Also doing bs workouts is just like having an officer/snco have you do a trillion pushups early in the morning because that's what the infantry considers a good workout
not sure. Bradley Cooper simply seems like the regular natty dirty bulker on that movie...no definition, no significant muscle or strength...nothing that screams PEDs...
@@pablov1323 Thats one of the funny things about steroids, a good chunk of people who use it doesnt look like they use because they dont/cant have discipline and follow other principles of muscle growth. Thats where come the BS of "If you are fit, then is on gear", since even using PED they dont get the desired body, other people must have using even more.
@@pablov1323 he was doing 2 hard sessions A DAY, as a newbie, and almost immediately achieved an over 400 lb (albeit partial rom) trap bar dead. As a grown man, not a teen or anything. You're very naive if you think that's achievable natty.
He sells his programs to celebs as "character building" for their roles. Hollywood is built around telling people what they want to hear, so I guess I can't blame the dude for going that route.
@@RenaissancePeriodization don't feel bad Hollywood needs to start being honest so people everywhere have realistic body standards for the amount of effort they are putting. this type of dishonest fitness media can cause a lot of young people to have complete body dysmorphia. Dr. Mike you're doing the lords work. if I ever become a famous actor you'll be my guy for sureeeeeeeee.
Emma Stone was training specifically to get her in shape for the intense dancing schedule of La La Land. A lot of it was focussing on rehabbing older injuries. That would be a vastly different program than an action star just trying to get as big as possible.
I would love to know why celebrity training is always SO terrible. We know they unlimited money for these projects so I guess the issue is just complete incompetence on the part of who does the hiring to figure out who the experts are?
It's because working out correctly is not really that complicated, but they want to say and feel like they're doing a lot, so charlatans pop up and profit on making unique, crazy complex movement patterns and regiments to stand out and make people think they're tAkINg iT tO tHe NeXt lEveL
Lol yeah. Well half the producers, writers and directors in Hollywood are incompetent too nowadays, so it doesn't surprise me that this extends to their personal trainers. This guy in the video probably lucked out and got hired for a project one time because he was the friend of a nephew of some mid-level producer, and now just coasts by on a wave of nepotism. That business is all about who you know, not what you know.
Hey Dr Mike. I had a dream you were a cop, and there was a pull up bar at my school at my school and a group of 20 students. You randomly came with a swat team and arrested everyone that did an RPE of 4 on pull ups. And they were all on acid/lsd. Love the content Dr Mike.
I have learned so much about diet and training from watching people like Dr. Mike on youtube that I can almost instantly tell when a trainer doesn’t know what the flip he is doing. If I ever hired a trainer I’m sure I would hire a good one just because of what I’ve learned on youtube. Thanks Dr. Mike!!!
Love how they make it complicated when explaining what they did to cover what they were actually using to produce the results in the small time frame the actor has to prepare.
I'm a stuntman in the film industry. Some of these props we wear are heavy. For instance, the battle suit in Batman v Superman was, I believe, 40lbs. Now you might say oh 40lbs is nothing. But wear 40lbs for 12 hours a day for several months while you run, jump, fall down, get up and fight. It can take a toll quick if you're not in shape. Also, a lot of super hero outfits aren't very flexible so we are also struggling to get full range of motion in our movements.
I have been training at a high level bodybuilding and powerlifting for 17 years and with that expertise I haven’t seen a single Hollywood trainer who appears to know what they are doing with celebrity actors and you would think with the millions made in movies they would get actors the best trainers on earth who definitely know what they are doing.
@@jacobj5593 ‘the best’ is probably irrelevant… it’s the access to many hours of pretty much any quality training, plus somebody providing food without you having to think about it
@@oldvlognewtricks you can have 4 quality meals prepared in less than an hour of work and make killer gains in an hour of far more efficient training. The money has very little to do with it unless you can’t afford protein rich foods
Spot on, as usual, Mike. I believe the battle suits worn by the actors in Edge of Tomorrow weighed 85 lbs, so wearing that all day would have required strength and fitness.
Something that comes to mind tho: Often times weapons and armor used by actors is not made of actual metal etc. It's a light weight prop. You can sometimes see that the physics of movement are off, the inertia and center of mass dont make any sense.
and i thought it s all chicken rice brocoli! but now i know it s trap bar deadlift from a high position with just the last 50% range of motion! thank you Dr. Mike!
Thanks for clarifying your location. I'm a researcher studying out of the Andromeda system concentrating on the effects of galactic structure on muscle gain.
@@brendanthompson2082 I'm not even American and never set foot anywhere near a TV working environment. It just feels obvious to me. Look at all the high budget productions with morons on the steering wheel. I'm pretty sure if you know the right people and they like you, that's your resume for a Hollywood position and not thorough expertise.
I wish I found you sooner. I found a workout program but the nutrition plan that came with it made me lose weight. So far I am happy with your app. Trying to go from 138 to 148 then bigger incrementally.
Once every 3 days is moronic. Does he do all of his exercise in a single day then wait 2 days and no it again? Absolutely not. Keep your body moving always. On your off days you should still be getting a jog in or doing some basic body weight movement just to keep moving. Humans aren’t a math equation, massive workout then 2 day recovery sounds nice in theory but that’s just not how our bodies work period.
I remember from a DVD special feature about Batman Begins that the props can actually be quite a bit heaver than you'd expect; sometimes heavier than they're supposed to look like. The batman costume was an example; it was actually very heavy and almost incapacitating (due more to inflexibility rather than weight). Also some costumes sometimes put the actors in danger of heat stroke if they stay in too long. There's only so much you can do to train people to endure incapacitating heat, of course, but I mention it more because it's interesting. Tl;dr: Hollywood props are not always easier to wear/use/whatever than they look in the movie.
Come now, I am sure there must be some dysfunctional trainer using Sauna's with Bosu balls to get actors to be able to perform while severely dehydrated.
The exoskeletons from Edge of Tomorrow were notoriously bulky and heavy. The performers were suspended on wires just above the ground to "run" through the battle scenes.
Dr. Isratel, can you release a 2 minute video of a closeup of you staring into the camera, with your forehead being the closest part of your face to the camera? Thank you
Just discovered this channel And Dam! Thank God I Did! Nothing is better than listening to a man keep it real and hold nothing back Especially when it comes to us that are building a physique. Thanks brother You just gained a subscriber
Nah, trap bars are fine. It's the fact that he makes the dude do this block pull variant that makes no fucking sense for the t bar at all. And then the guy (because he is not an invalid) has to load up 3 plates minimum in order to do them - hence the ''safety'' argument goes right out the window. Such a stupid concept.
