What I love about this is that Ian McKellen is not actually the person he’s portraying on screen in this scene. The director has just asked him to act like that and probably also gave him a script.
Gosh, that's amazing - I hadn't thought of that! So basically if you draw a timeline of how that woked it would be: Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian... "ACTION"... Sir Ian, Sir Ian,... "CUT"... Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian.
The man is a virtuoso, can do Shakespeare, any big drama play or movie, and when Mckellen does comedy he makes you bust your gut full of laughter!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Wonderful acting from a wonderful actor. Sir Ian makes it all seem that acting is just so simple! "The words will be written for me", "People tell me where to stand."!
Yet you notice how Ricky still FAILS this one simple task later in the episode? Thats why its so funny, he acts all confused cause its so OBVIOUS what acting really means as Ian explains it, its just pretending to be someone else lol, yet Ricky cant do that one simple task later when he has to act gay for the show lol. Its too funny and well written
bahahaha would be hilarious if Ian made a MasterClass and just proceeded to explain acting in the same way he does here lol... Thats it folks, youre just pretending to be this other person! You will not LITERALLY be this other person! I share with you this WISDOM!
I've watched this a million times and counting. It's up there with the greatest scenes of the Ricky Gervais Era. Hilarious!....That whole episode is a topper.
Sir Ian is a true legend. As someone who spent over a decade working in theatre in the UK this hits so close. I remember one casting for a children’s show and they asked one actor going for the part of a talking tree how he thought it must FEEL to be a tree.
This is literally all that acting is. It's just pretending. But they can't with a straight face give awards for "best pretending", so they called it "acting".
"There will be no scripts on the night!" This is refreshing. The last play I went to all the actors had scripts. I still enjoyed the play, but I'd have preferred it if they hadn't had the scripts on the night.
Sir Ian is just brilliant in whatever role he inhabits. The man is just that good! Steve and Ricky’s scripts are just so well written in this series! Really enjoy rewatching Extras,
Andy: It's a pleasure to meet you Sir Ian. Ian McKellan: Please, no titles in the workplace. Ian McKellan then proceeds to refer to himself as "Sir Ian" for the rest of the time.
It's funny when you think how did the hell do they do this without laughing all through it. Then you watch the outtakes and you realised they didn't, they laughed constantly all through it 😂😂
Is it true that its all about just pretending to be another character, as Sir Ian mentions? I thought there was more to acting but if Ian is correct, you're not literally being your character, you're just pretending to be this other person! It blew my mind..
Yes, I hear it too. A lot of times people talking doesn't do it for me but in this scene Sir Ian's voice is just right and the ASMR vibes are flowing. Thankfully there is no music played over this. A lot of great ASMR moments in movies and TV is ruined by the musical score. Great job by the sound department on this.
This scene is truly perfect. Every single part of this is on point, the script is sensational and the timing is spectacular. This is neber fails to have le laughing so much that I need to stop the playback and rewind. It's one the greatest scenes ever put to film no joking. Bloody brilliant.
After watching his Macbeth from 1979 "Tomorrow... and tomorrow.... and tomorrow" final speech. Then seeing this. Got to love "Sirian". To reduce something he is so damn good at. To laugh at his own craft. Well done mate. :) Everyone would be lucky enough to see life through this sort of lens and laugh at their own strengths. Know when to turn on, and when to turn off.
"I've got a part here where you play a pompous Shakespearean actor condescendingly explaining what acting is to Ricky Gervais." Sir Ian: "I think I can pull that off."
@@hellfish2309 That's what I thought at first too, but it's really a solid if not simple approach. Plus Andy is the simpleton who cannot wrap his head around portraying a character, pretending and acting like something he is not.
