting next to you watching you cry will never think your just faking it to fool them THEY KNOW YOU ARE REALLY FEELING THAT EMOTION. they can see that YOUR JUST FEELING A STRONG EMOTION ABOUT SOMETHING TOTALLY IMAGINARY people understand that totally because it's happened to all of us a million times they just never understood that THAT IS ACTING that's it, right there, that's what it is acting is reacting, they say that all the time real reactions to imaginary scenarios the better and stronger your imagination the better an actor you are this point of view also has the benefit of pointing out that the actors and the audience ARE DOING THE SAME THING TOGETHER theater is a SHARED experience a shared IMAGINARY experience and im not even talking about music music is an even more interesting example of the same kinda thing

[@fatheridrish6685]

Wow thats deep talk

[@sina3957]

Mind blown

[@jurrasicparkvideocompilation]

Shhhhhh twat there's a video playing.

[@MatttN]

thats fire

[@rockhard2654]

@@jurrasicparkvideocompilation why are you shooshing me? IM NOT TALKING!!,i wrote a thing, you just got so absorbed with what i wrote that YOU FELT I WAS TALKING. you ACTED like i was talking over the video.but in reality it was YOU READING.See that,just like i WROTE ,it totally works every time. I made you an excelent actor in one lesson, no charge

[@ChimenExpress]

I believe there is a fifth muscle which is empathy.

[@ChimenExpress]

Or you can eliminate concentration and replace it with empathy because if you want to get good at anything concentration is a no-brainer.

[@gargaritaladybug6997]

Right!

[@nandinipillai8276]

I think empathy's covered with imagination. Like, isn't the force driving empathy in us, pushed by our imagination?

[@ziad6010]

Empathy is achieved with imagination

[@LUCHTHANS4]

And a sixth one which is the actual muscles in our faces

[@gargaritaladybug6997]

God, been studying acting for a while now, but didn't get the courage to try auditioning. This video blew my mind and gave me confidence! This man is great. It's true. Everybody fears the result....and some of us really lose concentration quite easily. Yet, when you're afraid of trying, you need to hear it.

[@AaronRaglandTV]

I've been acting for a while myself and auditioning is seriously the most nerve wrecking part of the process.People can truly get lost in am I good enough and how do I look while I say these lines and with these character choices,but you just have to go for it.What type of acting are you into?Theatre,TV/Film, or both and what gotchu into acting?

[@oumeima5718]

hey i e been trying to ausition to , but i son't know how to get an audition, alos whta do u study exactly in acting

[@nikishchanekar7442]

Wow!! Childlike innocence, imagination, vulnerability and concentration. I would also add empathy to it.

[@nitinsehgalnavi]

What if you are playing a psychopath?

[@shawneustace9891]

@@nitinsehgalnavi if you know empathy well, than you will know how to act completely lacking it better for a psychopath role.

[@EricHowl]

This dude is the most down to earth acting coach of all time

[@Watchmeetmake]

THANKS. Harry was amazing. There are more videos from this interview on the HieronyVision website www.hv.cool

[@user-qn5jj4vf9k]

I studied with Harry for about 2 years. It took me a year before I truly grasped what he meant by "doing the work." Thinking about your life as a character and what made them want to say the words they spoke. I stopped acting because at that point I was not willing to "pay the price." But I found my way back to it, or did it find it's way back to me? (lol). This time around I am open vulnerable and was absolutely shocked to find as I went through my first few gigs, that ingrained in my consciousness while I went through a script was Harry's voice coaching from the dim lights of that small theater...Those years in class paid off. Thanks, Harry!

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thanks for sharing that. Harry is really great!

[@a.krishna3924]

hi, sorry I know this comment is 3 years ago, but if you don't mind sharing, what price were you not willing to pay?

[@openheartcreator7643]

@@a.krishna3924 haha thank you for the question. I should have written: "at that point I was not will to pay that price'" It's about becoming the person(character) in your head. That's a huge price most people are not capable of paying simply because they are so consumed with being who they think they are. You have to open to being another person. Are you willing to let who you think you are go for an hour a day and learn another person? If you can then, you are doing the work and that is the price you must pay. It is common for many actors to spend a lot more than just an hour a day at it but that is the starting point. hope this helps!

[@a.krishna3924]

@@openheartcreator7643 In other words, not completely being "in character" 100% when you have to?

[@a.krishna3924]

@@openheartcreator7643 when you said they are consumed with who they think they are as in, is it like for example, lets say I'm a shy person in real life, but my role is a people person, completely opposite, would the price I'm not willing to pay be that my belief of my own shyness makes it impossible for me to embody that extroverted character? Like a mental block?