I just purchased a hex trap bar and used it today for the first time. I did it off the floor and what a game changer for me. I always had issues with my lower back with traditional dead lifts but not with this bar. Started light only 112lbs but I will move up quick in weight I am sure. Been several years since I squatted or did deadlifts of any kind.
I remember when this video came out and I was impressed with it at the time. But seeing your take Dr. Mike really is eye opening! Please do more of these
Great stuff as always, I'd go to your class to learn about fitness any day. A couple things I have to counter you on though, which is coming from a bit more understanding of how "Hollywood" works. As fake as that world is, there are a few wrinkles worth noting. 1: Certain types of physical training, even in a comfy gym, can definitely help someone build their understanding of a character. The most obvious example: If you're playing a boxer, you will do better having gone through boxer style work outs and sparring. It creates familiarity and confidence in what you are portraying. The same can be applied to any sport or activity, as an actor, you'll have a better grasp on the part if you've participated in activities as close to the thing as possible. Not to mention the mental prep that goes on between trainer and actor during the sessions. 2: Some movie props have some weight to them, and in some cases can even be "heavier" to carry because they are fake. Powered Exo suits for example, a real one would make the wear stronger and not feel like a weight. That is what they are for. A fake powered exo suit is actually more weight on your body that you have to move around and make them look like they are making you stronger. Knowing whether the goal is to have an actor look sexy in a swimsuit or move around with a extra weights on your body may well inform how you should train them, in the similar way that you would modify a workout for someone based on whether they want to walk the runway at fashion week compared to competing in the highland games. Both require "fitness", but not entirely the same kind. Anyway those are my thoughts. Thanks for reading.
@ch-yq5yn They work, but only because the actors are on steroids. If you take out the steroids, they're not working. Thing is you can grow muscle on steroids even without working out
this guy's training is actually very fitting for hollywood. its like thinking one guy in a cave could make an iron man suit that is somehow more advanced than anything else ever or one scientist could develop a whole new technology AND also build stuff with it
I am a bit confused why Mike is so negative on the trap bar deadlift. Sounds like he sees it from a SFR point of view, but according to the Video Bradley has newbie gains to make, and for those raw stimulus is more important. I also have newbie gains still on the table and deadlift in my program (but conventional and full ROM obviously). Now I wonder if I should remove it. That would go against anything I have heard before.
By the way, the props/exosqueleton armor in Edge of Tomorrow was 85 pounds ( 40kgs ish). So yeah, it would have been good she had proper training. She didn't expect it to be so heavy on the first day.
Also, the whole point of the exoskeleton in-Universe is so that a 120 lb. woman (or any person of any shape between two "low average" and "high average" weights) can lift/crush/kill a 500+ lb. xenomorph or mimic. A 240+ lb. man most likely isn't going to fit inside a mass-produced, lowest-bidder, blown-up/torn-apart-tomorrow machine and both he and the 180 lb. female Olympian will have wasted lots of time growing muscle that, at best, can't possibly compete with the strength of the exoskeleton and, at worst, will cause him to lose contact with the exoskeleton and wind up getting injured or crushed by it. Her yoga/calisthenic training depicted in the film actually makes sense, you need the ability/stability to hold yourself in place statically within the machine and still control the exoskeleton while in that position. Also, this, I think, is a bit of Dr. Mike taking stupid pot shots at people. They don't care if Bradley Cooper looks *exactly* like Chris Kyle, they care that he looks close enough, can act, and, to a degree, is named Bradley Cooper. Or Ryan Gosling. Or whatever. FFS, Kyle's fully clothed in a beard, hat, and sunglasses the whole movie and for most of his photos. A black man with a Dr. Strange goatee probably wouldn't work, a brown bear in hat and shades would fit better visually but wouldn't be able to read lines, Ted Kaczynski would probably look close enough, read lines, and have name recognition but, aside from being dead, he probably still would be a bad choice.
Not the best take. The trap bar deadlift (in conjunction with accessory work that I am sure he was doing) is a good solution for taking an untrained individual and getting them as strong and big as possible in a very short amount of time. What other exercise allows you to lift that much weight safely in such a short period of time? Other lifts would have taken too long to train to achieve the growth hormone stimulus that something like the trap bar deadlift provides. Sure, deep squats would be better long-term for strength and muscle growth, but they didn't have years to train. If "lift heavy things" is the MO, then the trap bar deadlift seems like one of the better solutions in a time crunch. It's better than rack pulls.
Lifting heavy weight at ass tiny half reps elevated like that on blocks wont get you big itll just get you lifting a lot of weight but that can be done with any exercise since its cheating rom. If he did it the way he said in this video IF the movies director so wanted him to trap bar deadlift elevated, the strength he gained from him doing it normally wouldve literally transferred over and he wouldve been able to trapbar dl the same amount. So he got less muscle growth and half assed strength from that. Rows and eating and just normal conventional deadlifting wouldve given the directors what they wanted which clearly wasnt much. The clips mike showed of him in the movie, the ones of his physique really looked mediocre clearly the trainer sucked and had the same mindset as you :(
@@fdgfg764 First off, please proofread and edit your statement before you comment -- what you wrote is mostly nonsensical. What I can gather from your statement is that you do not understand the most important factor of being a trainer: don't injure the client. A proper deadlift takes years to learn and master, and even then, it is among the most dangerous lifts in terms of injury. They did not have years; they had a couple of months. The logic behind this trainer's method is evidence-based and comes with a low risk of injury. The film was nominated for Best Picture and Cooper for Best Actor -- the trainer did his job well. This video is just unnecessary clickbait.
And agaiiiiiiiiiin... thanks for sharing all this info Doc! Love the dry humor approach backed by real experience/studies. Cutting through all the BS in this "industry."