I didn't get condescension from this at all. He's playing it totally deadpan, as if he's the first human being to discover acting. The conceit is that he's such a brilliant and famous actor nobody has ever told him that he's not doing anything differently from anyone else, so he's been free to live in this little bubble for his entire career. It's in the same spirit of Patrick Stewart and his 'I've seen everything' screenplay; clearly nobody around him told him how bad his idea was. Of course it's absurdist humor, but that's what makes it so funny.
Yeah, not getting a hint of intentional condescension from this. He seems to legitimately think that he’s sharing something profound with Andy. And The fact that he acts so coy when admitting that the words he says are written in a script demonstrates his lack of arrogance. He knows that actors rely on other people to tell him what to say and do, and this too is a profound secret he’s sharing with Andy.
It’s absurdist humor. You both are looking for meaning that gervais couldn’t care less about. This isn’t about anything that YOU think or feel. It’s simply funny because Ricky thought it would be funny to have a well respected actor pretending to be a moron, to show that Actors can be fallible and dumb just like everyone else. It’s just a comedic method of shedding a different light on someone with Gravitas, but it’s not a hidden reference or grain of wisdom. If you think it’s some hidden secret then you’re admitting that you think you have some secret knowledge of the way actors can be. That’s not what this is about. It’s about how we all know Actors can sometimes be full of shit. Ricky is the proxy for us (the audience) in this clip. He knows the business and he’s just confirming and detailing the things we’ve all known forever about SOME actors. Also, the OP mentions comedy as if it already hasn’t had Wisdom In it. Comedy comes from Wisdom. You laugh because you were expecting one outcome, and the comedian challenged you with another. That dissonance leads your body to release prior anticipation in the form of laughter. “This is obviously comedy,”....Stating the obvious is not a form of commentary.
@@HelloTardis Absolutely fucking unbearable. Amazing that there's actually people like you who really exist and walk around feeling all wised up like this lmao.
It is, but it’s also more than that in the context of the episode which makes it fucking awesome. Andy is unable to perform the play in front of friends because he doesn’t want them to think he’s gay. Clearly he wasn’t listening to the speech from a man who wasn’t, in fact, a wizard.
It’s not, he’s in on the joke - and has said himself the scene is bollocks - comedy is no different - talent is important but acting “process, methods, techniques and skills” are harnessed through lifetimes of extensive experience and training. you just don’t like actors.
Because they’re self absorbed morons who know they were too incompetent to become an actual teacher so they need to make playing pretend as grandiose and complicated as possible to compensate
I've seen this in the show, but I came to watch this clip because I was watching Sir Ian be very serious in the Lord of the Rings making-of documentaries, and needed to be reminded of his "process".
I love how he opens with "no titles in the workplace" to be nice and immediately just refers to himself as Sir Ian
I LOVE that.😂
Sir Ian: "No titles"
Also Sir Ian: "Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian"
Also: "WIZARD: YOU SHALL NOT PASS."
That was one of my favorite parts. He ONLY refers to himself as "Sir Ian" in the entire scene.
ahahahhahahahahahahahahahha
@@VicenzoV its so funny haha
@@bryymiller2475 He says "WIZARD:" in the voice of the wizard.
What I love about this is that Ian McKellen is not actually the person he’s portraying on screen in this scene. The director has just asked him to act like that and probably also gave him a script.
Gosh, that's amazing - I hadn't thought of that! So basically if you draw a timeline of how that woked it would be: Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian... "ACTION"... Sir Ian, Sir Ian,... "CUT"... Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian.
@@yc1094 you forgot to add the wizard Gandalf in there sir Ian action sir Ian action Gandalf cut sir Ian cut sir ian
WOW. Mind fucking blown. I thought that was just all part of the sketch.
I wonder how he knew where to sit.
@@Morphdog9819Someone told him…
i wonder if there is anything written down in that script he holds up, or maybe its just a prop!
What a mystery!
A wizard never pretends. He acts precisely when he means to.
Wizaaard!
He acts precisely as the script means him to
How he means to
That doesn't make sense. If he acts then he pretends
@@TheRamoach its a quite from the film.