[@ryanr.719]

I was lucky enough to take Harry’s classes 20 years ago when he was at The Brewery in downtown Los Angeles. He looks exactly the same and hasn’t aged one bit. Though I’m no longer acting, I still remember many wonderful things he said to me along with his affinity for ‘dumb blonde’ jokes. My favorite of his: “How do you get a one-armed blonde out of a tree?”... “Just wave.” 👋🏼

[@Watchmeetmake]

Harry is still the grand master of acting teachers! Great info and thanks for the comment. We've known him a long time but he must have changed his jokes a bit as we have not heard those.

[@georgesear544]

Funny, I was just looking into him as I've just moved to LA and live opposite The Brewery.

[@alexandervue9464]

of all my years trying to learn how to act, this video was one of the best acting videos I have been lucky enough to come across

[@Watchmeetmake]

Completely agree. Thx for the comment!

[@sam_8290]

I do short films with my friends for fun Fun in the sense, we are serious about it, we do it like it's our hobby..that's the fun Anyway one of my friend's dad works at theatre..he advised us to think about the character as your guru or mentor He said if we try to imagine ourselves as the character then we'd get obsessed to such a degree that it will cause problem portraing it..but if we get inspiration from that character that will help us more And that did for us..over the years I came up with my own process..i approach a character as a person who was actually real in past..more like biography type..that really helps me to create my own world as the character and then approach the reality as the character's own world..

[@Watchmeetmake]

A very thoughtful comment. Thank you. There will be more from Harry Mastrogeorge on the site www.HV.cool (Hieronyvision) next month.

[@peproca3194]

One of the best lessons i' ve seen in youtube... And i have any interest in acting...

[@saradraperwessels]

Its so nice to hear your voice again. Beth Draper

[@anikatasnim6001]

I love him. And I love your channel, website and all your social media pages. ❣️🥺

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thank you!!!

[@b00i00d]

absolutely spot on! while everything he says I agree with from experience, it's interesting as actors how often we forget these things and go very wrong!

[@Watchmeetmake]

Great point. Harry has got some really great insight. If you'd like to check out some more of his videos on acting, check out our site. watchmeetmake.com/meet/harry-mastrogeorge/

[@mollywilson7134]

This is brilliant. Thank you!

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thank you! You can see more of Harry's videos on Hieronyvision.

[@cdoggtotten]

When will you post more of his videos? Would love to see more!

[@jacquieli8607]

Very well said! Thank you🙏🏻

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thank you for watching! 🙏🏾We have more acting videos from Harry: hieronyvision.com/categories/movies/harry-mastrogeorge/

[@JoKrasevich]

OH I miss him So much. Best teacher I ever had.

[@Watchmeetmake]

He was the best ❣

[@truthnationfilms]

Thank you Harry!

[@Watchmeetmake]

Harry's the best. We love his approach.

[@ankitmohapatra11]

Dude..i study in Lee strasberg and this channel is fucking amazing..you are doing great job..you are really contributing something to this world of art...don't stop doing it..you have great potential and the right talent and perspective..please please make new material, post stuff more frequently. PS: this is my first ever comment on youtube ever. Nothing i ever saw made me comment.

[@taylorMFilms]

This is exceptionally good.

[@Watchmeetmake]

Glad you liked it! We have more from Harry. hieronyvision.com/categories/movies/harry-mastrogeorge/

[@HellobroHellobro-ni5rl]

Ahh thanks harry mastrogeorge!!

[@kwixotic]

Very insightful yet practical because getting lost in technique complicates scene work.

[@jasonhavalar388]

If there is one thing that I have learned. It’s that there is a tremendous amount of support from actors, for actors. Some of the Best friends that I have made, I have made during rehearsals, or screen tests. Rarely, have I heard an actor trash another actor. We are all in it together. I have been to a lot of channels, and the comment sections are usually brutal. Except, for the acting channels. Or, most channels pertaining to art. This channel being one of them. Everyone here for the most part is super respectful, and just wants to engage and be better at what they do. And for me acting, is about Finding myself in other humans. Other actors, are my tribe. As in perfect as we are. Someone in this thread mentioned empathy possibly being another Muscle. I 100% agree. I think without empathy, our ability to pretend, or become someone else is impossible.

[@Watchmeetmake]

Great comment. Thank you!

[@yasinekici8146]

just brilliant

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thank you! Check out Harry's other videos on Hieronyvision.

[@Santafefashionweek]

Great information

[@aarononuora706]

This is 4 minutes of GOLD

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thx! There's more of Harry's interview on HieronyVision.