Hey, I'd actually disagree with some of your takes here. There is an element of physical preparation for a role which is to get the actor themselves prepared for the conditions they're going to experience on set. To give you a great example, Keanu Reeves is not only training to look good in the John Wick films. He is training to be prepared for fighting sequences, for stunt work, for working 10-12 hour days for weeks on end, etc. When the trainer is talking about getting actors prepared for work in the desert, he's referring to getting folks used to exerting themselves in the heat. When the trainer talks about having to carry equipment, that is significant work--props are not infinitely light. Brenden Fraser's prosthetics in "The Whale," for example, weighed between 50 and 300 pounds depending on how many were applied that given day of shooting. He clearly wasn't training to look shredded on camera there. So, yes, lots of times, actors are trying to look good for the role. And yes, lots of Hollywood training is BS. But looking good is not the sole concern here and acting can be--though is not always--a physically taxing job.
Trap-bar deadlift kind of makes sense - since it’s done in the military. Especially the Army, it’s part of the official physical test given out every 6 months.
The excersize is great for soldiers carrying heavy stuff but as Doc Mike said, it's not the best excersize for actors that want to look big, without needing the actual strengh or power.
Been following your channel for about a month now. I had no clue you are the exercise and sports science professor at Lehman college. I grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Lehman HS so this was a pretty cool bit of info.
Trap-bar deadlift was the first exercise I ever got injured on. In HS they threw us on it (without guidance) and I pulled/tore a back muscle. Of course I recovered, but it was an eye opener and I still preach technique and safety to athletes I coach or friends/family to this day. No BS.
we need more of these. great way to shed the light on the bs notion of natural hollywood transformations. one technique they use is to make the exercises and diet regimes seem too novel or unreplicable for regular people.
In his defence I remember reading that Bradley had shocking flexibility so couldn't safely get down low enough! He had a few shoulder injuries as well I think.
You crack me up man. Very entertaining. You’re good for my ego because I try to figure out what they’re doing wrong before you point it out and sometimes I’m even right lol.
Chris Kyle (the original american sniper, the guy the movie is based on) also claimed that he killed way more enemies in Iraq than the navy credits him for. Navy says he killed 160, Kyle claims 320. In his autobiography, he also claims that he killed 30 looters with his rifle in New Orleans after hurricane katrina, but police never found any evidence of any of these supposed kills. He also claims he was robbed by two men at a gas station in texas, both of whom he supposedly shot dead, but then never reported to the police. Police and journalists have never been able to find evidence of this event occurring. The whole "American Sniper" name just reeks of dishonest narrative building, but hey I guess nationalistic propaganda is more important than truth. Thanks Clint Eastwood!
My takeaway from this video is Bradley Cooper put on 40lbs doing trap bar deadlifts off of blocks. I am glad Mike was able to help show their effectiveness.
I'd say the trap bar deadlift is fine. What they really care about on screen is mass in the upper and mid back, and some overload prioritizes that area more. A better option would be conventional with heavy bands, which would give the full ROM and overload the upper back at the top.
it trains those muscles through an isometric contraction. its a terrible movement if the trainer is trying to elicit as much growth as possible before filming starts. Why not just do shrugs/rows/pullups and directly target what they want to grow? cmon man, there really is no defending this choice (especially doing it off blocks)
One thing I’ll say about training to be in a the desert vs some other location. If a character spends half a year in a hot place, their composition will change slightly due to constantly sweating. The training for the actor playing the role may be able to be modified to help achieve a specific look. Another thing I recall from the Jarhead behind the scenes is that they these guys ruck marching together in the desert to both condition them for the role and build cohesion and to get in the right headspace for the life of a disgruntled Marine. I hear you on the trap bar deadlifts, but I wouldn’t go and say all training is about making all muscles big or not. In OIF, a lot of SOF guys were training to just get jacked during their free time, so it prob would be to just get all muscles big. But if the role were for some other time and place for service members, they’d probably want to get them strong and wiry looking.
I worked on movies shot in the desert. Unless it's a close up the big stars stay in their personal luxury rv deluxe campers while their doubles shoot the rough condition scenes. Post editing it looks the big stars did everything and they dont.
2000 calories a day? What!? I'm 5'6" and weigh 140 lbs and I eat more than that. My fitness is moderate hiking (for now) because I enjoy it. I'm not even trying to put on weight. Now think about that calorie intake for a 6 foot tall dude who's trying to bulk. Weird amount to start with unless the person is struggling with disordered eating and it's hard to get them to eat.
How dare you not know who Emma Stone is! In all seriousness, love the video. I have just found you and been watching a lot due to the Adam Ragusea collab. You are very knowledgeable and explain everything in a very easy to understand and concise manner. Love it.
I feel like Dr. Mike went a little hard at the beginning of this video. A few points of contention I have are: 1:15 The prop of the exoskeleton in "Edge of Tomorrow" weighed around 85-90 pounds, and up to 120 lbs with the gun armaments. I absolutely think that type of weight would require special training to be able to handle it the way they did in the movie. 1:23 "LaLa Land" was absolutely filled to the brim with dancing. Some might call dancing just "moving your hips", but dancing in a movie, where you'll be expected to do multiple takes, again, I think would require special training. 1:32 I have seen so many interviews with actors where they talk about the foundation of a character being set by the physicality; that discovering how a character walks or holds themselves in a scene is their starting point to understanding that character. The line about "psychological hindrances" came off a bit clunky, but I think what Jason was trying to say was that the more they can ingrain the physicality of the character into the actor early on, then the more natural it will be for them on set. If the actor doesn't have to think about the movements as much as feel them, then that is less of a hindrance when you also have to focus on delivering lines in an emotional way. Now, I have absolutely zero critiques about anything Dr. Mike brought up in regards to the actual training plan, but those are just a few of my thoughts.
One thing to take note, the trainer cannot afford any sort of back injury from the actors/actresses if performed even with good form (minimal risk). I can kinda see why the trainer will elevate the hardest position, which is at the bottom of movement for trapbar
There is no risk if performed with good form and an appropriate weight. But this exercise is not done for muscle stimulus, it's done for Bradley Cooper's ego, so he FEELS strong, which is job security for the physical trainer. Who is Bradley going to recommend, the trainer that let him deadlift 425 lbs (half reps), or the trainer that made him go down in weight, and deadlift only 225 with good form and full range of motion? Hollywood is all about image, you think he wants to go on a talk show and talk about how average his lifts are? 😂😂
@@TheMasterfulcreator exactly, If it's all about safety he could literally just do gear(which he was 100% doing) and do a load of isolation exercises and be gucci. Flying straight to 400 lb partial ROM anything is NOT the safe route
If the injury risk was the main concern and this guy knew what he was doing at all, elevated trap bar deadlifts is still the *opposite* of what he should have chosen. The injury risk doesn't come from the bottom of a deadlift, it comes from a non-existent understanding of load management which this actually was (having higher absolute load at the cost of better stimulus for no fucking reason). *if anything* normal height or maybe even deficit barbell deadlifts would be a safer option.