It’s pure satire, but I can’t help but be mesmerized by Ian’s mannerisms.
Same. It's so ridiculous but he's still acts it so well
It was written down in a script 🫣
His hand play alone is a mini-Actors Studio.
"That goes for everyone - THERE WILL BE NO SCRIPTS ON THE NIGHT!" Brilliant 😂
like it's a primary school play haha
He wipes a tear away like he just laid down some profound speech 🤣 great stuff
I think he was breaking, but they edited it into the final
Its fucking brilliant ahahahahahahha
Are you implying he DIDNT? 😢
😂
@@whynottalklikeapiratit’s too late, I’ve already seen everything 😂
I actually attended a Sir Ian McKellan acting masterclass. He warned us all that we needed to pay attention and study hard or we would not pass.
Did he use the line “You shall not pass” in that instance, too?
@@dandyandy3682 he also handed out scripts and told the students "keep them secret. Keep them safe"
@@dandyandy3682 Pssst......Hey........pssssssst............................. i think that was the joke.........
"if we were to draw a graph of my process" 😂 this scene is comedy gold
Even in this short scene, he is absolutely mesmerising. Sir Ian indeed...
“Sir Ian 🏃🏽♂️ Sir Ian 🏃🏽♂️Sir Ian 🏃🏽♂️ (action) Wizard 🧙♂️ YOU SHALL NOT PASS! (Cut) Sir Ian 🏃🏽♂️ Sir Ian 🏃🏽♂️ Sir Ian” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
"Ian, I want you to play Gandalf the Wizard."
"Peter, you realize of course that I am *not* a wizard."
"Wut"
The man is a virtuoso, can do Shakespeare, any big drama play or movie, and when Mckellen does comedy he makes you bust your gut full of laughter!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣
...because he learns the words. If he had the script on the day it would break the illusion!
according to him, this is the only scene that ever broke his performance - he had trouble completing takes without laughing
He is so "serious" in his comedy!
@@WieldingEminator that's the only way to play comedy successfully.
Do yourself a favor and watch Vicious.
Perfectly written. Perfectly acted.
Except it wasn't, the outtakes for this scene were many - like a LOT.
@@rafezetter8003so?
Of course it's perfect. The writing was in the script and Sir Ian and Ricky were told what to do
Ian mirroring Ricky’s squint at @1:00 is gold.
omg!
That made me laugh so much 😂
Nice catch! I didn't even notice that at first.
Yes! I didn't notice that.
He ain't Sir Ian for nothing
The “you’re confused” fk sends me🤣
Amazing. Never gets old. Sir Ian Sir Ian Sir Ian
Wonderful acting from a wonderful actor. Sir Ian makes it all seem that acting is just so simple! "The words will be written for me", "People tell me where to stand."!
That's the joke. It was hilarious until I read you literally write out the joke.
Yet you notice how Ricky still FAILS this one simple task later in the episode? Thats why its so funny, he acts all confused cause its so OBVIOUS what acting really means as Ian explains it, its just pretending to be someone else lol, yet Ricky cant do that one simple task later when he has to act gay for the show lol. Its too funny and well written
@@two2truthsI noticed that too ironic how he turned out to be the one who couldn’t understand acting
The best thing about this is how good Iain is at acting!
Yup. He's playing a complete buffoon and yet he sells it.
The tissue …
This is the best episode of Extras ever!
I’m mesmerized by him explaining something extraordinary simple
My name is Sir Ian McKellen & this is my MasterClass.
bahahaha would be hilarious if Ian made a MasterClass and just proceeded to explain acting in the same way he does here lol... Thats it folks, youre just pretending to be this other person! You will not LITERALLY be this other person! I share with you this WISDOM!
I like the little wiggle Sir Ian does at 1:21 when hes 'imagining'
The little smile after he says "the words were written on a script"
“There will be no scripts on the night!”