[@johnparker9229]

Best video on KZbin on Acting.

[@Watchmeetmake]

THANK YOU!!! More on Harry very soon. Also on our new channel HIERONYVISION at www.HV.cool. Harry is a legend and still teaching!

[@son0funiverse]

Great video

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thanks!

[@FelinoDollosoActor]

Thank you

[@yourhostpiyush2324]

it's a great information..

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thanks very much! Let us know what you think of the others. Always glad for feedback,

[@andrewmasset8751]

Beautiful and in depth true. Give yourself permission to play/pretend. Damn the torpedo's..full speed ahead.

[@greatquotesdaily4253]

This is great! BOINK!

[@Watchmeetmake]

Very much appreciated. Hope to have time to do some more soon!

[@princec663]

Amazinggg

[@Watchmeetmake]

Harry is GREAT! Thanks.

[@frasierdog]

Awesome vid

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thank you! More finally coming in the new year.

[@jayrta2097]

Amazing

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thx! New one's dropping soon on our sister channel www.hv.cool.

[@bleepbloop9123]

This guy is so cute & I love what he has to say

[@Watchmeetmake]

He's great. Some really wonderful insight in to the art of acting.

[@adfectus1270]

nice job

[@sumitgoswami5672]

Good ...make more videos

[@JivanNavij]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🎭 Acting is a state of mind rooted in childlike innocence, imagination, vulnerability, and concentration. 01:02 🌟 To be an accomplished actor, exercise and practice these four muscles: childlike innocence, imagination, vulnerability, and concentration. 02:00 💡 Avoid concerns about results and subjectivity; focus on absorbing information and behaving naturally under unnatural conditions. 02:58 🎭 Acting is a game of pretending, and techniques like substitution and sense memory are tools to prepare for the performance. 03:56 🤹‍♂️ Great actors embrace their childlike innocence, accepting the illusion and playing pretend in a mature way. Made with HARPA AI

[@abhinaykikala7103]

Thank you so much

[@KathyJeanActress]

Thank you.

[@Watchmeetmake]

If you'd like to see more videos from Harry Mastrogeorge, you can see them on our site. The link is in our bio. 👍

[@KathyJeanActress]

@@Watchmeetmake, I'm visiting now. :)

[@TheGrmany69]

I've read Strasberg before and I can say most people that write about the method just smatter some exercises. This on the contrary, it's another thing, it's quite in line with the method ulterior message. I've seen there is more benefits in practicing mindfulness than trying to force some rehearsals.

[@markcgonzales9569]

Is there more of this interview? This is the only interview I can find of him online.

[@Watchmeetmake]

We'll be posting more of his interview soon. It will also be available on the new channel HIERONYVISION www.HV.cool. Thanks for asking. He is a legend in his field.

[@Sumit_pandey]

@@Watchmeetmake waiting for more interview of him.

[@nastyaschvarts]

Спасибо!

[@TNTN1977]

Ray Liotta BMH . RIP 🙏🏽

[@damarisisales]

Gracias

[@Watchmeetmake]

Denada!

[@BM-iw5wh]

Thank you so much for posting this video. Has been very helpful. Where can I find more videos like these?

[@AaronRaglandTV]

Hey,you can find so many videos online and on KZbin.Backstage is a good source.Are you just starting out as an actor?

[@BM-iw5wh]

I struggle to find videos like these! Thanks for the suggestion of Backstage. I feel great after watching one video from the channel you had suggested. I'd love to do acting but the only thing that is stopping me doing it is whether if I would be any good or not. Do you have any more resources like these?

[@robertsellers2846]

How do you describe or your interpretation of vulnerability

[@alexponder9582]

How does one practice and exercise these muscles?

[@Watchmeetmake]

If in Los Angeles, see if Harry has a class open. A number of really talented actors have honed their craft with him. There's also more acting info on our website and more videos coming after our new channel launch. Thanks for watching!

[@ThomasRoll85]

I believe there is a 6th muscle. His name is Maurice, and he lives in a rock pool off the coast of Hawaii. Lovely bloke. Quite reclusive.

[@Mahakaall26]

Believe it and absorb it..

[@ryanx3584]

How do I get more in touch with my childlike innocence? I feel I lost that shit at 17 :(

[@Watchmeetmake]

Haha. Finding that childlike innocence is something we all want to re-discover. Thankfully Harry Mastrogeorge believes we "haven't lost it". Part of what he's talking about is getting out of the way of ourselves. As an actor, if you get too much in your head, you're in trouble. Harry talks about acting as a "game of make believe". So if we can get out of our own way, let everything go inside, and find that place where we don't have a care in the world (like a child), then we can be open to who the character is and the story we're trying to tell.

