Samuel L. Jackson is going to teach an online acting class in collaboration with MasterClass. Over the past quarter century, Jackson has gone from obscure character actor to the highest-grossing movie star of all time (including every film he's ever appeared in). Jackson, who has appeared in multiple Star Wars and MCU films as well as multiple films directed by Quentin Tarantino and Spike Lee, is the only actor in history whose movies have earned a cumulative total exceeding $5 billion. He and Harrison Ford have spent the last couple of years trading the top spot on that list.
The 68-year-old Jackson has also branched out movie acting, narrating the acclaimed Oscar-nominated documentary I Am Not Your Negro, and appearing to commercials for Apple and Capital One. He’s even voiced the book-on-tape version of the satirical children’s book “Go the F—to Sleep.” Now, Jackson is planning to give back, by teaching his craft to others. The likes of Kevin Spacey, Martin Scorsese, Dustin Hoffman, and Shonda Rhimes have taught such classes through MasterClass in the past.
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Jackson will soon offer his services in an online acting class for the first time. Variety is reporting that the class will be offered through the boutique online education provider MasterClass, and will be available this winter for a one-time $90 fee. In the class, featuring 20 separate lessons, a downloadable workbook and the opportunity to ask the actor questions, Jackson will “share lessons about how to break down a script, leverage their voice, embody their characters, improve their auditioning skills, and collaborate in the industry.” In a statement, Jackson said that "I hope students learn that there’s no limit to what they can make-believe."
Can one learn to act from Samuel L. Jackson? Well, he certainly is a master of his craft, having enjoyed a long and eclectic career over several decades and in just about every genre there is. There's no doubt that the man has a lot of stories to tell and valuable experiences to share from throughout his nearly five-decade career, and especially about the unique journey he has taken to movie stardom. He did, after all, once play a Jedi master. Then again, Jackson’s courses are likely best consumed as a compliment to, rather than a replacement for, a more traditional acting education. Best to keep that in mind, before signing up.
As for Jackson himself: he will return as the voice of Frozone next year in The Incredibles 2, before he reprises his roles as Nick Fury and Elijah Price in, respectively, 2019's Captain Marvel and Glass.
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The Samuel L. Jackson MasterClass course becomes available this winter.
Source: Variety