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Classic 😂
Totally uncalled-for, but I gotta say this: Ian's voice here is soooooo ASMRy... 😍😍😍
Absolutly agreed with you
Yup
his voice is like a warm mug of hot chocolate
I've watched this a million times and counting. It's up there with the greatest scenes of the Ricky Gervais Era. Hilarious!....That whole episode is a topper.
Sir Ian is a true legend. As someone who spent over a decade working in theatre in the UK this hits so close. I remember one casting for a children’s show and they asked one actor going for the part of a talking tree how he thought it must FEEL to be a tree.
This is literally all that acting is. It's just pretending. But they can't with a straight face give awards for "best pretending", so they called it "acting".
I'd imagine he was probably a bit nervous with knots and that probably explains why he felt his performance was a little wooden.... 🪵
He gave a wooden performance then!!
@@dougtherugg 😄🥁
"There will be no scripts on the night!" This is refreshing. The last play I went to all the actors had scripts. I still enjoyed the play, but I'd have preferred it if they hadn't had the scripts on the night.
That must've been noisy with all the paper rustling.
The illusion was ruined !
Sir Ian is just brilliant in whatever role he inhabits. The man is just that good! Steve and Ricky’s scripts are just so well written in this series! Really enjoy rewatching Extras,
A lot of credit should go to the person who told them where to sit
Easily one of the most underrated moments in television history! Acting piece de resistance!
It never gets old...Can not stop laughing!
“You’re not really John”. Brilliant!
Undoubtedly, one of the greatest actors on earth.
With one of the greatest voices on earth
One of the best extras scenes...brilliant!
This too is a fantastic performance!! Sir Ian is a genius overall, but especially good at Shakespeare's plays and also comedy!
MY favourite comedy scene of all times.
"No titles in the workplace." And the script has the 'Sir' crossed out! Love the thought that has gone into the production. 02:17
Whoa
"You're confused"
Ian McKellen is absolutely great in this sketch, but Ricky Gervais is also incredibly funny...his facial expressions are hilarious!!
Andy: It's a pleasure to meet you Sir Ian.
Ian McKellan: Please, no titles in the workplace.
Ian McKellan then proceeds to refer to himself as "Sir Ian" for the rest of the time.
Sir Ian Mckellan*
This is beyond brilliant x
It's funny when you think how did the hell do they do this without laughing all through it. Then you watch the outtakes and you realised they didn't, they laughed constantly all through it 😂😂
This is so great!
I totally want to have a beer with Sir Ian
Please, no titles.
Stephen Merchant and Sir Ian are on Graham Norton. They mentioned this scene, thankfully. And here I am, learning about acting! 😆
Me too!
Is it true that its all about just pretending to be another character, as Sir Ian mentions? I thought there was more to acting but if Ian is correct, you're not literally being your character, you're just pretending to be this other person! It blew my mind..
He's really amazing here - he almost has me convinced that he's NOT actually a wizard -
Studying this guy to learn how to act but came across this silliness lol
George, of course. I'm dead 😂
Hilarious scene, but I also appreciate the major ASMR vibes from this as well!
Yeah? You like that?
Yes, I hear it too. A lot of times people talking doesn't do it for me but in this scene Sir Ian's voice is just right and the ASMR vibes are flowing. Thankfully there is no music played over this. A lot of great ASMR moments in movies and TV is ruined by the musical score. Great job by the sound department on this.
We ❤️ Sir Ian
Amazing scene. Love the writing and acting for this.
f'king brilliant. acting of the acting of the acting...
I love Ian. When these actors show heart along with their works of art they are apart of… does the most for inspiration for me
This scene is truly perfect. Every single part of this is on point, the script is sensational and the timing is spectacular. This is neber fails to have le laughing so much that I need to stop the playback and rewind. It's one the greatest scenes ever put to film no joking. Bloody brilliant.
I could listen to Ian's voice all day.