3:00 Dr. Mike, are you saying that the trap bar does not offer as much benefit as the barbell for using the deadlift to build muscle? I’ve heard Mark Rippetoe decrying the trap bar as being unsafe and basically useless. So I’m wondering if you are also recommending against deadlifts with the trap bar? I’m a noob, I’m asking sincerely.
Do they mass produce those Hollywood personal trainers, no matter the ethnicity they all look the same, white dude, vaguely handsome, mussed medium length hair, beard, not really jacked.
Bro ! I been watching your videos for a hot minute and I never knew u work out of Lehman college I’m an alumni and I work in the Bronx that’s so crazy bro
Speaking from my training dor medieval stunt show. The bicep curl makes sense. It got slightly cut in rhe video, but henry wa talking about if you have rough horse, you need that static strength in your biceps for holding and controlling the reigns.
There's a lot to make fun of here, but when Bradley Cooper is lifting weight in the movie (at 4:28), it looks real. I can't recall ever seeing someone lift weight in a movie where it looked like they were genuinely struggling. I don't know if Bradley is lifting real weight or if he's just very good at miming, but either way, props for making it look good.
If I was in Hollywood I’d hire Mike to train me and hold me at night
And whisper Nice things
@@mightykanohii And wake up with arnold impersonations
@@mightykanohii"All of your reps looked perfect. Also, your glute spread is the best in the business."
You're going to have to put your pants on if you want to spoon😅
Only if you're handsome.
Maximal spinal loading helps with "Character development" as he now has a bad back like every long-served veteran!
😂
Also doing bs workouts is just like having an officer/snco have you do a trillion pushups early in the morning because that's what the infantry considers a good workout
Ruck marching... doctor says I need a backiotomy.
His pharmacist was more important than his trainer.
not sure. Bradley Cooper simply seems like the regular natty dirty bulker on that movie...no definition, no significant muscle or strength...nothing that screams PEDs...
@@pablov1323 Thats one of the funny things about steroids, a good chunk of people who use it doesnt look like they use because they dont/cant have discipline and follow other principles of muscle growth.
Thats where come the BS of "If you are fit, then is on gear", since even using PED they dont get the desired body, other people must have using even more.
@@pablov1323 They are all on PEDs for their roles
@@pablov1323delusional
@@pablov1323 he was doing 2 hard sessions A DAY, as a newbie, and almost immediately achieved an over 400 lb (albeit partial rom) trap bar dead. As a grown man, not a teen or anything. You're very naive if you think that's achievable natty.
He sells his programs to celebs as "character building" for their roles. Hollywood is built around telling people what they want to hear, so I guess I can't blame the dude for going that route.
No hate for the dude, get that paper! - Dr. Mike
It's a smart marketing and sales strategy and clearly works.
This is a fantastic series. Seeing the Hollywood transformation fitness/diet regimens is such a headscratcher from all angles.
They load them up on PEDs to get these amazing transformations even with crap training protocols.
Right?! It always has been but I've never really seen it addressed!
Thanks! They are fun to make, but sometimes I feel bad that I'm being mean even though it's a joke. WHY IS IT SO BAD?! - Dr. Mike
@@RenaissancePeriodization you're way too soft on them
@@RenaissancePeriodization don't feel bad Hollywood needs to start being honest so people everywhere have realistic body standards for the amount of effort they are putting. this type of dishonest fitness media can cause a lot of young people to have complete body dysmorphia. Dr. Mike you're doing the lords work. if I ever become a famous actor you'll be my guy for sureeeeeeeee.
Emma Stone was training specifically to get her in shape for the intense dancing schedule of La La Land. A lot of it was focussing on rehabbing older injuries. That would be a vastly different program than an action star just trying to get as big as possible.
She was awesome in that.
Yeah, they were working on dancing moves with chains and shake weights for sure
@@readyupadlove that film
Sadly she still had a flat ads
She should have put more work in.
She's terrible and that movie was a hype job
Laughed my ass off at “it just feels icky because you’re weak.” Thanks for keeping it real amongst all the BS. I appreciate it!
“4/10…out of the kindness of my heart.”
Priceless.
You were very kind, sir.
Love your breakdown/smack down of this “program”
I would love to know why celebrity training is always SO terrible. We know they unlimited money for these projects so I guess the issue is just complete incompetence on the part of who does the hiring to figure out who the experts are?
It's because working out correctly is not really that complicated, but they want to say and feel like they're doing a lot, so charlatans pop up and profit on making unique, crazy complex movement patterns and regiments to stand out and make people think they're tAkINg iT tO tHe NeXt lEveL
Cause at the end of the day these are nerdy theatre dorks who don’t wanna workout. So these “trainers” have to nerf every workout
Gear.
Lol yeah. Well half the producers, writers and directors in Hollywood are incompetent too nowadays, so it doesn't surprise me that this extends to their personal trainers. This guy in the video probably lucked out and got hired for a project one time because he was the friend of a nephew of some mid-level producer, and now just coasts by on a wave of nepotism. That business is all about who you know, not what you know.
marketing
Hey Dr Mike. I had a dream you were a cop, and there was a pull up bar at my school at my school and a group of 20 students. You randomly came with a swat team and arrested everyone that did an RPE of 4 on pull ups. And they were all on acid/lsd. Love the content Dr Mike.
I guess if you were all on acid/lsd, that would explain the dream.
😂😂😂
But who was on acid? The SWAT team or the students?
Said it before but it's always so funny to see the tone shift when Mike is trying to impress newcomers to the channel
LMAO I didn't know what I found so funny about these videos and that's exactly it !
LOLLLL I'm trying! - Dr. Mike
I have learned so much about diet and training from watching people like Dr. Mike on youtube that I can almost instantly tell when a trainer doesn’t know what the flip he is doing. If I ever hired a trainer I’m sure I would hire a good one just because of what I’ve learned on youtube. Thanks Dr. Mike!!!
