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Hello friend,
MasterClass is a sponsor of the show, but I wouldn’t bring them on if I didn’t appreciate what they do. Their classes allow you and me to learn from world-renowned filmmakers, musicians, writers, and other creative leaders at home or on the go (they provide versatile iOS and Android apps along with website access).
Plus, their videos aren’t all shot in the same generic studio. They’re beautifully shot in distinct locations that somehow reflect the instructor’s sensibilities.
I’ve gone through several MasterClasses at this point. Below are some of the MasterClasses, arranged alphabetically, that have shaped the way I think and see the world, especially in regards to my creative pursuits.
If you decide that MasterClass might be helpful to you too, would you consider signing up through the links on this page? That won’t cost you anything extra, and it’s a great way for you to show your support.
Get one-year access to all of MasterClass’s world-class instructors for one great price!
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Aaron Sorkin – The writer responsible for A Few Good Men, The West Wing, and The Newsroom shares what he’s learned about storytelling over the years. I found it particularly helpful to watch him demonstrate how a writers’ room works with a few up-and-coming writers that were brought in for the class.
On the podcast, I had a chance to explore Aaron Sorkin’s work when I interviewed Hope Hanafin, his costume designer on The Newsroom. That interview led to this spoiler-filled commentary episode, where I do a deep dive into The Newsroom and other Aaron Sorkin projects.
Chris Voss – a former FBI hostage negotiator who went on to become an award-winning teacher at some of the world’s most prestigious business schools. In his MasterClass he shares advance techniques for dealing with bad guys, but also for having challenging conversations at work and with loved ones. He then models the techniques in various conversations with an actress.
David Axelrod & Karl Rove – They’re on opposing sides of the political spectrum—David Axelrod was a chief strategist for Barack Obama, while Karl Rove was Deputy Chief of Staff for George W. Bush—so I was surprised to learn of their friendship, which they showcase in their MasterClass. They talk about how to run a campaign but also the realities of the current political landscape and why participating with civility and respect still matters.
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David Lynch – In his MasterClass, the director behind Elephant Man, Mulholland Drive, and Twin Peaks talks about cultivating and being receptive to good ideas. He encourages viewers to dedicate themselves to the pursuit of art and explains how meditation helped him have a more vibrant creative life.
Hans Zimmer – While explaining how he likes to work with filmmakers, he elaborates on the ideas that his scores are meant to convey and how he conveys those ideas musically. His collaborations with Christopher Nolan—The Dark Knight trilogy themes in particular—get special emphasis. The discussion about the score for Frost/Nixon, pairs nicely with the Ron Howard MasterClass, where he discusses the film from a director’s point of view.
For more on Christopher Nolan’s films, check out this podcast interview I did with Jeff Jasper, a digital effects supervisor who discusses the minatures work done on Dark Knight and Interstellar.
Herbie Hancock – He learned his craft while playing with the likes of Miles Davis, so improvisation became a crucial skill for him. He advises his students to “try to make anything that happens into something of value.” Hancock also acknowledges the importance of practicing for hours each day and recommends that musicians release music through their own publishing companies whenever possible.
I also appreciated his affirmation that there’s nothing wrong with working at McDonald’s while growing as an artist. Rather than scoff at a day job, he suggests that it provides real-life experiences that can improve someone’s art.
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Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein – The founders of Goodby Silverstein & Partners are responsible for iconic advertising campaigns like “got milk” and the Budweiser lizards. They explain why some ads are better than others, how to create mass intimacy, and the lengths they’ve gone to win over clients.
Ken Burns – His acclaimed documentaries on the Civil War, jazz, baseball, Vietnam, country music, and more have redefined the sweeping scope of what documentaries can cover. Some of my takeaways from his class include the what it takes to put nuanced storytelling on screen and how to craft interviews that resonate.
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Malcolm Gladwell – These days, new Malcolm Gladwell books don’t just become New York Times bestsellers. They comment on culture in ways that eventually shape culture. Some of the things he discusses in his MasterClass include how to get the audience involved with unresolved dilemmas, the difference between surprise and suspense, and where a critic’s focus should be.
Martin Scorsese – I didn’t expect to hear the esteemed director explain that moral questions are at the center of his films, but then he once thought about becoming a priest, so it makes sense. His knowledge of film history is extensive, and it comes across as he discusses art direction, cinematography, and other aspects of filmmaking.
In one section Scorsese talks about the mystery of getting lost in a story even as he is aware that it is an illusion; aiming for that is a good challenge for any filmmaker.
Shortly after Hugo came, I wrote this in-depth blog post about Scorsese and his films.
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Mira Nair – She started her filmmaking career in India, so she shares some insights about approaching Hollywood from an outsider’s perspective. One of her strengths as a filmmaker is delineating the nuances of a culture and exploring cultural clashes in evenhanded ways, something she also addresses in her MasterClass. I was moved by the way she thanks actors for sharing painful emotions in the scene she workshops.
Neil Gaiman – A master storyteller and a rare writer who makes his stories even more compelling when he reads them. Gaiman has a scholar’s knowledge of fairytales and mythology, so it is fitting that a number of the lessons he shares are framed in the language of fairytales. For example: Don’t tell people that it is sad that the unicorn is dead. Tell the story of the unicorn dying.
This is the blog post I wrote about Neil Gaiman’s work before I put the blog on hiatus.
Reba McEntire – Her MasterClass is both personal—she talks about how her faith has guided her career and what kinds of moments make her tear up—but also filled with practical tips, like how to warm up before a show and when to start reaching out to songwriters. Much of the class is recorded at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, where she interacts with other performers and gives them tips on how to improve.
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Ron Howard – He started as an actor, so he puts emphasis on how to work with actors in his MasterClass. After explaining his approach, he directs a few actors as they flesh out a scene from Frost/Nixon. His scene deconstructions of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Apollo 13, and A Beautiful Mind are also helpful to watch.
Steve Martin – He doesn’t just do compelling physical comedy. Steve Martin also learn special skills like making balloon animals or playing the banjo that he adds to his act. It’s part of his approach: Be so good that they can’t ignore you.
Some of the comedic concepts he addresses include creating a persona for the stage, using tension and release in a routine, staying ahead of the audience, and putting characters in a proverbial corner to ramp up the humor of a scene.
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