After watching his Macbeth from 1979 "Tomorrow... and tomorrow.... and tomorrow" final speech. Then seeing this.
Got to love "Sirian". To reduce something he is so damn good at. To laugh at his own craft. Well done mate. :)
Everyone would be lucky enough to see life through this sort of lens and laugh at their own strengths.
Know when to turn on, and when to turn off.
Um... the "Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow..." speech is from Macbeth.
@@drewcampbell8555 Yeah my bad. Corrected :)
Saw him do that on his 80th birthday tour. He is a wizard. And so was Shakespeare. Not always apparent in English lessons at school was it.
This is incredible, mind blowing stuff
fucking brilliant, the both of them
"I've got a part here where you play a pompous Shakespearean actor condescendingly explaining what acting is to Ricky Gervais."
Sir Ian: "I think I can pull that off."
I never got that from the bit, but I can see it now… I always read it as he was a goofy simpleton
@@hellfish2309 That's what I thought at first too, but it's really a solid if not simple approach. Plus Andy is the simpleton who cannot wrap his head around portraying a character, pretending and acting like something he is not.
@@joshuathompson4571 In the end, true.
I took his non-plussedness as being shocked at Ian explaining such obvious things to him.
I didn't get condescension from this at all. He's playing it totally deadpan, as if he's the first human being to discover acting. The conceit is that he's such a brilliant and famous actor nobody has ever told him that he's not doing anything differently from anyone else, so he's been free to live in this little bubble for his entire career. It's in the same spirit of Patrick Stewart and his 'I've seen everything' screenplay; clearly nobody around him told him how bad his idea was.
Of course it's absurdist humor, but that's what makes it so funny.
Yeah, not getting a hint of intentional condescension from this. He seems to legitimately think that he’s sharing something profound with Andy. And The fact that he acts so coy when admitting that the words he says are written in a script demonstrates his lack of arrogance. He knows that actors rely on other people to tell him what to say and do, and this too is a profound secret he’s sharing with Andy.
Every time an ACTOR speaks... we, mere mortals, stand aghast in utter stupedefying silence...
McKellen is a titan of performing arts
“George...Of course”
This forever will be legendary
Ricky’s face is just like: “he does have someone to check in on him, right?”
When McKellen plays McKellen, he BECOMES McKellen. Hands down, that's beyond genius!
You're saying he's not really Sir Ian?
@@Hastur876sir Ian, sir Ian, sir Ian... MCKELLEN... sir Ian, sir Ian, sir ian
I saw the "Sir Ian Sir Ian" thing in Lindsay Ellis's video and thought it was an interview. 🤣
Link to video?
@@tyghr I'd say I'm late delivering on this but as you know a wizard is never late. 😁
ruclips.net/video/XP6uMQL9Od4/видео.html
Someone needs to send this to Jared Leto and all the other method actors...
Looking for any love screens in the script I presume 😂. Fabulous 😍
Everything he said is 100% truth.
I know theres loads of bloopers but these must take hours to get through 😂 you should all look up the bloopers btw
I live when he starts rifling through the script to find out EXACTLY what he’ll be doing with his lover ‘Fran’, in the play 😂
What a legend.
this is pure gold...
This is obviously comedy, but there is wisdom in it.
To me it busts the myth of the "Master Thespian." It's playing pretend. Period.
It’s absurdist humor. You both are looking for meaning that gervais couldn’t care less about.
This isn’t about anything that YOU think or feel. It’s simply funny because Ricky thought it would be funny to have a well respected actor pretending to be a moron, to show that Actors can be fallible and dumb just like everyone else.
It’s just a comedic method of shedding a different light on someone with Gravitas, but it’s not a hidden reference or grain of wisdom.
If you think it’s some hidden secret then you’re admitting that you think you have some secret knowledge of the way actors can be. That’s not what this is about. It’s about how we all know Actors can sometimes be full of shit. Ricky is the proxy for us (the audience) in this clip.