Yessss and if actors watched the channel maybe they'd hire better trainers! LOLLL - Dr. Mike
@@RenaissancePeriodization At least they could hire somebody to watch the videos for them, since they hire people for everything.😀
Love how they make it complicated when explaining what they did to cover what they were actually using to produce the results in the small time frame the actor has to prepare.
I'm a stuntman in the film industry. Some of these props we wear are heavy. For instance, the battle suit in Batman v Superman was, I believe, 40lbs. Now you might say oh 40lbs is nothing. But wear 40lbs for 12 hours a day for several months while you run, jump, fall down, get up and fight. It can take a toll quick if you're not in shape. Also, a lot of super hero outfits aren't very flexible so we are also struggling to get full range of motion in our movements.
And the exo skeleton in the image from Edge of Tomorrow he used is also notoriously heavy. Emily talked about it in interviews
I have been training at a high level bodybuilding and powerlifting for 17 years and with that expertise I haven’t seen a single Hollywood trainer who appears to know what they are doing with celebrity actors and you would think with the millions made in movies they would get actors the best trainers on earth who definitely know what they are doing.
You do background work.... you're not a stunt man
@@DT-kl7uf actually I am. Over 10 years at this point.
What movies have you done, just out of curiosity)
“It just feels icky cuz you’re weak” yes call me out harder
I'm so glad I found your channel. I've been bodybuilding over 5 decades and you're spot-on with every video.
These people disprove that only because you pay a lot of money for a trainer does not mean you get an equal increase in quality for spending more.
It proves that people don't pay for quality, they pay to feel good or unique or for a special customized training regime that no one else does.
This is what i always think when people blame celebrity transformations on “having access to the best trainers”
@@jacobj5593 ‘the best’ is probably irrelevant… it’s the access to many hours of pretty much any quality training, plus somebody providing food without you having to think about it
Disprove that you don't get more quality for more money? Double negative, don't forget what words mean
@@oldvlognewtricks you can have 4 quality meals prepared in less than an hour of work and make killer gains in an hour of far more efficient training. The money has very little to do with it unless you can’t afford protein rich foods
Spot on, as usual, Mike. I believe the battle suits worn by the actors in Edge of Tomorrow weighed 85 lbs, so wearing that all day would have required strength and fitness.
Something that comes to mind tho: Often times weapons and armor used by actors is not made of actual metal etc. It's a light weight prop. You can sometimes see that the physics of movement are off, the inertia and center of mass dont make any sense.
These videos are great. Would love to see more Mike Critiques
We've recorded a bunch! There's kind of an endless supply of this shit, unfortunately lol. - Dr. Mike
Hex bar deadlift is a great exercise. Half reps are a waste of time. Tip: load it up with 25’s (smaller diameter) for better depth
and i thought it s all chicken rice brocoli!
but now i know it s trap bar deadlift from a high position with just the last 50% range of motion!
thank you Dr. Mike!
Thanks for clarifying your location. I'm a researcher studying out of the Andromeda system concentrating on the effects of galactic structure on muscle gain.
These Hollywood critique videos are my favorite😂
Almost like coach Greg's ones, but..on roids :)
Man I want a Hollywood trainers response video. This stuff is gold
It's Hollywood. What matters most is who you know and not what you know.
Man in this case I think you're right. - Dr. Mike
I worked in TV and I can say this is very true. Be a pleasant friend who can talk a good game and you're set.
@@brendanthompson2082 I'm not even American and never set foot anywhere near a TV working environment. It just feels obvious to me. Look at all the high budget productions with morons on the steering wheel. I'm pretty sure if you know the right people and they like you, that's your resume for a Hollywood position and not thorough expertise.
thats just life in general
I'm so happy this series is continuing
Aaah yes the trap bar deadlift... Mark Rippetoe's exercice of choice.
I wish I found you sooner. I found a workout program but the nutrition plan that came with it made me lose weight. So far I am happy with your app. Trying to go from 138 to 148 then bigger incrementally.
Do you guys think yall could do a video on Mike Mentzer's theory on training once every 3 days in order to optimise recovery.
Once every 3 days is moronic. Does he do all of his exercise in a single day then wait 2 days and no it again? Absolutely not. Keep your body moving always. On your off days you should still be getting a jog in or doing some basic body weight movement just to keep moving. Humans aren’t a math equation, massive workout then 2 day recovery sounds nice in theory but that’s just not how our bodies work period.
I remember from a DVD special feature about Batman Begins that the props can actually be quite a bit heaver than you'd expect; sometimes heavier than they're supposed to look like. The batman costume was an example; it was actually very heavy and almost incapacitating (due more to inflexibility rather than weight). Also some costumes sometimes put the actors in danger of heat stroke if they stay in too long. There's only so much you can do to train people to endure incapacitating heat, of course, but I mention it more because it's interesting. Tl;dr: Hollywood props are not always easier to wear/use/whatever than they look in the movie.
Come now, I am sure there must be some dysfunctional trainer using Sauna's with Bosu balls to get actors to be able to perform while severely dehydrated.
The exoskeletons from Edge of Tomorrow were notoriously bulky and heavy. The performers were suspended on wires just above the ground to "run" through the battle scenes.
Emily Blunts suit for The Edge of Tomorrow was 85 pounds. It definitely required training not to get injured.
his workout to look like rocket raccoon was better
“Starting at a low position is not unsafe, it just feels icky ‘cuz you’re weak.”
Dr. Mike Israetel
Dr. Isratel, can you release a 2 minute video of a closeup of you staring into the camera, with your forehead being the closest part of your face to the camera? Thank you
Sure, brother. I'll record it tonight :) - Dr. Mike
Oops, wrong account. - Dr. Mike
preferably shirtless and covered in peanut butter
Just watch some old Star Trek lol.
Just discovered this channel And Dam! Thank God I Did! Nothing is better than listening to a man keep it real and hold nothing back Especially when it comes to us that are building a physique. Thanks brother You just gained a subscriber
Only place where trap bars are acceptable is Thailand
Underrated comment 😂
Bruh....
Nah, trap bars are fine. It's the fact that he makes the dude do this block pull variant that makes no fucking sense for the t bar at all. And then the guy (because he is not an invalid) has to load up 3 plates minimum in order to do them - hence the ''safety'' argument goes right out the window. Such a stupid concept.
