Inside The Actor’s Studio: Online Film School

This is nearly 40 hours of fascinating, expository, and educational interviews with some of cinema’s top names and talents.

Founded as a craft seminar for film and acting students, Inside the Actor’s Studio has been an ever present TV tool for filmmakers for over 20 years.

I’ve been watching Inside the Actor’s Studio since grade school and it’s hard to quantify the lessons I’ve learned from this show.

Between great film directors’ origin stories, and insights from legendary actors on what works for their craft, this show has been invaluable. More recently, it’s been a bit flashier and more commercialized, but there was a time when the show was a film school unto itself.

I included some of these interviews for obvious reasons—they feature great filmmakers discussing their approach, career decisions, and inspirations. Others are a bit broader, but equally valuable—the Dave Chapelle episode is among the best interviews I’ve ever had.

I urge you to pay close attention to each of these and see them for the unique lessons they offer. Enjoy this abundance of information, and have fun walking down memory lane with some of your favorite films and the minds behind them!

1. MARTIN SCORSESE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oib0sOgt820

 

 

 

 

 

2. FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_FpQ2PrFc4

 

 

 

 

 

3. DAVE CHAPPELLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0PI9O2KKqk

 

 

 

 

 

4. TOM CRUISE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiNeWpwP-BA

 

 

 

 

 

5. ROBERT REDFORD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRpNjcf2kGQ

 

 

 

 

 

6. PAUL NEWMAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf9X4XQ5kGw

 

 

 

 

 

7. STEVEN SPIELBERG

PART I

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

 

 

8. SPIKE LEE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5q44W9_9hw

 

 

 

 

 

9. AL PACINO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIwJSgCtUYs

 

 

 

 

 

10. CLINT EASTWOOD

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jq14TNMpYvo

 

 

 

 

 

11. JOHN GOODMAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wixddP-qho

 

 

 

 

 

12. SAMUEL L. JACKSON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_uhLPE3Gu8

 

 

 

 

 

13. GEORGE CLOONEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4rh_H7ADjA

 

 

 

 

 

14. HARVEY KEITEL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4asxf8F9tdE

 

 

 

 

 

15. DUSTIN HOFFMAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZHPEPT7LSc

 

 

 

 

 

16. NAOMI WATTS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRRTuS9KnJU

 

 

 

 

 

17. JULIANNE MOORE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=te8szWggDfk

 

 

 

 

 

18. JODIE FOSTER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQSTea03i2M

 

 

 

 

 

19. ROBIN WILLIAMS (The funniest 90 minutes of all time)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5jMCZbauFk

 

 

 

 

 

20. MARTIN SHEEN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdmHh1p0E2s

 

 

 

 

 

21. KATE WINSLET

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7Ao8WR37HA

 

 

 

 

 

22. JENNIFER CONNELLY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGvOzb76y1c

 

 

 

 

 

23. JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6eYUxJqozo

 

 

 

 

 

24. BEN STILLER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmpU8IZ8f3E

 

 

 

 

 

25. BEN KINGSLEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcLnCmp92KY

 

 

 

 

 

26. BEN AFFLECK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8mtmtXV5xE

 

 

 

 

 

27. MATT DAMON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YASHP0-upRw

 

 

 

 

 

28. MERYL STREEP

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I44aia-6tFw

 

 

 

 

 

29. WILL SMITH

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzxKAKBKohA

 

 

 

 

 

30. FOREST WHITAKER

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5imms1XExY

 

 

 

 

 

31. KEVIN SPACEY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVjUFf0mPm4

 

 

 

 

 

32. BILLY BOB THORNTON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGvZQ5eVmlc

 

 

 

 

 

33. CHRIS ROCK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peHW-YB8NRQ

 

 

 

 

 

34. MORGAN FREEMAN

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKxpvQ6gclU

 

 

 

 

 

35. TOM HANKS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAVbjaK6B3A

 

 

 

 

 

36. MICHAEL CAINE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkmZgDSL_Bg

 

 

 

 

 

37. RICKY GERVAIS

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hqs_ogsnnh8

 

 

 

 

 

Any other episode recommendations? Tell me in the comments, below! Thanks for reading/watching 🙂