HB Studio’s Extended Learning offerings are designed to meet artists where they are: in the studio, at home, or in-between projects.
We acknowledge that actor training is a lifelong practice, rooted in rigor, curiosity and lived experience. As a means of access to that process, we offer you the opportunity to screen Uta Hagen’s Master Class, available digitally on Vimeo for rental or purchase. Recorded late in her life, this exclusive master class captures Hagen in direct conversation with a classroom of actors, speaking plainly and precisely about her craft. Over the course of this focused lecture, Hagen offers her observations on the work of the theater, the discipline of observation, and the actor’s responsibility to truth, specificity, and imagination. For the modern actor, this is a rare chance to engage directly with Hagen’s approach, not as retrospective or tribute, but as exacting instruction that will show you new ways to approach your goals.
As part of your journey, we also strongly suggest studying Hagen’s foundational texts, which continue to shape actor training internationally:
- Respect for Acting
First published in 1973 and expanded in later editions, this book articulates Hagen’s core principles of substitution, transference, and the use of the self in service of the work. It remains one of the most widely taught acting texts around the world. - A Challenge for the Actor
A practical companion volume, this book offers structured exercises that translate Hagen’s philosophy into daily practice. Designed to be worked through, not skimmed, this guide can provide a lifetime of challenge and growth.
Also available for purchase at HB Studio’s offices:
- Recommended reading for Speech:
Speaking with Skill: An Introduction to Knight-Thompson Speechwork by Dudley Knight
Together, the video master class and all of these texts form a continuum. We invite you to watch, read, practice, and return to a state of beginner’s mind. These are not replacements for studio training, nor are they meant to be consumed quickly. They are tools for sustained inquiry, reflecting HB’s belief that access to great teaching should not be bound by geography or a single moment in time.
The work continues. The questions deepen. The practice evolves.