@@misevibre you sound like so much fun and have a lot of friends who enjoy spending time with you
@@OMAR-vk9pi At least you tried to paraphrase the "you must be fun at parties" low tier insult. Good effort.
6:25 dude if you’re 185 baseline…chances are you’re already eating over 2k cal lol
the calorie progression was 1000% numbers made up by the editor cause he said progression & they needed something to put on the screen
I just purchased a hex trap bar and used it today for the first time. I did it off the floor and what a game changer for me. I always had issues with my lower back with traditional dead lifts but not with this bar. Started light only 112lbs but I will move up quick in weight I am sure. Been several years since I squatted or did deadlifts of any kind.
I remember when this video came out and I was impressed with it at the time. But seeing your take Dr. Mike really is eye opening! Please do more of these
I love how you didn't hold back in this video. Keep that energy!
Great stuff as always, I'd go to your class to learn about fitness any day.
A couple things I have to counter you on though, which is coming from a bit more understanding of how "Hollywood" works. As fake as that world is, there are a few wrinkles worth noting.
1: Certain types of physical training, even in a comfy gym, can definitely help someone build their understanding of a character.
The most obvious example: If you're playing a boxer, you will do better having gone through boxer style work outs and sparring. It creates familiarity and confidence in what you are portraying. The same can be applied to any sport or activity, as an actor, you'll have a better grasp on the part if you've participated in activities as close to the thing as possible. Not to mention the mental prep that goes on between trainer and actor during the sessions.
2: Some movie props have some weight to them, and in some cases can even be "heavier" to carry because they are fake. Powered Exo suits for example, a real one would make the wear stronger and not feel like a weight. That is what they are for. A fake powered exo suit is actually more weight on your body that you have to move around and make them look like they are making you stronger. Knowing whether the goal is to have an actor look sexy in a swimsuit or move around with a extra weights on your body may well inform how you should train them, in the similar way that you would modify a workout for someone based on whether they want to walk the runway at fashion week compared to competing in the highland games. Both require "fitness", but not entirely the same kind.
Anyway those are my thoughts. Thanks for reading.
@ch-yq5yn They work, but only because the actors are on steroids. If you take out the steroids, they're not working. Thing is you can grow muscle on steroids even without working out
This is my favorite video of yours. Knowledge smashing pretentious hollywood.
Starting a bulk at 2k calories, what a legend
I just subscribed today I've been on a binge ! I flipping adore you! Thank you for sharing your expertise!
Hahaha “Good news that he didn’t lift it [400 lbs] off the ground!” Lmfao. Dr. Mike roasted them.
“This is a preposterous choice for this movement” 😂 This video was hilarious
this guy's training is actually very fitting for hollywood. its like thinking one guy in a cave could make an iron man suit that is somehow more advanced than anything else ever or one scientist could develop a whole new technology AND also build stuff with it
Really enjoying this series.
I am a bit confused why Mike is so negative on the trap bar deadlift. Sounds like he sees it from a SFR point of view, but according to the Video Bradley has newbie gains to make, and for those raw stimulus is more important.
I also have newbie gains still on the table and deadlift in my program (but conventional and full ROM obviously). Now I wonder if I should remove it. That would go against anything I have heard before.
The. “Good news, he didn’t lift it off the ground” had me rolling.
By the way, the props/exosqueleton armor in Edge of Tomorrow was 85 pounds ( 40kgs ish). So yeah, it would have been good she had proper training. She didn't expect it to be so heavy on the first day.
I call complete BS on that. She wasnt running around with 40 kgs on her all day.
40kgs spread fairly evenly around the body is a perfectly reasonable weight to run around with.
Also, the whole point of the exoskeleton in-Universe is so that a 120 lb. woman (or any person of any shape between two "low average" and "high average" weights) can lift/crush/kill a 500+ lb. xenomorph or mimic. A 240+ lb. man most likely isn't going to fit inside a mass-produced, lowest-bidder, blown-up/torn-apart-tomorrow machine and both he and the 180 lb. female Olympian will have wasted lots of time growing muscle that, at best, can't possibly compete with the strength of the exoskeleton and, at worst, will cause him to lose contact with the exoskeleton and wind up getting injured or crushed by it. Her yoga/calisthenic training depicted in the film actually makes sense, you need the ability/stability to hold yourself in place statically within the machine and still control the exoskeleton while in that position.
Also, this, I think, is a bit of Dr. Mike taking stupid pot shots at people. They don't care if Bradley Cooper looks *exactly* like Chris Kyle, they care that he looks close enough, can act, and, to a degree, is named Bradley Cooper. Or Ryan Gosling. Or whatever. FFS, Kyle's fully clothed in a beard, hat, and sunglasses the whole movie and for most of his photos. A black man with a Dr. Strange goatee probably wouldn't work, a brown bear in hat and shades would fit better visually but wouldn't be able to read lines, Ted Kaczynski would probably look close enough, read lines, and have name recognition but, aside from being dead, he probably still would be a bad choice.
@@adamlucas4753 I think you're missing the point of these videos mate
you forgot to mention, that you are also a comedian. one of my favorite ones.
Not the best take. The trap bar deadlift (in conjunction with accessory work that I am sure he was doing) is a good solution for taking an untrained individual and getting them as strong and big as possible in a very short amount of time. What other exercise allows you to lift that much weight safely in such a short period of time? Other lifts would have taken too long to train to achieve the growth hormone stimulus that something like the trap bar deadlift provides. Sure, deep squats would be better long-term for strength and muscle growth, but they didn't have years to train. If "lift heavy things" is the MO, then the trap bar deadlift seems like one of the better solutions in a time crunch. It's better than rack pulls.
Lifting heavy weight at ass tiny half reps elevated like that on blocks wont get you big itll just get you lifting a lot of weight but that can be done with any exercise since its cheating rom. If he did it the way he said in this video IF the movies director so wanted him to trap bar deadlift elevated, the strength he gained from him doing it normally wouldve literally transferred over and he wouldve been able to trapbar dl the same amount. So he got less muscle growth and half assed strength from that. Rows and eating and just normal conventional deadlifting wouldve given the directors what they wanted which clearly wasnt much. The clips mike showed of him in the movie, the ones of his physique really looked mediocre clearly the trainer sucked and had the same mindset as you :(
@@fdgfg764 First off, please proofread and edit your statement before you comment -- what you wrote is mostly nonsensical. What I can gather from your statement is that you do not understand the most important factor of being a trainer: don't injure the client. A proper deadlift takes years to learn and master, and even then, it is among the most dangerous lifts in terms of injury. They did not have years; they had a couple of months. The logic behind this trainer's method is evidence-based and comes with a low risk of injury. The film was nominated for Best Picture and Cooper for Best Actor -- the trainer did his job well. This video is just unnecessary clickbait.