[@OjonugwaMansu]

Ok but how do you practice those four states of mind

[@Watchmeetmake]

One example Harry Mastrogeorge has talked about is the great actor Daniel Day-Lewis and how he finds those states of mind. Lewis has a room in his home where he can go to shut off the noise of the world. It's there that he allows himself to get into that state of mind, letting his imagination go free. It takes practice though.

[@PressPlayInspires]

What is the price to pay? Commitment and determination?

[@Dripxo]

Okay but how do you train those four muscles?

[@Watchmeetmake]

We'll be releasing more of Harry's videos before the end of the year. He gives more details. Really great stuff. Please stay tuned.

[@Woodsaras]

You dont, this video is just pseudo deep smoke and mirrors.

[@waiver269]

@@Woodsaras Could you elaborate?

[@Woodsaras]

@@waiver269 oh damn, how old is that.

[@IamJean-Miguel]

I honor his Wisdom...

[@Watchmeetmake]

Harry is one of the best all time. An incredible list of top actors who have worked or are still working with him! Thx for commenting.

[@IamJean-Miguel]

I would love to be his Ultimate student someday... I live in California but I have no clue where to search his Dojo. Apparently, his website is down.

[@Watchmeetmake]

The link to his site above is still active but seems to need a flash player to be viewed. Otherwise here's an email: [e-mail]. He teaches at the Hudson Theaters in Hollywood.

[@IamJean-Miguel]

Much obliged to you and your channel, he will definitely be my very first Acting coach ever and It will be such an honor to train under him. Time to pay him a visit.

[@Watchmeetmake]

He is great. Enjoy!

[@bibinbdas5038]

0. 23

[@jamesverner9132]

I looked this up to understand wtf the lead actress is talking about when she wants to "bring a new acting style to starwars.

[@yepisuredolikecats3979]

ok then in theory i should be a great actress

[@Watchmeetmake]

🙂💯

[@alexmauvais]

Concern about results (approval) is a true cancer. Makes it harder to be open in acting as well as in “normal” life.

[@neocow2]

way better edit. Would nix the sound effects. they don't really add any value on top of his voice. They also never need to be longer than 1 second, ever./ ( the ringing one. way too long. it is distracting.) Still you went from like 0 in your last edit, to 10, in comparison. Miles apart. Good work

[@Watchmeetmake]

Thanks, duly noted!

[@greatquotesdaily4253]

I love the effects. More effects!

[@Orchid_cchild]

Cancers in acting Concern abt results Subjectivity

[@imtubin6222]

I love how on these videos in the comments, people always want to add on or put their own advice. How about you go make your own videos and stop riding someone else's.

[@Watchmeetmake]

Ha! We understand what you're saying but we honestly don't mind as we're hoping to start conversations about these topics. Thanks for the feedback.

[@ThompsonBlake]

Harry is an absolute genius. His words speak for themselves. Please lose the effects.

[@greatquotesdaily4253]

The effects were not distracting. How could you say that?

[@lilledrum]

@@greatquotesdaily4253 There is no mention of distraction in mr. Blakes comment. He is clearly saying that the effects are superfluous.

[@israelafangideh1454]

The effects help me learn

[@nieceypiecey100]

Liked the effects.

[@Zetsuke4]

This is so surface level

[@joseserrano5397]

Acting is simply photographing well atleast in film acting. I think this only applies to theater acting

[@Watchmeetmake]

Interesting comment. Note that Harry's clients / students have been some of the top film actors in Hollywood at one point or another - so these thoughts should apply to both theater and film. Curious to hear what others think. Thanks for watching / message.

[@ShowBizJunkie]

Please don't talk in terms of riddles. I wish you had explain each of these terms. Specially "Child like innocence" or "Heart of a baby". What does that mean? How do you apply it to acting?

[@BeholdChronicles]

Agreed. These terms sound to me like emotional states of a character being played. Strasberg would call this emotional memories.

[@alexsimon3071]

Thanks for the video hope you read the bible and understand Gods wisdom if you haven't yet, make a change, turn your life to Christ if you don't want to go to hell( Matthew 16:24, John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,John 14:6 ) Many people will disagree and mock you trust me, but its worth it for an eternity praising our Creator. As Jesus said "if they hate you remember they first hated me"(John 15:18). Read the KJV bible, start from the New testament. God bless you

[@Orchid_cchild]

Thank you