He knows the business and he’s just confirming and detailing the things we’ve all known forever about SOME actors.
Also, the OP mentions comedy as if it already hasn’t had Wisdom In it. Comedy comes from Wisdom. You laugh because you were expecting one outcome, and the comedian challenged you with another. That dissonance leads your body to release prior anticipation in the form of laughter.
“This is obviously comedy,”....Stating the obvious is not a form of commentary.
@@HelloTardis God, Ricky Gervais fans are the fucking worst.
@@HelloTardis bro... You're not wrong but I don't think any of that was relevant in the slightest. You read far too much into OP's comment.
@@HelloTardis Absolutely fucking unbearable. Amazing that there's actually people like you who really exist and walk around feeling all wised up like this lmao.
I have never found this laugh-out-loud funny but I do occasionally watch it again. It isn't just amusing it's also warm.
Aww Sir Ian is so hilarious here !
"You see, you are not really John!"
"No, I know."
5 years old and still as hilarious and useful as ever.
This clip is from 2006, it was posted five years ago
you're a little young to be on youtube
I love what a slap in the face this is to every actor who goes into some long winded explanation about their acting process!! Lol
It is, but it’s also more than that in the context of the episode which makes it fucking awesome. Andy is unable to perform the play in front of friends because he doesn’t want them to think he’s gay. Clearly he wasn’t listening to the speech from a man who wasn’t, in fact, a wizard.
It’s not, he’s in on the joke - and has said himself the scene is bollocks - comedy is no different - talent is important but acting “process, methods, techniques and skills” are harnessed through lifetimes of extensive experience and training. you just don’t like actors.
Well the "imagine what it would be like an act in that way" covers a lot of ineffable hard-acquired stuff, and a vivid imagination
@@devixszellI think you missed the point
When he said "draw a graph of my 'method'", with the airquote he delivered another slap in the face to the whole Method Acting school🤣
Sir Ian, Sir Ian, Sir Ian
Mr Merchant is a great comedic writer.
Are you here after seeing them on Norton
@@ericrounds1424 of course, lol. I'm addicted to Graham. I'd like to watch more Brit stuff, but I'm limited. Toast isn't on Netflix anymore.
You're a wizard, Ian
Thought of this randomly and it made me laugh so I had to rewatch it.
Lost count of the number of times i watch this for ASMR
Its the weeping at the end of his basic advice for me 😂
I adore his gesticulations. I find it so interesting
Watching this before my drama exame.. Great help!
The gag reel is great too
It's interesting, even though this is a sitcom, the difference in the presence of Ian compared to Ricky is amazing. You hang on to his every word
Sir Ian Sir Ian Sir Ian .. ACTION! WIZARD -> YOU SHALL NOT PASS!! CUT! .. Sir Ian Sir Ian Sir Ian
Genius acting in motion!
This almost killed me but it is basic acting boiled down into a solid lesson one.
What I don’t understand is why actors like Vin Diesel don’t come here for some valuable tips.
How come my acting teachers made it seem so complicated?
When you’re acting you’re putting yourself in the circumstances you’re not pretending lol.
@@sovietninja6865 this is a joke
@@garagebandarchive I don’t know about that one buddy
Because they’re self absorbed morons who know they were too incompetent to become an actual teacher so they need to make playing pretend as grandiose and complicated as possible to compensate
I love how he just asked himself that question as if ricky had asked him
I've seen this in the show, but I came to watch this clip because I was watching Sir Ian be very serious in the Lord of the Rings making-of documentaries, and needed to be reminded of his "process".
Magnificent!
so fkn brilliant
"And you will speak them as if saying them for the first time." The true challenge and mastery of acting hidden in this amazing script.
Sir Ian Mckellen, If you are seeing this at night like you said on the Graham Norton show , I Love You and Your my Idol. Thank you ❤