"You're playing with it wrong!" 4:02
damn, Dr. Mike, don't call me out like that
And agaiiiiiiiiiin... thanks for sharing all this info Doc! Love the dry humor approach backed by real experience/studies. Cutting through all the BS in this "industry."
What cracks me up is that the trainer looks a lot more like the actual soldier the movie is about, and was already in shape
Hey, I'd actually disagree with some of your takes here. There is an element of physical preparation for a role which is to get the actor themselves prepared for the conditions they're going to experience on set. To give you a great example, Keanu Reeves is not only training to look good in the John Wick films. He is training to be prepared for fighting sequences, for stunt work, for working 10-12 hour days for weeks on end, etc. When the trainer is talking about getting actors prepared for work in the desert, he's referring to getting folks used to exerting themselves in the heat. When the trainer talks about having to carry equipment, that is significant work--props are not infinitely light. Brenden Fraser's prosthetics in "The Whale," for example, weighed between 50 and 300 pounds depending on how many were applied that given day of shooting. He clearly wasn't training to look shredded on camera there.
So, yes, lots of times, actors are trying to look good for the role. And yes, lots of Hollywood training is BS. But looking good is not the sole concern here and acting can be--though is not always--a physically taxing job.
Mike...You're the BEST!!!👏 Please keep the TRUTH coming!😃
Trap-bar deadlift kind of makes sense - since it’s done in the military. Especially the Army, it’s part of the official physical test given out every 6 months.
Army vet here. Former infantry. Not once did they make us do that. Some newer policy or something?
@@JessieJoseph-y1w yes, it's the new fitness test that's been used the last several years now . . .
The excersize is great for soldiers carrying heavy stuff but as Doc Mike said, it's not the best excersize for actors that want to look big, without needing the actual strengh or power.
@@JessieJoseph-y1w The new Army Combat Fitness Test 3.0. Trap-Bar Deadlift is the first event.
@@MetalArielhe did say in qn interview that he trained the lift specifically so he could do the heavy lift in the film and make it look realistic
Been following your channel for about a month now. I had no clue you are the exercise and sports science professor at Lehman college. I grew up in the Bronx and graduated from Lehman HS so this was a pretty cool bit of info.
Bradley Cooper's workout was equally as accurate as anything else about American Sniper and Chris Kyle
Equally as garbage as Chris Kyle was as a person.
This is the best Mike Israetel video of all time.
5:37 "only-est" lmfao
Trap-bar deadlift was the first exercise I ever got injured on. In HS they threw us on it (without guidance) and I pulled/tore a back muscle. Of course I recovered, but it was an eye opener and I still preach technique and safety to athletes I coach or friends/family to this day. No BS.
I disagree on trap bar. I think it works better for most than conventional. You get most of the stimulus without the back strain.
Agreed. It’s a perfectly fine exercise. His criticism could be applied to the regular deadlift too.
@@mrhyde2250 elevated position = you have to use more weight = more stress on your joins, nervous system and back.
Just lift from ground
Character building - I bet a month with Dr. Mike would definitely build character. Train your body and mind will follow.
we need more of these. great way to shed the light on the bs notion of natural hollywood transformations. one technique they use is to make the exercises and diet regimes seem too novel or unreplicable for regular people.
I use the hex bar deadlift for my lower back. I've got shit discs and it helps immensely. I dont use blocks, though. That doesnt make sense to me.
In his defence I remember reading that Bradley had shocking flexibility so couldn't safely get down low enough! He had a few shoulder injuries as well I think.
You crack me up man. Very entertaining. You’re good for my ego because I try to figure out what they’re doing wrong before you point it out and sometimes I’m even right lol.
He said the training plan: trap bar deadlift.
Weird hill for the trainer to die on but there we go xD
I love these Videos! They make my fkn Day, I Laugh My ass off with Dr. Mikes Commentary/facial expression!
That original american sniper guy lied i remember about the whole story with Jesse Ventura. That movie didnt age well because of that
Chris Kyle (the original american sniper, the guy the movie is based on) also claimed that he killed way more enemies in Iraq than the navy credits him for. Navy says he killed 160, Kyle claims 320. In his autobiography, he also claims that he killed 30 looters with his rifle in New Orleans after hurricane katrina, but police never found any evidence of any of these supposed kills. He also claims he was robbed by two men at a gas station in texas, both of whom he supposedly shot dead, but then never reported to the police. Police and journalists have never been able to find evidence of this event occurring.
The whole "American Sniper" name just reeks of dishonest narrative building, but hey I guess nationalistic propaganda is more important than truth. Thanks Clint Eastwood!
"The only-est type of training" just killed me.
He holds back less and less as time pases by and it gets better and better.
I've been following Mike for years and his expertise and fucking savage sense of humour is amazing.
The trap bar dl is one of the best total body mass builders there is. Especially done at a deficit w/ a shrug at the top.
My takeaway from this video is Bradley Cooper put on 40lbs doing trap bar deadlifts off of blocks. I am glad Mike was able to help show their effectiveness.
I'd say the trap bar deadlift is fine. What they really care about on screen is mass in the upper and mid back, and some overload prioritizes that area more. A better option would be conventional with heavy bands, which would give the full ROM and overload the upper back at the top.
Yeah, mike always showiny an austistic lack of self awareness/context
it trains those muscles through an isometric contraction. its a terrible movement if the trainer is trying to elicit as much growth as possible before filming starts. Why not just do shrugs/rows/pullups and directly target what they want to grow? cmon man, there really is no defending this choice (especially doing it off blocks)
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!! 1 MILLION!! CONGRATS!!!
As a personal training who does not train famous people, I can only laugh at all of this
Risking his spine got him in the mindset of a sniper facing danger.
One thing I’ll say about training to be in a the desert vs some other location. If a character spends half a year in a hot place, their composition will change slightly due to constantly sweating. The training for the actor playing the role may be able to be modified to help achieve a specific look. Another thing I recall from the Jarhead behind the scenes is that they these guys ruck marching together in the desert to both condition them for the role and build cohesion and to get in the right headspace for the life of a disgruntled Marine. I hear you on the trap bar deadlifts, but I wouldn’t go and say all training is about making all muscles big or not. In OIF, a lot of SOF guys were training to just get jacked during their free time, so it prob would be to just get all muscles big. But if the role were for some other time and place for service members, they’d probably want to get them strong and wiry looking.
Totally, not all. Just most. - Dr. Mike
I worked on movies shot in the desert. Unless it's a close up the big stars stay in their personal luxury rv deluxe campers while their doubles shoot the rough condition scenes. Post editing it looks the big stars did everything and they dont.
Partial Deadlifts... nothing like doing half the work needed to try and get jacked.
They didn't mention anything about his 'enhancement'?
2000 calories a day? What!? I'm 5'6" and weigh 140 lbs and I eat more than that. My fitness is moderate hiking (for now) because I enjoy it. I'm not even trying to put on weight. Now think about that calorie intake for a 6 foot tall dude who's trying to bulk. Weird amount to start with unless the person is struggling with disordered eating and it's hard to get them to eat.
How dare you not know who Emma Stone is! In all seriousness, love the video. I have just found you and been watching a lot due to the Adam Ragusea collab. You are very knowledgeable and explain everything in a very easy to understand and concise manner. Love it.
It's tough watching Dr. Mike do pure hater content, but someone needs to call out these larpers pretending to be personal trainers😆
Personal trainer isn’t a college educated career
@Empty yeah but what you learn from personal training is closer to being scientifically correct then what these hollywood people are talking about.
@@michaelsiemasko9395 the Hollywood people ARE personal trainers. Personal trainers don’t learn what they’re taught. Neither do most college students.
I would absolutely fucking love to have you as a trainer Dr. Mike. You have absolutely changed my workouts for the better.
I feel like Dr. Mike went a little hard at the beginning of this video. A few points of contention I have are:
1:15 The prop of the exoskeleton in "Edge of Tomorrow" weighed around 85-90 pounds, and up to 120 lbs with the gun armaments. I absolutely think that type of weight would require special training to be able to handle it the way they did in the movie.
1:23 "LaLa Land" was absolutely filled to the brim with dancing. Some might call dancing just "moving your hips", but dancing in a movie, where you'll be expected to do multiple takes, again, I think would require special training.
1:32 I have seen so many interviews with actors where they talk about the foundation of a character being set by the physicality; that discovering how a character walks or holds themselves in a scene is their starting point to understanding that character. The line about "psychological hindrances" came off a bit clunky, but I think what Jason was trying to say was that the more they can ingrain the physicality of the character into the actor early on, then the more natural it will be for them on set. If the actor doesn't have to think about the movements as much as feel them, then that is less of a hindrance when you also have to focus on delivering lines in an emotional way.
Now, I have absolutely zero critiques about anything Dr. Mike brought up in regards to the actual training plan, but those are just a few of my thoughts.
Thank you so much for these videos. I'm learning so much. 😊
One thing to take note, the trainer cannot afford any sort of back injury from the actors/actresses if performed even with good form (minimal risk). I can kinda see why the trainer will elevate the hardest position, which is at the bottom of movement for trapbar
There is no risk if performed with good form and an appropriate weight. But this exercise is not done for muscle stimulus, it's done for Bradley Cooper's ego, so he FEELS strong, which is job security for the physical trainer.
Who is Bradley going to recommend, the trainer that let him deadlift 425 lbs (half reps), or the trainer that made him go down in weight, and deadlift only 225 with good form and full range of motion? Hollywood is all about image, you think he wants to go on a talk show and talk about how average his lifts are? 😂😂
I think Dr. Mike prefaced his critique with this, saying that in order to see the growth needed, the amount of spinal loading wasn’t worth the risk.
if this reasoning is correct, why deadlift at all?
@@TheMasterfulcreator exactly, If it's all about safety he could literally just do gear(which he was 100% doing) and do a load of isolation exercises and be gucci. Flying straight to 400 lb partial ROM anything is NOT the safe route
If the injury risk was the main concern and this guy knew what he was doing at all, elevated trap bar deadlifts is still the *opposite* of what he should have chosen. The injury risk doesn't come from the bottom of a deadlift, it comes from a non-existent understanding of load management which this actually was (having higher absolute load at the cost of better stimulus for no fucking reason). *if anything* normal height or maybe even deficit barbell deadlifts would be a safer option.
3:00
Dr. Mike, are you saying that the trap bar does not offer as much benefit as the barbell for using the deadlift to build muscle?
I’ve heard Mark Rippetoe decrying the trap bar as being unsafe and basically useless. So I’m wondering if you are also recommending against deadlifts with the trap bar?
I’m a noob, I’m asking sincerely.
9 years later…..
Haha really good intro! And congrats to all your acomplishments ❤
Do they mass produce those Hollywood personal trainers, no matter the ethnicity they all look the same, white dude, vaguely handsome, mussed medium length hair, beard, not really jacked.
Always talking slowly like they're vaguely interested in what's happening lol
The ones that end up on these "behind-the-scenes workout" all look like that.
It's marketing.
"not really jacked" "vaguely handsome" well you like to give out the compliments dont you 🤣
I'd assume a lot of them are people that failed to get famous as actors, but they know enough actor friends to be getting jobs like these
was thinking the same thing. Why not hire one of the many IFBB pros in SoCal?
Bro ! I been watching your videos for a hot minute and I never knew u work out of Lehman college I’m an alumni and I work in the Bronx that’s so crazy bro
"Bradley Cooper: complete novice" is probably the only thing that saved him from just becoming fat from this program and nothing else.
Speaking from my training dor medieval stunt show. The bicep curl makes sense. It got slightly cut in rhe video, but henry wa talking about if you have rough horse, you need that static strength in your biceps for holding and controlling the reigns.
There's a lot to make fun of here, but when Bradley Cooper is lifting weight in the movie (at 4:28), it looks real. I can't recall ever seeing someone lift weight in a movie where it looked like they were genuinely struggling. I don't know if Bradley is lifting real weight or if he's just very good at miming, but either way, props for making it look good.
Great information thanks Dr Mike Palestine